Lera Toropin Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Austin, Texas, United States

• Conducted over 50 English and Russian language interviews with academics, authors, professionals, and government officials in the field of Slavic studies and scholarship, delivering some of the highest downloaded episodes of the podcast and with high-profile guests like Vladimir Kara-Murza, David Marples, Andreas Umland, Sergey Radchenko, and William Pomeranz• Researched, coordinated, and prepared written materials to generate quality public scholarship for a broad, multi-disciplined audience in over 100 countries• Monitored geopolitical developments and trends in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to manage podcast episodes and ensure that outreach efforts to potential guests were timely and relevant• Directly counseled executive producer on all production aspects, including but not limited to branding, scheduling, outreach, and improvement initiatives• Spearheaded the podcast’s first travel to the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies conference (ASEEES) in 2019, hosting nine interviews total• Identified and established new collaborative relationships with podcast partners

Austin, Texas, United States

• Supported Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services staff• Provided direct support for remote courses (HIS F315FL, The History of the United States since the Civil War)• Assisted faculty through course consultation, set-up, and design best practices• Supported and instructed faculty in their use of online tools as necessary (e.g. Zoom, Panopto, Remote Studio, etc.)• Facilitated academic integrity and student success tools for twelve courses with up to 2000 students

Austin, Texas

• Graded class assignments and exams for 50-80 students• Held weekly office hours, mentors and provides one-on-one assistance to students, updated grade reports, leads live-stream discussions, engages with students on-camera for digital course• Courses taught: The United States (1492-1865), The United States Since 1865

Remote

• Edited and formatted 6 oral transcripts of interviews with high-level Department of State foreign service officers• Researched, recorded narration, and edited audio for 2 podcast projects on Cold War and diplomatic oral history• Liaised weekly with other ADST teams and working groups to improve ADST collaborative projects and initiatives

Remote

• Researched, drafted, and published/co-published 7 articles related to national security, U.S.-Russia relations, and U.S.-Ukraine relations for a non-partisan audience• Aggregated relevant news articles from 20 various sources on topics related to American national security for daily e-newsletter of approximately 1000 subscribers• Managed and maintained a public Russian Military Incident Tracker database via open-source data monitoring that tracked location, date, and description of incidents and events involving the Russian military• Updated organization-wide internship guide and training manual for future interns

Remote

• Created and oversaw the first open-source social media database project for the Russian Far East News Monitor project led by the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok• Translated, compiled, and summarized Russian social media posts on political, economic, cultural, and social developments in the Russian Far East into 2-3 report briefs per week, with a particular focus on Khabarovsk and Alexei Navalny related protest movements

Greater Pittsburgh Area

• Provided simultaneous, consecutive, conference, whispered, and liaison interpretation in Russian and Japanese for non-English speaking adults• Translated documents from Russian to English (essays, academic transcripts, manuals, community fliers)

Washington D.C.

Served as the office coordinator, administrative manager, and diplomatic assistant to Congressional Affairs, a section dedicated to strengthening political relations between Japan and the United States.• Organized and maintained a calendar and agenda for meetings, events, conferences, travel arrangements, and all other logistical needs for the Minister of Congressional Affairs, as well as 4 other Japanese delegates• Acted as congressional liaison between the Embassy of Japan and U.S. members of Congress• Scheduled and implemented up to 30 senior, high-level meetings a month• Acted as logistic lead for a record number of delegations per month (5-10), a 250% increase in 2017• Facilitated transition of Congress section to a larger, more premiere role in the Embassy, having been recognized by the Japanese government and the Ambassador for its success in 2017• Headed logistics team for Capitol Hill receptions and events with budgets ranging from $300 - $10,000 and guests lists up to 300 people.• Performed administrative duties for team of 8 with very little instruction and resources, such as maintaining inventory, managing budget and projections• Drafted, researched, and graphically designed published brochures for government-funded invitational programs to Japan• Translated documents from Japanese to English, and English to Japanese for use within the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, including congressional memos and reports• Wrote and edited press releases, talking points, and official correspondence on behalf of the Embassy of Japan, such as personal letters from the Ambassador of Japan• Helped foster relations and meetings to add 3 new Congress members to the U.S.-Japan Caucus, one of the biggest bilateral caucuses in the United States• Created social media posts for Twitter and Facebook on behalf of the Embassy of Japan• Attended events and receptions as an Embassy representative (Ripon Society, Battle of the Beers)

Japan

• Facilitated in-country implementation of customized, short-term academic programs for groups of Australian university students/faculty in Japan ranging from 13 to 24 days• Assisted in the designing and logistical planning of 3 intensive, multi-city programs• Led groups ranging from 18 – 25 university students• Provided in-country health and safety orientation for faculty and students, as well as 24/7 safety and emergency support• Oversaw coordination of day-to-day program logistics on the ground, including accompanying the group, travel arrangements, hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, Japanese language support• Documented program through photography• Managed finances of program in local currency with budgets of $2500-$3,500• Assisted and advised students on overcoming cultural barriers

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Processed over 4,300 physical applications, including extensively checking applications on-by-one for completion, checking references, and filing paper documents• Utilized an online data entry platform to individually scan documents, enter applicant information, and communicate with potential participants• Supported team members in maintaining accurate and efficient processing standards• Maintained daily quotas and achieved targets under a tight deadline with small team• Created, designed, and wrote digital marketing outreach pieces published via social media to audience of nearly 10,000 people• Consulted with international education leaders to authenticate documents and vet applicants• Improved processing standards to check and input both digital and physical applications more efficiently and accurately• Provided timely and direct customer service to individual applicants to resolve missing document issues and answer questions• Trained others in updated standards and procedures• Assisted in interview processing, including preparing interview rooms and materials, and supporting potential candidates

Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, Japan

• Accepted into world’s largest government funded exchange teaching program, focusing on grassroots-level English language learning and teaching in Japanese K-12 classrooms.• Represented the United States as a diplomat in Japan, facilitating cultural exchange and dialogue• Managed 20 classrooms and over 800 Japanese students in Elem. and Junior High school• Aided in preparation, organization, and execution of English language activities, including planning classes with teachers, creating lesson plans, vocabulary practice, leading English language learning games, and presenting American culture in Japanese and English• Collaborated with native Japanese English teachers, offering insight offering insight to the English language and Western culture through various projects and presentations. • Volunteered for and organized a local community English conversation club, as well as a private tutoring and English exam preparation course for engineers• Translated event brochures from Japanese to English for 3 local-level initiatives to boost tourism• Privately tutored students in academic English and English speech contest preparation• Lectured in a foreign language to spread cultural awareness and global competence• Attended conferences to maintain efficient and up-to-date teaching methods and standards, as well as to collaborate with other Assistant Language Teachers• Coordinated communication between Japanese teachers and the local Board of Education

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Acted as primary facilitator of Leadership in Education Administration Program with Japan (LEAP) • Coordinated logistical support of 11 LEAP participants’ 1 year stay in the U.S., including conducting orientation/debriefing sessions, managing budget, setting professional and cultural appointments, arranging lodging and travel accommodations, chaperoning, maintaining program expenditures, and coordinating event logistics• Provided direct and on-going client relationship management with participants, host institutions, and overseas program partners via phone, e-mail, and in-person• Designed and wrote five program proposals, including five 1-3 week program calendars, and three budget plans ranging from $21,000 - $47,000 to secure international exchange programs across a broad range of subject areas: consumer protection, corporate social responsibility, women’s leadership, and volunteer service learning• Researched, compiled data, and reported on potential grant funding and research opportunities• Met quick turn-around times and tight deadlines while maintaining established quality• Maintained secure and up-to-date databases storing program development projects• Communicated with international education members and leaders to further Program Development initiatives and create collaborative/educational environments for participants • Attended conferences focused on global education to stay up-to-date on recent developments in the field, prospect collaboration opportunities• Trained others in Program Development standard operating procedures• Supported the development and implementation of other international program development initiatives and projects by providing input, researching Request for Proposals, conducting extensive research, and escorting approximately 70 participants total• Assisted in marketing efforts and projects, such as attending college study abroad fairs, conferences , and networking events and creating content for social media outreach

Manassas, Virginia

• Oversaw the development, coordination, and maintenance of the Admissions Department for the specialized International Student/ESL branch of ANU, as well as the supervision of admissions reps• Achieved enrollment and retention goals for 3 straight semesters• Increased student enrollment by 300% in less than 10 months• Designed standard operating procedures and wrote new marketing materials for on-boarding students• Communicated with international students and adults with low levels of English language ability and informed them of critical compliance information and disclosures• Evaluated visa sponsorship applications to determine compliance with F-1 visa regulations• Facilitated organizational growth by developing opportunities for co-programming with other departments • Led admissions representatives training, including interviewing, vetting, and selecting candidates• Engaged with local multicultural community through outreach events, phone and e-mail blasts• Developed and maintained secure database of student inquiries and potential candidate information• Acted as advisor for student body, providing academic, mental health, and financial aid support and resources• Developed and maintained secure database of student inquiries, contact histories, and candidate information

Tyson'S Corner, Virginia

• Contacted and informed 100 students per day of college programs via telephone and e-mail• Assisted over 20 international students in lengthy enrollment procedures• Conducted one-on-one meetings and tours for prospective students• Maintained up-to-date and organized database of student inquiries and contact histories• Marketed and promoted ANU via local outreach initiatives and phone/e-mail blasts

Master'S Degree, Global Policy Studies/Russian, East European And Eurasian Studies, 3.91 Gpa

Activities and Societies: The Slavic Connexion Podcast (Associate Producer/Co-Host), LBJ Student Ambassador, Summer Transition Chair.

Bachelor'S Degree, Japanese Studies, 3.66 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Penn State International Dance Ensemble - Historian (2012-2013), Japanese Cultural Society Minor in Teaching.

Intensive Japanese Studies, 3.70 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Japanese Friendship Club Study Abroad: Completed two semesters, Fall 2011 - Spring 2012