Sophia Freuden ’16

Magna Cum Laude, International Affairs Major, Russian Minor
2016

As an international Affairs Major, Sophia was drawn to the complicated but important role that Russia plays in world affairs; she was further drawn into the language and the culture through the department’s classes. Sophia became deeply involved in the Russian Program at Lewis & Clark, and led conversation groups with first year students beginning her sophomore year. She also spent a semester in St. Petersburg in the language intensive program there, where she earned a 4.0 GPA. Sophia also earned the Gilman Scholarship for Overseas Studies and the Oregon Consular Corps Scholarship for Undergraduate Study of International Affairs during her time at Lewis & Clark. In addition to her involvement with the Russian Club, she was a dedicated member of student government, serving on the Student Rights & Responsibilities Committee the entirety of her time at LC.Although very successful in the classroom, Sophia has always sought out real-world experience. Sophia recently completed a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Kazan, Russia, but only after completing two separate internships in Washington, D.C.—one at the U.S. Department of State, and another at the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Sophia currently works as a legal assistant at a private criminal defense firm in Portland. She is hoping to use her knowledge of the law with her interest in studying cyber crime and informational warfare between the U.S. and Russia on the graduate level. Wherever her future career takes her, Sophia’s love of Russia will be a key part of her professional life.