Laura Kline

Laura Kline

Research interest(s)/area of expertise

• Russian language pedagogy
• Russian culture
• Literature of the GULAG

Education

• Ph.D., Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1998. Dissertation: “Novaja Proza”: Varlam Shalamov’s Kolymskie Rasskazy
• M.A., Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1993.
• M.A., Russian and East European Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1991
• A.B., Government, Minor in Russian, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 1988

Awards and grants

• Fulbright SIR Scholar grant to bring a Belarusian scholar to Wayne State for the 2020-2021 academic year (with Jaclyn Assarian and Ahmad Ezzeddine/Office of International Programs) (2020)

• • Global Studies Learning Community Grant, WSU, Detroit, MI (2019).
  • Global Studies Learning Community Grant, WSU, Detroit, MI (2019).
  • Educational Development Grant Program $4,000 Award for “Developing an Online Interdisciplinary Undergraduate and Graduate Digital Storytelling Course.” (Ethnic Layers of Detroit) (2018).
  • $10,000 grant from the Charles H. Gershenson Trust to fund WSU activities related to the “Black Monk” project. WSU, Detroit, MI (2017).
  • “Crisis and Revolution in Detroit and Beyond” Learning Community Grant (with Nicole Coleman and Leonidas Pittos), WSU, Detroit, MI (2017).
  • Humanities Center Continuing Working Group Grant: “Integrating the Humanities, STEM, and the Social Sciences.” WSU, Detroit, MI (2016-2017).
  • OTL Educational Development Grant (with ELD), WSU, Detroit, MI (2018-9).
  • Fulbright-Hays Grant to sponsor participation in the ACTR Summer Language Teachers Program (Summer 2016).
  • 2016 Online Course Development Fellowship Grant, CLAS, WSU, Detroit, MI (Summer 2016).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant to create online exercises and related materials Russian courses, WSU, Detroit, MI (2014).
  • National Endowment for the Humanities, Digital Humanities Start-up Grant, “Ethnic Layers of Detroit (ELD): Experiencing Place through Digital Storytelling”, Project Co-Director, $60,000 (#HD51852) (2014-2016).
  • Humanities Center Continuing Working Group Grant: “Ethnic Layers of Detroit: Experiencing Place through Digital Storytelling” (ELD Project), WSU, Detroit, MI (2013-2014).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant for Layers to create videos for the project “‘Layars’ of Detroit: Creating Apps to Share Detroit’s Ethnic Heritage” (ELD Project), WSU, Detroit, MI (2013).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant for Layers to expand the online dimension of WSU Russian classes. (ELD Project), WSU, Detroit, MI (2012).
  • WSU Humanities Center Working Group Grant: “‘Layars’ of Detroit: Creating Apps to Share Detroit’s Ethnic Heritage” (ELD Project), WSU, Detroit, MI (2012-2013).
  • WSU President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, WSU, Detroit, MI (2011).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant to create online exercises and related materials for third- and fourth-year Russian courses, WSU, Detroit, MI (2011).
  • WSU Learning Community Grant (with Dr. Alina Klin) to create a Slavic Learning Community, WSU, Detroit, MI (2009-2010).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant to create a documentary based on interviews of Russians in Russia for use in language classes, WSU, Detroit, MI (2009).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grants to create the online courses “Russian Listening Comprehension II,” WSU, Detroit, MI (2008).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grants to create the online courses “Russian Listening Comprehension I-II,” WSU, Detroit, MI (2007).
  • WSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Award. WSU, Detroit, MI (2006). • Global Grant for Lecture and Events Series, “Discovering Slavic Cultures at WSU,” w/Dr. Klin, Profs. Retish & Brostrom, Office for Global Education, WSU, Detroit, MI (2006-2007).
  • WSU Foreign Language Technology Center Mini-Grant to create a documentary based on interviews of Russians in the Detroit Area for use in language classes, WSU, Detroit, MI (2006).
  • Global Grant to create a Summer Program in Vologda, Russia, Office for Global Education, WSU, Detroit, MI (2002-2003).
  • Global Grant to create A Summer Job in Russia program, Office for Global Education, WSU, MI (2000-2001).
  • Dissertation Write-Up Fellowship, Rackham School of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (1998).
  • IREX Individual Advanced Research Program for dissertation research in Russia (1994- 1995).
  • Travel Grant to Explore Research Possibilities, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (1994).
  • FLAS (Polish), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (1993-1994 & 1991-1992).

Currently teaching

• Third-year Russian (RUS 3020)
• Intro to Russian Culture (RUS 2710)
• Intro to Global Stories (GLS 2700)

Courses taught

• Russian language (first- to fourth-year classes)
• Intro to Russian Culture
• 20C Russian Literature
• Literature, Art, and Song of the Gulag
• Intro to Global Stories