Dr. Lyosha Gorshkov, born and raised in Russia, joined the Slippery Rock University family as the Assistant Director of the Women's and Pride Center in October. Receiving a PhD in Political Sciences from Penn State in Russia, Lyosha continued to spread academic focus in gender identities and LGBTQ+ identities as a professor at Indiana University (Bloomington) teaching a class on "Russian Queer Politics".
Although Lyosha's life has not always been easy. In 2014, Lyosha came to the United States seeking asylum from Russia where he was persecuted as an openly queer professor. Upon arriving in the States, Lyosha settled in New York and became and advocate from LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights. Lyosha served as the Co-President at RUSA LGBT, the Russian Speaking American LGBTQ Association.
Lyosha's plan as the new Assistant Director is to create a community between students and faculty that come with different backgrounds in order to develop a new environment of respect and understanding.