In the years since Russian language instruction was introduced in 1910, the University of Michigan has become renowned as a leading center for research and training in Russian studies. Study of the Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and the current-day Russian Federation and other Soviet successor states remains central to CREES's mission. CREES organizes lectures, conferences, film series, and other programs to complement the extensive array of Russia-focused courses offered each year by over 30 U-M area specialists whose research interests range from witchcraft in pre-Petrine Russia to Stalin's gulags to contemporary Russian culture, politics, and energy issues. Recent major CREES programs focusing on Russia include Rosenberg’s Russia (2010) and Ann Arbor in Russian Literature: Revisiting the Carl R. Proffer and Ardis Legacies (2013). To facilitate on-site activities of students and faculty, CREES collaborates with various institutions in the Russian Federation.
