Yelena Osipova is a Ph.D. candidate at American University’s School of International Service, where she is working on her dissertation entitled “Public Diplomacy in Transition: Negotiating Russian Identity and Soft Power.” Yelena’s primary research interests are in international communication, public diplomacy, and identity politics in Eurasia, but she also covers a broad range of other issues including Russian foreign policy, conflict resolution, and new media. Throughout her doctoral studies, Yelena has received fellowships from American University, the Open Society Foundation, and the Gulbenkian Foundation, and has presented at several national and international conferences. She has also worked for the Armenian Reporter in Washington, DC and blogged for the RuNet Echo section on Global Voices Online. Yelena’s international research experience includes projects in Armenia and Ukraine, and she plans to complete her dissertation research in Russia later this year.

Originally from Armenia, Yelena holds a B.A. from the American University in Bulgaria, and an M.A. from the School of International Service, American University.

Yelena was selected as a recipient of the CPD Doctoral Dissertation Award for the 2014-2015 academic year.