Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In the past material We've already been inspired and delighted by RUDN students' stories about their beloved professors. For some, their teachers opened the door to science, helped others win awards at various competitions, olympiads, and conferences, and some even filed patents for their developments thanks to their mentors. But we still have a few more heartwarming stories about our professors.
Humanity and a practical approach
"During my undergraduate studies, I met many professors; each contributed to my development, but the most important role was played by my supervisor, Vladimir Evgenievich Pinaev, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Safety and Product Quality Management at the Institute of Ecology at RUDN University. He did so much for me, supporting me throughout my education, and even now I know I can always turn to him for help. Vladimir Evgenievich is a highly competent professor who knows his craft. He always offered internships and practical training (which were invaluable), and helped with my research and writing my final qualifying work. But most of all, I am grateful to him for his humanity, responsiveness, and support. He always found the right words in difficult moments, encouraging me before exams and defenses. I will never forget his words: "Do what you love. I will help"—and I will never forget his "Congratulations!" at the diploma ceremony. I am immensely grateful to him for everything!" — Valeria Romanova, first-year master's student in Ecology and Nature Management.
When Yulianna Morozova applied to graduate school at the RUDN University Engineering Academy, she was recommended to choose Galina Erikovna Okolnikova, associate professor in the Department of Construction Technologies and Structural Materials, as her supervisor. And it was definitely excellent advice!
After two years of working with my supervisor, I can confidently say that Galina Erikovna is a true professional. She not only shares her knowledge but also encourages independent thinking. Under her guidance, I was integrated into the teaching process; Galina Erikovna advises on areas to focus on, how to communicate with students, and how to present the material. Always encouraging initiative, she supports new ideas. Despite her busy schedule, Galina Erikovna is always ready to help solve complex issues and inspires me to achieve high results. — Yulianna Morozova
"I'd like to tell you about Pavel Mikhailovich Podolko, a teacher who combines serious administrative work with lively and engaging interactions with students during classes. Pavel Mikhailovich holds important positions at RUDN University—he is the Director of the Educational Program Quality Assurance Department of the Educational Policy Department and the Head of the Applied AI Department. As an expert at Rosobrnadzor and the Russian Academy of Education, he has a keen understanding of what modern, high-quality higher education should look like. Moreover, he's not just a theoretician: he creates his own projects in the application of advanced digital educational technologies, including AI and VR, in the educational process.
He frequently speaks and moderates at prestigious expert educational venues both in Russia and abroad. We value him for his clear presentation of educational material and his practical approach to teaching. He has a knack for explaining even the most complex topics in a way that makes them understandable. Meanwhile, outside of his intense work, he finds time to connect with nature. His main hobby is fishing on the Volga, where the peace and quiet sparks new ideas and restores his energy. Another passion of his is traveling. For him, traveling isn't just getting from point A to point B; it's an opportunity to see the country in all its diversity, discover new places and people, and recharge for future achievements. We thank Pavel Mikhailovich for his work and wish him more sunny, windless days fishing, exciting travels, and equally enthusiastic students in his classes! — Polina Maskaleva, second-year student in the program "Artificial Intelligence: Development and Training of Intelligent Systems."
Like mom and dad
First-year Master's student in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Alisa Subrakova, couldn't choose just one mentor and instead offered warm words of encouragement to four professors.
"Elizaveta Vyacheslavovna Anikina, Associate Professor in the Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology at the RUDN University Institute of Ecology, was kind, attentive, and caring to every student throughout my undergraduate program! She's interested in their well-being and helps whenever necessary. She's like a "mother" at our institute! She has heartfelt conversations about the things that concern us—the future, life after undergrad, where to study, and what career paths to pursue. She motivates us to keep going and believe in ourselves! Ksenia Yuryevna Mikhailichenko, Deputy Director of the Department of Human Ecology and Bioelementology, is also an attentive and very sensitive teacher. She always finds a way to connect with students, meets them halfway in various life situations, and always provides support. We often discussed health and my future after completing my undergrad. And I'd like to express my special gratitude to Vasily Gennadyevich Vasiliev, Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Safety and Product Quality Management at the Institute of Ecology!" He patiently explains even the simplest things, even making time for them on his days off! He takes his work seriously, personally guiding everyone from the beginning to the end of their final thesis defense. He's concerned when a student "disappears." Vasily Gennadievich supported me in my therapy, giving me time to restore my mental health; he's like a dad to me in Moscow," says Alisa Subrakova.
Another teacher with a capital "T," according to Alisa, is Rumiya Gayaryevna Kaderova, senior teacher of supplementary education in the Department of Foreign Languages, because she devotes 1000% of her energy to her students, explains things as clearly and understandably as possible, and patiently repeats, even if one person doesn't understand.
"She's attentive and caring towards her students, paying attention to their mood and well-being, and supporting them in pressing matters like the future, health, family, and career. Thanks to her example, students, especially me, are boldly exploring new areas, achieving their potential, and moving forward. Conversations with Rumiya Gayaryevna not only teach us German but also broaden our horizons, as she has a wealth of life experience and knowledge in all areas of life! After graduating from our bachelor's degree, we continue to share news, send photos, and help each other. Over the past four years, Rumiya Gayaryevna has become a close person to me, someone I want to keep in touch with," says Alisa Subrakova.
Source of inspiration
"As often happens, we judge a person by just one quality, but that's definitely not the case here. Vladislava Igorevna Noga, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the Graduate School of Management at RUDN University, is a person with boundless imagination, a pure heart, and the most infectious laughter," say the students of the Faculty of Economics.
"Every student's success is not only the result of their own efforts, but also of the people who once believed in them. For us, that person was Vladislava Igorevna—a teacher, mentor, and someone without whom our story would be completely different. When we were preparing for the SKILLKIT Olympiad, it was Vladislava Igorevna who inspired us to not be afraid of challenges and to see them through to the end. She didn't just help us prepare—she lived through every stage with us, from the first idea to the final defense. She knew how to guide, support, suggest the best solution, and always believed in our success. Thanks to her professionalism, attentiveness, and boundless energy, our team was able to take second place, but for us, this victory is about more than just medals. It's about inner growth, confidence, and the feeling of having someone who believes in you. Vladislava Igorevna became much more than just a mentor to us. She is a source of inspiration, a model of genuine dedication, and someone who can ignite in each of us the desire to strive for the best. Her advice and support continue to help us today—in our studies, work, and life. Such teachers become true guides. Thanks to them, you begin to understand that knowledge is not just theory, but a path to your dreams," said Anastasia Biryukova, Victoria Sotnikova, Anna Popova, Ksenia Kienya, and Alina Lutsenko, fourth-year students majoring in Marketing.
Alina Lutsenko also expressed her gratitude to Sergey Yuryevich Chernikov, Associate Professor of the Marketing Department at the Faculty of Economics. She noted that in addition to the course material, his classes always offer a chance to learn random facts from various fields.
"Sergey Yuryevich's program is based on the study of real-life cases from various industries: from cycling fitness to funeral service cafes. Sometimes the cases provoked heated group discussions, sometimes uncontrollable laughter, but most importantly, we left the class with knowledge and emotions that helped us remember the material even better. I am also grateful to Sergey Yuryevich for his humanity. You can approach him for both academic advice and with a personal question." — Alina Lutsenko
Ksenia Kienya spoke about Diana Olegovna Yampolskaya, another associate professor in the marketing department.
"I'm already using the tools, case studies, and approaches you provided at work: from analyzing the target audience and building hypotheses to setting up the funnel and evaluating metrics. Thanks to this, I make decisions faster, more confidently justify my channel choices, and see concrete results. I'd especially like to commend your structure: the material is presented logically, with examples and checklists—I constantly return to them. I'm also grateful for the individual recommendations and feedback—they helped me strengthen my strengths and fill gaps," says Ksenia Kienya.
The teacher is simply amazing!
Sergey Danilov, a postgraduate student in the philology department of RUDN University, believes that the epitome of a modern scholar—one who combines not only erudition, intelligence, and intelligence, but also style, zest for life, and a proactive approach to life—is his professor, Svetlana Alekseevna Moskvicheva, an associate professor in the department of foreign languages.
"My academic advisor is simply amazing! I listen to her lectures nonstop and hang on every word. Already in my first month of graduate school, Svetlana Alekseevna helped me choose the right research path, adjusted my topic, and demonstrated by her example that scientific work should be a joy! Her ability to spark interest in science is truly admirable. Under her guidance, my colleagues and I have already won the RUDN University competition "Scientific Start: Let's Make Science Together" with a project on the role of language ideology in preserving native languages—and this is just the beginning! I sincerely congratulate Svetlana Alekseevna on the upcoming Higher Education Teacher's Day and thank her for her knowledge!" — Sergey Danilov.
His faculty colleague Alina Zarodova dedicated her words of gratitude to Vera Vladimirovna Malakhovskaya, senior lecturer in the Department of Theory and History of Journalism.
"She's not just a teacher, but a true friend and supporter of our studies. She's always ready to help, whether it's preparing for a conference, writing an article, or participating in a project. Vera Vladimirovna inspires us to new achievements and often invites interesting people to her classes. This helps us learn a lot of new and useful things. Thanks to her support, many students were able to attend important events that allowed us to develop professionally. We affectionately call her 'Mom' because she cares for each of us. Vera Vladimirovna always knows the right thing to say: she'll praise our successes and help us correct our mistakes. She does all this to help us become better and achieve our goals. For me, Vera Vladimirovna is a true support system and my academic advisor. When I work on my term paper, it's not about fear, but about engaging and creative work. She always inspires me with new ideas and helps me develop them. I can be afraid to start new projects, but I know I can turn to her for advice. Her belief in us helps us overcome our fears and move forward," says Alina Zarodova.
Love of literature
Professor Alexey Yuryevich Ovcharenko of the Department of Russian Language and Linguocultural Studies rekindled Elizaveta Shaprinskaya's love of literature. "When I enrolled in the program, my greatest desire was to avoid philology. After the Unified State Exam, I had no desire to read or analyze works. But Alexey Yuryevich's lectures unexpectedly not only brought me back to this field, but also helped me see it from a new, fascinating perspective and truly delve into scholarship! He supported me during my first steps into academia: he taught me how to structure my thoughts and write research papers, prepare presentations, and confidently present myself at conferences. And now I can help my classmates take their first steps in scholarship—and that's an invaluable experience!" — Elizaveta Shaprinskaya.
And for another student at the Institute of Russian Language, Nare Gareginovna Galoyan, associate professor of the Department of General Education Disciplines, became a dear person at the university.
"She's a true professional. She tells Russian history in a very engaging way and helps you remember dates faster by using unusual facts. She's always ready to help, support, and talk." — Daria Mamontova.
All these stories are proof that RUDN University faculty members are passionate about their work. They are the students' support, primary motivators, and supporters. They lay the first bricks on the path to success.
We say to them: “Thank you!” and wish them health, creative inspiration, and new achievements in their profession!
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
