Russian students here for psych course and culture

Professor Jack Croxton with the Russian visitors here from St. Petersburg State University. The group spent an evening in Dunkirk at Thursday Night at the Pier. From left are Ekaterina Bolshakova, Ksenia Komieva, Dr. Croxton, Elmira Khabibullina, Natalia Egorova and the faculty member, Svetlana Kostromina.

SUNY Fredonia is hosting four psychology majors and one faculty member from St. Petersburg State University of Russia for two weeks of study and cultural immersion. As part of their international experience at Fredonia, the students are taking classes during the day and touring the sites of western New York in their free time between July 17 through 28.

This is the third year that Dr. Jack Croxton of the SUNY Fredonia psychology department has taught the course, Positive Psychology, to a visiting group of psychology students from St. Petersburg State University. His course focuses on human strengths and positive outcomes. American students are enrolled in the course as well.

“I really enjoy meeting the Russian students and getting to know them during their visits," Dr. Croxton said. “Having Fredonia students interact with students from Russia I feel adds to the overall experience of the course. It is a great opportunity for everyone to learn and grow.”

When not in class, the students are getting a great sense of the community by visiting Niagara Falls, Arkwright Falls, the Chautauqua Institution, and Panama Rocks; and attending a Jamestown Jammers baseball game plus a Thursday Night at the Pier in Dunkirk.

Earlier in the summer, Dr. Anton Agafonov of the Modern Languages and Literature Department took a group of SUNY students to St. Petersburg. Dr. Croxton began the summer exchange program once he returned to the U.S. after having spent five months in Russia on a Fulbright Fellowship.

According to Dr. Croxton, “these types of cultural exchanges are an invaluable experience for the students at these two universities. Not only do they learn a great deal about the other culture, but they form friendships that will last a lifetime.”

The International Education Center at SUNY Fredonia provides application and visa assistance to foreign students who want to study at SUNY Fredonia. It also advises international students who are currently enrolled here. According to Director Mary Sasso, the office executes the university's commitment to raise awareness of global interdependence, and to use cultural diversity as an educational tool. Her office is currently working on establishing a full semester exchange program between St. Petersburg State University and SUNY Fredonia.