Ronald Gonzalez
Arsen E. Simkhayev immigrated to the United States in 2002, and because English was not his native language, subjects such as math and science often felt inaccessible. The technical vocabulary they used, combined with lessons delivered in English, made it difficult for him to fully comprehend what was being taught. History, however, felt different. Even while his English was still developing, he could understand dates, events, and broader historical narratives. Learning about figures like Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great gave him clarity and confidence. History became what he describes as a safe place, a subject where he could succeed despite linguistic challenges. That early comfort was what eventually evolved into a serious academic passion.
Arsen’s specific interest in Russian and Eurasian history first took shape while he was attending City College. He began researching the region in greater depth, and it soon became the main focus of his academic interests. At CCNY, Arsen found a supportive intellectual community within the history department. Although the department did not have a specialist in Russian history, it offered dedicated faculty who were willing to guide him. His most influential mentor was Dr. Clifford Rosenberg, a 20th-century European historian with a focus on French history. Even though Rosenberg was not a Russianist, he played a crucial role in Arsen’s academic development. He guided Arsen in navigating and interpreting primary sources and supported the early stages of the research that would eventually become his senior thesis. Through this mentorship, Arsen was able to deepen his research skills and develop a clearer direction for his work in Russian history, encouraged to pursue an intellectual path that extended beyond the boundaries of the formal curriculum.
Still, pursuing Russian history at City College required extra initiative. Unlike students studying American history, who had multiple faculty members in their field, Arsen had to seek additional mentorship in the broader CUNY system and beyond. He worked with professors at other universities, commuting to access specialized knowledge, including Dr. Anatol Shmelev, head Robert Conquest Curator for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia at the Hoover Institution; Dr. Nancy S. Kollmann at Stanford University; Dr. Faith Hillis at the University of Chicago; and Dr. Laura Engelstein at Yale University. Although this demanded more effort, it strengthened his independence and broadened his academic network. Rather than seeing limitations as obstacles, he treated them as opportunities for growth.
A transformative moment of his undergraduate experience came from the Stanford/CCNY Summer Research Program in the Humanities. He discovered the program through a flyer in the Humanities & Arts Dean’s office and was encouraged by Dr. Rosenberg to apply. With only days left before the application deadline, he submitted his materials and was accepted for the summer of 2024. The program offered him an immersive experience with hands-on research, exposure to primary sources, and the chance to engage deeply with academic inquiry, shaping his intellectual growth and fueling his passion for future scholarly pursuits.
The eight-week program provided fully funded research time, access to major archives, and exposure to leading scholars in Russian and Eurasian studies. For a student whose home department lacked a Russian specialist, this experience was invaluable. During the fellowship, he conducted research on early 20th-century Russian visual culture, spending hours in the quiet stacks of the Hoover Institution Archive, one of the largest collections of Russian materials, and at the Bakhmeteff Archive of Russian and East European History & Culture, carefully examining postcards, tracing routes on delicate digital maps, and handling fragile visual aides that had been preserved for over a century. The tactile experience of flipping through historical images and navigating the digital reproductions brought the past to life and deepened his understanding of Russian history. More importantly, it confirmed his desire to pursue graduate studies in Russian history.
Arsen’s senior thesis argued that the 1917 Russian Revolution was interpreted differently across the empire, with regions like Ukraine and Georgia viewing it as a nationalist opportunity rather than solely a class-based uprising. Using primary sources such as postcards, maps, poems, and archival records, he explored how non-Russian communities understood and responded to the revolution, recovering perspectives often overshadowed in dominant historical narratives. As a half-Russian, half-Crimean Tatar scholar studying these regions, Arsen navigated the delicate task of avoiding contemporary bias by grounding his interpretations in primary sources and consulting experts in the field.
Yet beyond research and fellowships, Arsen’s most profound learning experience at CCNY was a personal one: the value of asking for help. Reaching out to professors, requesting mentorship, and seeking advice required vulnerability, yet it opened doors to fellowships, research programs, and ultimately graduate admission. As a non-native English speaker, Arsen also learned to accept imperfection. Early on, he noticed that his essays sometimes lacked clarity, so he actively sought feedback and experimented with different ways to express his ideas. Making mistakes in language became a signal of growth rather than a setback. By embracing this mindset, he developed confidence both academically and socially. City College’s diverse environment allowed him to evolve without fear of judgment, strengthening both his scholarship and his identity.
In Fall 2025, Arsen graduated summa cum laude from CCNY, ready to take the next step in his academic career. His journey shows how determination, mentorship, and initiative can turn challenges into opportunities. For Arsen, CCNY was more than a university. It was where he found his voice as a historian and began the work he will continue in Stanford University’s graduate program in 20th-century Russian and Central Asian history.
Photo: Arsen E. Simkhayev with his mentor at Stanford University, Dr. Nancy S. Kollmann