UGA’s Victoria Hasko Receives 2026 Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization

Victoria Hasko, director of the University of Georgia’s Russian Flagship Program, has been awarded the 2026 Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization. The award, presented annually by the Office of Global Engagement, recognizes full-time faculty who have made exceptional contributions to global education at UGA [1].

Expanding International Learning Opportunities

Since 2018, Hasko has directed the Russian Flagship Program, focusing on expanding access to international learning opportunities for students across various disciplines [1]. She is an associate professor of applied linguistics and Slavic studies, with a joint appointment in the department of Germanic and Slavic studies and the department of linguistics within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Impact on Student Success

“Through thoughtfully designed language instruction and distinctive opportunities abroad, Dr. Hasko has broadly advanced student success and contributed to the achievements of some of our most outstanding students,” said Martin Kagel, UGA associate provost for global engagement [1]. Kagel added that the Reiff Award is a fitting recognition of Hasko’s leadership and the program’s lasting impact on the campus.

Growth of the Russian Flagship Program

Under Hasko’s leadership, the Russian Flagship Program has turn into one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the country [1]. Initially funded by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office in 2018, the program has served students from over 30 majors and minors. Its alumni include two recent Rhodes Scholars, a 2025 Truman Scholar, and recipients of Boren awards, Fulbright grants, and the Critical Language Scholarship [1].

Program Focus and Funding

The program emphasizes intensive language instruction, weekly tutoring, and a curriculum designed for high-proficiency outcomes. Hasko has secured more than $7 million in federal funding for global education initiatives at UGA, supporting programs like the Immersion in the Russian Language, Cultures and Communities in the Baltics program, which sends students to Riga, Latvia, for coursework and internships [1]. She also coordinated a capstone partnership with American Councils and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Campus Initiatives and Student Engagement

On campus, Hasko has reshaped the Russian language curriculum, establishing a Russian language Living-Learning Community in Rutherford Hall and expanding extracurricular programming to include three weekly conversation sessions [1]. The program fosters a strong academic community with domestic trips to locations like the Kennedy Space Center and Washington, D.C.

Alumni Success and Future Leaders

Alumni of the programs directed by Hasko have secured positions with the National Security Agency, U.S. Department of War, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, military intelligence units, and consulting firms. Hasko currently mentors over 90 students and serves as chair of the national Language Flagship Directors’ Council [1].

“No matter the task, Dr. Hasko consistently creates meaningful opportunities for students to engage in Russian studies and develop the global expertise needed to better understand this complex region,” said Mercedes Bengs, a 2025 Truman Scholar and Boren Scholar, and a graduate of the Russian Flagship Program [1].

For more information about the Richard Reiff Award for Campus Internationalization, visit globalengagement.uga.edu/richardreiffaward. For more information about the Russian Flagship Program at UGA, please visit russianflagship.uga.edu.