Elizaveta Lyulekina

I’m currently living in San Jose, CA, but I lived on the East Coast for 8 years.

In 2021, I completed my Ph.D. in French with a focus on European Renaissance Studies at CUNY Graduate Center. In my dissertation, I studied the construction of European linguistic and cultural identities through national literatures. In addition to my doctoral degree, I also hold an M.Phil. in French from CUNY Graduate Center, an M.A. in French from Brooklyn College, CUNY, and a B.A. in Philosophy from RUDN University, as well as a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA Extension.

I have somewhat of a non-linear career path. For 6 years, I worked as a French and Literature instructor at public and private universities in New York and New Jersey. I also taught a First-Year Seminar on essential academic skills for university students and served as a writing tutor at a community college. In 2022, I completely changed my career path and left academia for industry, but I quickly realized that my passion lies in working within the educational realm, where I feel a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment, which was lacking for me in the corporate environment. For this reason, I started to volunteer with programs such as ScholarMatch and Matchlighters, guiding low-income and first-generation students through the complexities of the college application process.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to working with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, gaining insights into their unique needs and challenges. I believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to pursue a college degree and achieve their full potential. As a former international student myself, I understand the challenges of navigating American academia alone as well as the significance of guidance and support throughout the college application process and beyond. My firsthand experience has fueled my commitment to helping the new generation of students have a smoother journey through higher education.

In my free time, I love walking, rollerblading, and reading. I particularly enjoy classic dystopian fiction, French Renaissance poetry, contemporary crime novels, and nonfiction books about history and politics.