Where was Fiona born?
A highly respected scholar on Russian history and culture, Fiona was born and raised in the industrial northeast of England. She comes from a long line of coal miners – uncles, cousins – families, like hers, that persistently struggled with poverty.
When did Fiona become a citizen?
Fiona became a naturalized American citizen in 2002 – a country that gave her opportunities that she would not have enjoyed in the UK, where the fact that she grew up poor and with a distinct working-class accent, she believes, would likely have held her back.
Where did Fiona Gomez graduate from?
Guided by a series of dedicated mentors and teachers, Fiona graduated from the University of Saint Andrew’s in Scotland, and then earned her Ph.D. at Harvard. Along the way, she studied Russian history and culture and became fluent in its language.
Guest
Robert Bosch senior fellow, Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institution.
Hosts
JONATHAN KATZ Senior Fellow and Director of Democracy Initiatives, The German Marshall Fund of the United States