Leo Levine is a recipient of the Harriman Junior Fellowship and the PepsiCo Summer Travel Fellowship.

What region/topics are you focusing on at the Harriman Institute?

I am interested in Belarus, and am writing my thesis on EU political asylum policies and how they apply to Belarusian refugees who fled to Poland and Lithuania. It’s a comparative study of how refugees fare in the two countries.

What are some of your favorite things about the Harriman?

I love the international relations and history courses. My favorite was “EU-Russian Relations” with Professor Irina Busygina — it inspired my thesis topic.

What’s your most memorable experience here so far?

Working as an assistant for PURR (the Program on U.S.-Russia Relations) and later as Program Assistant for the Harriman, as these positions have allowed me to meet some of the most fascinating experts in the field.

Where in the region have you traveled?

In Summer 2024, I traveled to Poland (Warsaw, Poznan, and Krakow) for 4 weeks of thesis research, meeting with various Belarusian NGO representatives and members of the exiled media.

Fun fact about you:

While working on my Master’s degree I am also attempting to learn playing the banjo.

Pictured: Leo Levine Leo at the Wilanów Palace in Warsaw, one of Poland’s official national historic monuments.