Ryan Lumsden studied International Relations and Russian at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State he had the opportunity to work on multiple research projects, including a digital archive of the collapse of the Soviet Union and research regarding the modern Russian economy. He also had to opportunity to study abroad in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and to grow up in Moscow, Russia. At REEI, Ryan hopes to continue his studies focusing on frozen conflicts, issues of national identity and Russian minorities in post-Soviet republics. After his time at REEI he hopes to enter the federal workforce working in intelligence or diplomacy, or to continue with a possible PhD program and enter academia.