About Ekaterina Kagan

Dr. Kagan is a dedicated educator and scholar at Russell Sage College, where she combines a lifelong passion for languages with a commitment to student-centered teaching. A fourth-generation educator, Dr. Kagan grew up in Moscow, immersed in family conversations about innovative teaching methods. “I learned early on that teaching is both a privilege and a responsibility,” she reflects. This foundation has shaped her dynamic teaching philosophy, which emphasizes personalized education, cultural connection, and fostering confidence in students’ abilities.

Dr. Kagan earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from Moscow State University, with a dissertation focusing on linguistic influences in Caribbean Spanish. Her extensive academic journey includes postgraduate research at Seville University, Spain, and over eight years of immersive study across Spanish institutions. Fluent in Russian, English, French, and Spanish, Dr. Kagan is deeply invested in the transformative power of language learning, both in and out of the classroom.

Research and Scholarship

Dr. Kagan’s research centers on:

  • The linguistic evolution of Caribbean Spanish, with a focus on the influence of Indigenous and African languages on its development.
  • Pedagogical innovation, including integrating technology to enhance student engagement and intercultural competence.
  • Latin American and Spanish history of the 15-18th centuries.

Her scholarly work includes numerous publications, such as:

  • Indigenismos y la formación de vocabulario de los variantes nacionales del español de Cuba, Puerto Rico y República Dominicana (2022).
  • España en Contraste: Cultura y Lengua (2021).
  • Chapters in peer-reviewed volumes, such as “Boosting Engagement and Intercultural Competence Through Technology” in Engaging Teacher Candidates and Language Learners With Authentic Practice.

Teaching Philosophy

Dr. Kate Kagan describes teaching as a “deeply personal and interactive process” that must adapt to the unique needs of every student. “It’s impossible to teach someone something they don’t want to learn,” she explains. To inspire her students, she creates engaging, student-centered environments that connect coursework to their personal experiences.

Her teaching repertoire includes courses in linguistics, Spanish for business and health professions, Latin American cultural history, and Spanish-American film and literature. She is particularly passionate about helping students gain confidence in their language skills and empowering them to think critically in a global context.

Values

Dr. Kagan exemplifies Russell Sage College’s motto, Esse, Scire, Facere (“To Be. To Know. To Do.”), through her dedication to holistic education. She fosters an atmosphere of trust, collaboration, and mutual respect in her classes, encouraging students to see language as both a skill and a bridge to understanding diverse cultures.

When asked about her journey, she often shares: “I began studying Spanish without knowing a single word of it—not because it was easy, but because it was a challenge. That experience taught me resilience and gave me a profound appreciation for the beauty of cultural exchange.”

Favorite Quote

“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” – Rita Mae Brown

Research Interests

Applied Linguistics
19th- and 20th-Century Spanish and Latin American Literature.

Selected Publications

Russian-Spanish Phrasebook, 2008

Introduction to France, 2007

Educational Background

Ph.D.
Hispanic Linguistics
M.A., Moscow State University
B.A., Moscow State University