Taken from the Evansville Business Journal (EBJ), October 2008
Written by Carol Wersich, EBJ staff writer

While growing up in Minsk, Belarus, in Eastern Europe, Daria Sevastianova often was told by her mother, Nadia—a professor of philosophy—that she would end up as a professor, too.

"My mother always thought it not only was the best possible career for a girl, but thought it would be ideal for me," said Sevastianova, 28.

"I told my mother, 'I'll prove you wrong. There's no way I'll possibly end up doing that.'"

At age 14, Sevastianova began traveling across Europe. She resisted her mother's notion until, as a doctoral student in economics at State University of New York at Binghamton in upstate New York, she was assigned as a teaching assistant.

"I liked the very fluid process. It was not just my students who were learning from me. I was learning just as much from them," Sevastianova said.

Today, Sevastianova—a Binghamton graduate with a doctorate in economics—is starting her second year as an assistant profess of economics at the University of Southern Indiana, which is more than 1,100 miles from Belarus, a landlocked country bounded by Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania and Latvia.

"Though I arrived at my own decision to teach, mother gets to tell me, 'I told you so.'"

Sevastianova's father, Paul—a Belarus mechanical engineer credited with inventing breakthrough glass and woodcutting machinery—always hoped for a son but never got one.

"That was his biggest complaint in life," Sevastianova said.

"But now he's very happy. He's very proud of me and of his other daughter—my sister, Catherin Sevastianova, 22, who has a national TV show, 'Handmade,' in Belarus, which is similar to the 'Martha Stewart Show.'"

Q: How did you happen to come to the United States to study?
SEVASTIANOVA: In 1998, when I was 18, I won a George Soros Scholarship (named for the global financier and philanthropist) for attending one exchange year at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

After completing the first year of studies in economics, I decided to finish my last three years at Slippery Rock on my own by holding student jobs.

Q: Can you give an example of one of those jobs?
SEVASTIANOVA: I interned at the Pennsylvania State Department of Community and Economic Development for the Governor's Center under then-Gov. Tom Ridge (later the first U.S. Homeland Security secretary).

I worked in comprehensive land-use planning and zoning ordinances. I also helped prepare the annual report of the Governor's Center.

Q: What did you take from that work?
SEVASTIANOVA: I was introduced to lots of economists, and I saw how many research opportunities there were in economics.

The work directly inspired me to go to graduate school.

Q. What do you enjoy about your current position?
SEVASTIANOVA: I like sparking people's interest in economics, and I really like it when girls see they can learn economics and are aware of all the various job opportunities there are in the field.

Q: What is your teaching style?
SEVASTIANOVA: I offer a very informal open forum, where everybody is comfortable and approachable and where conversation flows.

There is much to be gained from the exchange of ideas.

It helps everyone see things from different perspectives.

Q: How did you choose USI, and are you glad you did?
SEVASTIANOVA: USI was among my different job offers, and I'm absolutely happy that I accept4d.

We have something extraordinary with the students and the very collegiate atmosphere in the school's College of Business.

Q: What else do you like about the Evansville area?
SEVASTIANOVA: I've lived here long enough to see myself here permanently.

Someday I may explore the opportunity of a visiting-professor position for a semester or so in Eastern Europe, but nothing that would have me there forever.

Q: What are your outside interests?
SEVASTIANOVA: I play tennis, I like painting with acrylics. I enjoy hanging out with my friends all over the country and world via the Internet.