From Seton Hall to the Defense Language Institute: Teaching Russian for Global Impact
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Allison Wrubel, DLIFLC Russian Language Instructor
As a Russian Instructor at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) in Monterey, California, Allison Wrubel 23’ graduated, spends her time teaching immersive, all-Russian courses to U.S. service members. “No two days are alike,” says the former Diplomacy and International Relations major. “Everything happens in the target language—from grammar drills to discussions of geopolitics.” Between classes, she develops new materials, assesses student progress and engages in ongoing professional development. “Watching students gain both language and cultural competence for critical missions makes it all worthwhile.”
Wrubel’s path to this role began at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, where she turned her passion for Russian into hands-on experience. A Virtual Student Federal Service internship with the U.S. Foreign Service Institute proved pivotal. Wrubel created more than 280 Russian grammar exercises now used to train diplomats. Additional internships with The Gem Project and BurkinaBe in Action honed her leadership skills and adaptability, while campus involvement as President of Seton Hall University UNA-USA and Slavic Club executive board member built essential organizational and communication skills.
Wrubel credits professors Anna Kuchta and Tatiana Shiloff in Seton Hall’s Russian Department for shaping her teaching philosophy. “Professor Shiloff believed in me even when I doubted myself,” she says. “Her mentorship taught me what great teaching looks like.”
For current and future Diplomacy students, Wrubel’s message is simple: “Don’t wait for opportunities—create them.” She encourages students to apply their skills beyond the classroom, get involved in organizations that reflect their interests and make language study a living part of daily life. “Even unrelated experiences connect in ways you don’t expect,” she adds. “Every step prepares you for something bigger.”
