Cynthia Whittaker

Cynthia Hyla Whittaker (born 1942) is an American academic and author. As a historian, she specializes in the history of Eastern Europe, especially the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. She built her career while teaching courses in the subject at Baruch College.

Early life

Cynthia Hyla Whittaker was born in 1942. She received an undergraduate degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York in 1962. She received advanced degrees in Russian history and literature from Indiana University at Bloomington.

Career

Whittaker has taught courses in Eastern European history at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Baruch College since 1984, and is currently Chair of the History Department there. Whittaker is a Fulbright Scholar and has received research grants from—among others—the Harriman and Kennan Institutes, as well as the Rockefeller Foundation.

From 1999–2000 she was a visiting fellow at the Slavic Research Center of Hokkaido University in Japan. From October 2003 to May 2004 she co-curated a museum exhibit entitled Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825 at the New York Public Library.