Simon Gerst

Simon Gerst is a senior completing a triple major in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Jewish Studies, and German. He is also pursuing minors in History and Government and certificates in Core Texts & Ideas and Security Studies. Simon’s time in the Frank Denius Normandy Scholar Program on World War II (NSP) sparked his interest in national security. Following NSP, he interned with the U.S. Department of State in the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Additionally, Simon has worked as a research assistant with UT-Austin’s Global (Dis)Information Lab (GDIL). This summer, Simon completed the Clements Center’s London Maymester. Afterwards, he took Russian courses in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with the support of a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship. He was also awarded a FLAS fellowship for the current academic year. Outside of the Clements Center, Simon is the president of the Texas Jewish Studies Undergraduate Students’ Association. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in May, he intends to pursue graduate study.