Tervehdys/Greetings!
The last year has been one of Finnish Program’s busiest ever. During autumn 2025, we welcomed a new lecturer and a new Foreign Language Teaching Assistant in Finnish. Students continue to find the Finnish program, and minor and major. In collaboration with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, we hosted nine Finnish visitors during winter and spring 2025, and this fall were able to have one of them back as a visiting professor. And we have the good fortune to have two Finnish Fulbright students with us this fall.
The new visiting lecturer of Finnish Heidi Mustisto says:
- “It’s truly wonderful to have the chance to teach our beloved Finnish on the other side of the world! I am grateful and moved by the students’ interest in Finland and her culture, but especially that the students are motivated to study the Finnish language.”
As in the past, students tell the story of Finnish at UW especially well. Let’s hear what they have to say:
“Finnish is such a fun language to learn since it's so different from English (learning all of the grammatical cases is quite the challenge!). But Finnish class is always the best part of my day. :).”
Another says, “I have really enjoyed the structure of the Finnish class. I like learning new words through songs and the exercises in the book. We learn new words every day from multiple places, which is exciting.”
“My Finnish studies are a fun but challenging break from my master's research. It is nice to be involved in the Scandinavian Department at UW, as they host many events and Finnish guests throughout the year that expand my horizons outside of my department in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. I am especially grateful to have received the Eero and Helli Tetri Endowed Fund for Finnish Studies, as this scholarship allowed me to take a language course at Helsingin Seudun Kesäyliopisto in Finland last summer, which greatly advanced my language level in a short amount of time.
Another student who is involved in the Finnish program is Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant from the University of Helsinki, Alma Komulainen. Alma says,
- “It’s been a pleasure to teach a Finnish language course whose students are truly talented and motivated. In addition, the Finnish language community at our university and throughout the city has been warm and welcoming. I am delighted to be in Seattle!”
The many guests who came in winter and spring of 2025 were visitors to the Jackson School. They spoke on Finland’s new NATO membership, Sámi studies, climate change, Finnish foreign policy, and many other topics. Their visits were part of the FIN-WA Initiative, which was made possible by a grant from the state of Washington. The initiative aimed to build on the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between Washington State and Finland. And it did!
One autumnal result of FIN-WA is an invited visit to the UW this fall by professor of history and politics, Markku Jokisipilä. Professor Jokisipilä visited UW last January. Professor Jokisipilä is a visitor in JSIS during autumn quarter. In Finland, he is Director of the Center for Parliamentary Studies at the University of Turku, author of ten books, and a frequent television commentator on Finnish politics. At UW, he is teaching the class Scandinavia in World Affairs. The course discusses ”the history of Northern Europe since the end of WWII, as well as what is happening in Europe today. The war in Ukraine and NATO are also part of the discussion,” says Jokisipilä. He adds about the visit,
- “I am captivated by the ‘get it done’ attitude in the U.S. When people decide to do something, they commit to it, and they don’t spare resources. I enjoy being a part of that, because that’s the way I am, too.”
Another visitor in the Jackson School is Dr. Eeva Kuikka, a Finnish Fulbright scholar from the University of Tampere, who researches the culture and politics of Finno-Ugric Indigenous peoples’ literatures in northern Russia. Dr. Kuikka’s research brought her to Fairbanks, AK, and she recently gave a lecture in the Jackson School about her research. She is particularly interested in the meanings conveyed by animals in literature. Dr. Kuikka has advanced her research and made many contacts at UW, just what a Fulbright Scholar aims to do.
University of Helsinki literary scholar Toni Lahtinen also visited the UW this fall and spoke about Finnish dystopian novels. He has done pathbreaking research about how young people read novels about climate change by using empirical methods. Toni’s research suggests that novels about climate change do not always change young readers’ minds in the way one might expect.
As you can see, the Finnish Program has been busier than ever. We send all thanks to supporters of the Finnish Program for empowering students, faculty, and course visitors alike in their research, teaching, and studies! We wish you all a restful and happy holiday season. Kiitämme jatkuvasta tuestanne ja niin ikään yhteisön lujasta uskosta suomen ohjelman toimintaan. Toivomme kaikille rauhaisaa joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta 2026!
Please make a gift this year to continue the strength of Finnish at UW!
Sincerely,
Andrew Nestingen
Professor