Rebecca J. Neary, J87, A22P

Rebecca holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts in 1987. She received her MA in International Affairs and PhD in Russian History from Columbia University, where she was a recipient of multiple Foreign Language and Area Studies grants and the Harriman Institute post-doctoral fellowship. She studied and undertook her dissertation research in Russia with fellowships  from the International Research and Exchanges Board and Social Science Research Council, and in Poland with assistance from the Kosciusko Foundation. Her work on gender and popular culture in the Stalin era has been published in academic journals and monographs, and she has taught Russian, Eastern European, and European Women’s History at Drew University and elsewhere.

More recently, Rebecca has served on a number of non-profit boards, including the Collegiate School in New York City, where she was Parents Association president. She is president of the Warren Land Trust in Litchfield County, Connecticut, where she also serves on the boards of the Warren Historical Society, the Housatonic Valley Association and Connecticut Land Conservation Council.

Rebecca is married to Jim Neary, A87 A22P. They are co-chairs of the Tufts President’s Council, which was formed under their leadership in 2016. With over 50 active members, the Council provides President Monaco with suggestions and feedback on a range of issues pertaining to university policies and student life. Rebecca and Jim are parents of Kira (Northwestern ‘21) and Will A22.

She was elected to the Tufts University Board of Trustees on November 2, 2019.

November 2, 2019