Elizaveta (Liz) Lepikhova (she/they):
social justice educator, GIS enthusiast, versatile artist


Elizaveta (Liz) Lepikhova wearing a flowery dress sitting at her laptop while looking at the camera and smiling

Research and Teaching Interests

Sociological theory, Sociology of Inequality, Sociology of Race  and Ethnicity, Deviance, Mapping, Sociology of Time, Social Anthropology, Urban Studies, Urban Planning, Demography, (Socio)linguistics, Philosophy

Language Proficiency

  • Russian
    (native)
  • English
    C2 (proficient)
  • French
    B2 [ranked A+ in Intermediate
    French Grammar
    in University of Winnipeg]
  • Japanese
    (Beginner)
    [Cerificate of Completion
    from Okayama Institute
    of Languages]

Software Experience

R Studio, Stata, SPSS, Python, ArcGIS, QGIS, HTML, CSS, Microsoft Office

Social Justice Educator Practices: Teaching Philosophy

I believe that as an instructor I must be a catalyst for students’ goal-attainment and, ultimately, academic success via engaging with what they have already accumulated in their lives. Hence, my main duty as an educator is not to show the only proper foundations of society, but, on the contrary, to foster their capacity for self-reflection, independent action and responsibility. Thus, the multitude of issues discussed, and a variety of perspectives considered remain a constant focus of the classes I have the honor of teaching.

I strongly believe that science should be as diverse and as equitable as possible; a passion accessible by everyone whoever wants to get involved in it. In my opinion, it is crucial to put the heart on your sleeve to show what you stand for and where your biases may lie in the discussion of social issues. Openness and sincerity are those elements that truly foster a safer and a more genuine space for challenging discussions, allowing to build a personable connection that transcends educational boundaries. Transparency of views, goals, requirements and evaluations follow the same pattern. Hence, all the courses that I teach are a communal creation, where I learn from students as much as they learn from me in a constant flow of information and energy exchanges. All this produces maybe not a philosopher’s stone, but something equally magical.

Taught Courses (Instructorsip and Assistantship)

Instructorship

2015-2016
Teaching students of 9-11 grades a course “Society on a verge of a nervous breakdown” (Intro to Sociology) on a volunteer basis in the educational project Vyshka-lite
2019
Selected course instructor for Scientific Research Seminars in the School of Social Sciences for high school students: “My Body-My Business: Stigmatization of People with Tattoos, Piercings and Unnatural Hair Color”
2023-2024
Course instructor for the in-person class Introduction to Sociology-002 in the University Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Supplementary Instructorship

2018
Teaching consultant of Balashova G.K. (course “Applied Computer Science”) in Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
2020-2021
Supplemental Instructor of Prof. Timothy L. O’Brien (course SOCIOL 101- 201, Introduction to Sociology) in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2021
Supplemental Instructor of Theresa Beaumier, Yi Yin and Prof. Aki Roberts (course SOCIOL 261-402/801,403/803,201/904&905, Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology) in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2022
Tutor of Geometry and Advanced Math I in Upward Bound via University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Teaching Assistantship

2016-2018
Voluntary teaching assistant of Nikolaev V.G. at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
2017-2018
Teaching assistant of Simonova O.A. (course “Sociological Theory”) at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
2018-2019
Teaching assistant of Nikolaev V.G. at Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
2019-2023
Teaching Assistant of Prof. Kent Redding (course SOCIOL 101, Introduction to Sociology) in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2022
Teaching Assistant of Prof. Timothy L. O’Brien (course SOCIOL 101, Introduction to Sociology) in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Research Assistantship

2018
Participant of the demographic HSE expedition “Migration in the Udmurt Republic”

Published Work

  • 2021   Lepikhova, E. (2021). Podcast review: Give theory a chance. Teaching Sociology, 49(4), 422- 425. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055x211049268
  • 2021 Lepikhova, E. (Guest). (2021, June 11). Give Theory a Chance: Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann.
    [Audio podcast].


Unpublished Work

  • 2016 Collective course work “Typology and Factors of Social-Darwinism Ideology” (scientific supervisor Balashova G.K.)
  • 2018 Collective course work “Stigmatization Mechanisms of People with a Unique Body Image: Russia and Canada” (scientific supervisor Yudin G.B.)
  • 2019 Bachelor’s Thesis “Theoretical and Methodological Approach to The Study of Social Organization of Time in The Context of Social Inequalities” (scientific supervisor Nikolaev V.G, scientific advisor Balashova G.K.)

Conference Presentations

  • 2017 Conference of young scientists “Alliance of Social Sciences” with the report “Tattoo as a Rite of Passage”
  • 2018 Conference of young scientists “Alliance of Social Sciences” together with professor Balashova G.K. with the topic “Interiorization of Social Darwinism Ideology”

Teaching Certificates

2019
Teaching Students with ADHD (18 course hours at Study.com)
2020
Methods of Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language (350 course hours); title “Teacher of Russian as a Foreign Language”
2020-2021
Master Diploma TEFL TESOL Course (300 course hours at TEFL Training College)
2021
Certificate in Online and Blended Teaching
2020-2022
CRLA’s International Tutor Training Program Certification Completion

You can also take a look at my research-related certificates   here

Grand Canyon landscape in January during sunset





When not in school, I absolutely love traveling which has definitely inspired my passion for cartography and web GIS.









GIS Enthusiast Projects

Music venues and open mics/jams (Milwaukee and adjacent areas)

The map represents the music venues in Milwaukee and adjacent areas that can be booked by local artists as well as touring musicians. Moreover, it shows open mics and open jams that can be visited by musicians and music connoisseurs alike. The stars represent the open mics or jams on the map. Finally, there are four buffer zones presented on the map signifying different DIY Music Spaces that one can visit or book. The map is designed so that onean navigate your way around Milwaukee, Waukesha and Ozaukee counties to see all the music venues on the map.

More information can be found at the ArcGIS Online Portal

.

COVID Vaccine Acceptance by US States July 2020- March 2021

The storymap uses the data retrieved from MIT COVID-19 Beliefs, Behaviors and Norms Survey that was conducted from July 2020 until March 2021 in 23 countries with recruitment facilitated by Facebook. In the US, the survey was conducted in three waves. The storymap demonstrates the change in vaccine acceptance beliefs by US States between waves/volumes 1 (07/06/2020 - 27/10/2020) and 3 (11/10/2020 - 29/03/2021) of MIT COVID-19 COVID-19 Beliefs, Behaviors & Norms Survey.



Mapping Queer-Friendly Spaces in Milwaukee

This project uses Survey123 to encourage community-centered mapping of queer spaces in Milwaukee, WI



Milwaukee Neighborhoods LibGuide

This LibGuide created with colorblindness in mind, provides basic information on all Milwaukee Neighborhoods


International Map of the World: Millionth Map of Hispanic America Collection

This app represents a digital collection of the Millionth Map of Hispanic America Collection at the American Geographical Society Library



This story map is devoted to history and hallmarks of the Millionth Map of Hispanic America Collection at the American Geographical Society Library


Relevant Work and Internship Experience

American Geographical Society Library GIS Intern

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

June 2023-present

Duties include:

  • Conducting reference interviews, consultations, and facilitating requests for spatial data, digital images, and printing for students, faculty, researchers, and the public
  • Developing learning materials related to discovering, processing, mapping, and analyzing spatial data and the AGSL collections
  • Creating or editing metadata for geospatial data and helping develop workflows for ingest, access, and discovery of geospatial data
  • Archival quality map scanning using a large format scanner and printing using a large format printer
  • Special projects related to the intern’s academic goals, career goals, and skills
  • Performing other library tasks such as greeting visitors, giving directions, responding to e-mails, referring users to appropriate subject experts

Mapping Racism and Prejudice Project Assistant

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

March 2024-present


Relevant Certifications

2022-2024
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (expected)
2023
HTML Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning
2023
CSS Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning
2023
Introduction to Accessible Web Development by Coursera
2023
GIT Essential Training by LinkedIn Learning
2023
Learning GitHub by LinkedIn Learning
2023
Python for Everyone by ESRI
2023
Python Scripting: Modifying Layer Properties

You can also take a look at my teaching-related certificates  here



Education

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

2021-2025
[Expected] Sociology Ph.D.
2021-2022
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

2022-2024
[Expected] Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

2019-2021
Master of Arts (in Sociology) [fully funded]
2019-2020
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award

University of Winnipeg, Manitoba

2018
(Selected Courses as an Exchange Student)

Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia (Cum Laude)

2015-2019
Bachelor's in Sociology (Minor: Urban Studies)
2017
Nominee for the “Golden Hight” award from the Faculty of Social Sciences in the nomination “Silver nestling”
2017
1st in the HSE Social Sciences Winter School with the collective project “Aging in Contemporary Society”