Ron is a former professor who taught courses on the culture, ethnicity, folklore, religion and geo-politics of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East at the University of Oregon for 30 years. For the past 50 years he has traveled extensively throughout these regions conducting research on these factors and how they influence human activity, relations, and development. As such, he has become a consultant for the US and a number of foreign governments on cultural, ethnic, national, and religious conflict, and has provided expert witness testimony regarding international issues. He is also an ardent folklorist of the Balkans and has taught ethnic dance from all of the Balkan countries. He also owns one of the world’s largest and most extensive collections of traditional Balkan costumes. He is an engaging lecturer and has earned a number of teaching and faculty awards throughout his career. He is also a linguist, speaking Russian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Serbo-Croatian, as well as being conversant in Macedonian and German. To date, Ron has been a lecturer and leader on over 150 international tours and trips.

Ron's Blog Posts

Even Our Staff Agrees - You Don't Want to Miss the Baltic!

The Importance of Cultural Geography: A Q&A with Zegrahm Expert Ron Wixman