Derek Golob is from Menlo Park, California, and graduated from George Washington University in 2023 with a degree in Political Science. His studies focused on Russian and Hungarian politics, especially economic issues and language policy.

He has professional experience at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he managed collections of Russian-language materials and East European publications. Derek has traveled to many countries in Eastern Europe to study diasporas and languages.

His main interests include economic policy and language regulation in Eastern Europe, with a special focus on Russia and Hungary. He hopes to work in the private sector as a regional analyst or consultant. Through the CERES program, he aims to build strong research skills and deepen his understanding of the region.