This article presents an interview with Beatrice Beach Szekely, a comparative education scholar that specialized in the Soviet Union. She was editor of the journal "Soviet Education" from 1970 to 1989. During the interview, Szekely talked about how she became personally involved in Russian/Soviet studies of education. She related that her interest in the Russian studies of education began when her American history teacher laid down the "New York Times" and told her and her classmates the profound importance of the launching of the Sputnik. She also talked about the focus of her research and professional activities. She also related the impact of the cold war on U.S. and Soviet involvement with the "third world."