1995 – 2003: Dr. Boris Firsov, a well-known sociologist and the central figure in the foundation of EUSP 2003 – 2009: Dr. Nikolai Vakhtin, professor in sociolinguistics, a co-author of the initial "Concept of EUSP", held two terms as Rector June 2009 – June 2017: Dr. Oleg Kharkhordin, the first Rector with a Western PhD (Political Science, University of California, Berkeley), and a former Vice-Rector for Development under whose auspices the University started setting up its endowment.[18] June 2017 – August 2018: Dr. Nikolai Vakhtin took the position again as an interim rector. September 2018 - present time: Dr. Vadim Volkov, a well-known sociologist and Head of the Research Institute for the Rule of Law.