Tania was born in Morocco to Russian parents and, as a child, immigrated to the US in 1955. She grew up in San Francisco and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Russian Language and Literature. In 1971, she met the immediate past president of BDSC, Rett Ertl, on a camping and driving trip through the Soviet Union. In total, she has spent over three years in the USSR on various business and tourist trips, and together with Rett lived in Europe for several years. Rett and Tania moved to Boulder in 1981 and became involved with the Dushanbe Sister City organization as Russian translators/interpreters. In the past decade, their involvement increased with Rett becoming president, traveling to Tajikistan, organizing events in Boulder with the Denver Tajik community, and hosting Tajik visitors. Rett passed away recently, and Tania has joined the board to continue his legacy. While in Boulder, Tania owned and operated a bookstore, worked in Boulder Valley schools, and volunteered as a parent in her two children’s schools. Tania enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and skiing.