Alumni Virtual Discussions: Ukraine

Description:

The Jackson School Office of Alumni Affairs will host a virtual discussion on the impact of the U.S. presidential election on Russia’s war in Ukraine with Luke Johnson MA ’18 and 2019 World Fellow Olena Sotnyk, moderated by Eric Sanderson BA ‘20.

Luke Johnson is a Berlin-based journalist covering politics, media, and society in Central and Eastern Europe, primarily focusing on the War in Ukraine and its regional effects. He writes the newsletter Public Sphere for people trying to understand the crisis of democracy in the U.S. and abroad. His reporting and analysis have been featured in The New Republic, Foreign Policy, Columbia Journalism Review, Internationale Politik Quarterly, The Washington Post, The Parliament Magazine, and many other publications. In 2024, he reported from Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia.

Olena Sotnyk is a Ukrainian human rights defender, politician and lawyer and currently serves as advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Minister of Justice and the Senior Representative for Rasmussen Global in Ukraine. Her work primarily focuses on the European integration of Ukraine, Euro-Atlantic integration, advocacy for the humanitarian rights of Ukraine abroad, preventing and mitigating consequences of sexual violence from Russian soldiers in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine and preventing the genocide of Ukrainians. As a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament, she is a well-known legislator and public policymaker in areas such as rule of law and judicial system reform.

Eric Sanderson is a captain in the United States Air Force stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. As a tactical air control party officer, he integrates with U.S. Army teams and directs air-to-surface and surface-to-surface fires. His military unit focuses on the European area of operations, and he completed a rotation to Poland in 2023. Additionally, Eric serves as an executive officer for the Air Force’s Scientific Advisory Board, an independent committee providing advice to the Secretary of the Air Force on science and technology research.

Please note that the speakers at this event will be sharing their personal views, which do not necessarily reflect the official positions or policies of their respective institutions.

This event is open to the public, but registration is required.