In Solidarity with Ukraine: Diplomatic Perspectives on Resilience and Hope

Join a panel discussion as part of the 2025 Ukrainian Studies Hub Conference: Revolutions of Hope: Resilience and Recovery in Ukraine. This plenary session will include insightful remarks from Kateryna Smagliy, William B. Taylor, and Svitlana Ramer, chair. Join us on Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. ET.

Kateryna Smagliy is a Ukrainian diplomat serving at the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA since 2022, focusing on political and public diplomacy. She joined Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2021, holding the rank of Counselor. Previously, she directed the Kennan Institute Kyiv Office, consulted for the European Endowment for Democracy, and led the Anti-Crisis Humanitarian Program at the International Renaissance Foundation. Smagliy also served as the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv’s principal liaison with Ukraine’s parliament. Parallel to her diplomatic career, she has taught leadership and international relations at Donetsk National University and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

William B. Taylor served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009 and as chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv in 2019. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Syria. Taylor also served as the U.S. government’s representative to the Mideast Quartet in Jerusalem and coordinated U.S. assistance to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the 1990s. A graduate of West Point and Harvard’s Kennedy School, he served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Germany.

Svitlana Ramer represents Ukraine’s diplomatic interests within the Hoosier state. She also serves as the senior field engagement and communications manager at DAI Global, overseeing communications for Ukraine projects. Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she earned her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, focusing on the acculturation of Ukrainian immigrants in the U.S. Dr. Ramer is the founder and president of the Ukrainian Society of Indiana, a nonprofit supporting Ukrainian Hoosiers through cultural and educational initiatives. Her contributions earned her the 2024 Global Impression Award for impactful global leadership.

For more information visit the event website.