Ukraine Dialogue
Each year, Manor College is proud to host two Ukraine Dialogue speakers series programs where members of the Manor campus, Ukrainian, Ukrainian-American, and American communities join together to discuss critical political, religious, humanitarian, and other social issues that face Ukraine. The dialogues are in-person and virtual, engaging, purposeful, and compassionate regarding Ukraine and its people.
Thank you to our sponsor
Thursday, November 6, 2025
4:00 PM | Ukrainian Heritage Studies Museum at Manor College and Via Zoom
First Lady Olena Zelenska’s Diplomacy Exporting Ukrainian Culture through Academia
The new Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies (GCUS) initiative, inspired by First Lady Olena Zelenska, uses cultural diplomacy and international educational partnerships to solidify Ukraine’s distinct identity and counteract historical revisionism worldwide. Join us for a program discussing how the GCUS is ensuring that Ukraine’s culture is preserved globally and with the world’s most esteemed colleges and universities, so that no matter how desperately Russia attempts to squelch Ukraine’s culture, it will live on and grow, having the opposite effect from what Putin intends.
Featured Panelists
Dr. Olha Oseredchuk: Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences (PhD in History), Head of the Project Office of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, and Professor at the Department of Practical Psychology and Mental Health, Lviv Polytechnic National University. She has over 15 years of experience in the field of higher education and academic development. Formerly Chair of the National Expert Council, Trainer and Expert of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA), and Expert of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. Her research focuses on adult education, particularly learning and reintegration of veterans, as well as teaching excellence and professional development of educators. She has extensive experience as a trainer in leadership and management development programs for both public and private sector institutions. Olha is the author of the course “Improving Teaching Excellence” at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and a participant in numerous international projects under Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, focused on digital transformation, innovation, and academic capacity building.
Olga Budnyk: Olga Budnyk is an expert in civic and political education and a specialist in public administration. She currently serves as the Adviser – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine on the Fund of the President of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports. Olga holds a degree from the Faculty of Economics of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and has gained leadership skills through the Lviv Business School at the Ukrainian Catholic University. From 2014 to 2021, she served as Executive Director and Head of the Civic and Political Education Program at the NGO “Centre of Political Studies and Analytics ‘Eidos’.” She has interned at the European Parliament and think tanks in Brussels and Strasbourg, and completed professional development programs in Germany, Hungary, Belgium, and the United States. Olga is the co-author of an alternative report on the legitimacy of establishing educational institutions by religious organizations, a policy brief on non-formal education, and several publications on the transparency and accountability of public finances. She initiated the development of a national plan to improve psychological support systems and ensure a safe educational environment. Under her leadership, the President of Ukraine’s Foundation has launched presidential scholarships and awards for winners of national and international academic competitions, hosted the first National Forum of Talented Youth, and is developing a program to build a community of the Presidential Talent Pool. Together with international partners, she launched the Twinning initiative, establishing over 100 partnerships between Ukrainian and UK universities. She also initiated dual-degree programs with leading UK universities and the creation of the Global Coalition for Ukrainian Studies.
MODERATED BY
Ambassador Roman Popadiuk: American diplomat, the first United States Ambassador to Ukraine under George H.W. Bush Administration
Previous Ukraine Dialogues
2025
Ukraine Through Our Eyes: Reflections from Congress and Journalists – Watch the Replay Here
2024
Business and Industry Innovations Helping Ukraine’s Community – Watch the Replay Here
Diplomacy in War: Roles and Functions of an Ambassador – Watch the Replay Here
2023
Supporting Ukraine’s Service Members and Veterans – Watch the Replay Here
Russia’s Wartime Incursion of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant – Watch the Replay Here
2022
Constitutions of the US & Ukraine: Enduring Foreign Aggression – Watch the Replay Here
2021
30 Years of Ukrainian Independence – Part I – Russian Invasion and Military Relationship with the U.S. – Learn More Here
30 Years of Ukrainian Independence – Part II – Linguistic, Financial and Religious Implications – Watch the Replay Here
2020
Zelenskyy’s 1st Year Leading – Watch the Replay Here
2019
Emerging Women in Politics in, of, and for Ukraine – Learn More Here
Kyiv Patriarchy and Russian Aggression in the Kerch Strait – Learn More Here
2018
Hacking and the New Russia – Learn More Here
Moving Beyond the Failed Minsk Process and Ending Russia’s war in Ukraine
2017
America’s Relationship & Moral Obligation
Education as the Battlefront for Democracy – Learn More Here