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Kennan Institute Appoints New Director of Its Kyiv Office

The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kateryna Smagliy as the new Director of its Kyiv office. Dr. Yaroslav Pylynskyi, who has headed the office since its founding in 1998, will continue with the Institute’s Kyiv office as a Senior Advisor.

The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kateryna Smagliy as the new Director of its Kyiv office. Dr. Yaroslav Pylynskyi, who has headed the office since its founding in 1998, will continue with the Institute’s Kyiv office as a Senior Advisor.

Kateryna Smagliy has more than 15 years of professional experience with a variety of organizations, including NGOs, diplomatic missions, democracy-promotion programs, civil society and academia. As a Fulbright Kennan scholar in 2012-2013, she studied the history of American philanthropy and social entrepreneurship, which resulted in the publication of the book “Everyone is a Changemaker: Social Entrepreneurship and Strategic Philanthropy.”

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the appointment of Dr. Smagliy as our new director in Kyiv,” said Matt Rojansky, Director of the Kennan Institute. “As the only U.S. think tank that has maintained continuous presence on the ground in Ukraine for the last 16 years, we remain committed to the country and are excited about adding the experience and enthusiasm of Dr. Smagliy.”

Dr. Smagliy most recently served as a Kyiv-based consultant of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). She assisted the EU-based foundation with developing a Ukraine-focused strategy and engaging with new civic actors striving for democracy at the Euromaidan.

Prior to joining the EED, Dr. Smagliy led the Anti-Crisis Humanitarian Program at the International Renaissance Foundation, where she designed and implemented a variety of large-scale philanthropic initiatives in support of Ukraine’s educational and cultural institutions in partnership with the Education and Science Ministry, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Ministry for Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

In 2003-2008 Dr. Smagliy worked with the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, serving as the Embassy’s principal liaison officer with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In 2005 she was awarded a Superior Honor Award by the U.S. Department of State “For sustained superior performance to promote democracy in Ukraine during the 2004 ‘Orange revolution’.” She maintains an extensive network of contacts among members of parliament, state officials, and the NGO community.

“We look forward to an even greater engagement with our current and future Ukrainian alumni and believe that they will be well-served with Dr. Smagliy as our new director,” said William Pomeranz, Deputy Director of the Kennan Institute. “In this context, we are particularly pleased that Dr. Pylynskyi will continue as a Senior Advisor with us, which will enable to us to continue to avail ourselves of his great expertise and experience.”

Dr. Smagliy will begin her duties on December 1, 2014. 

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Kennan Institute

The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange.  Read more