(Update, Sept. 19, 2021: Dr. Olena Kovalchuk's presentation is canceled due to issues related to her travel from Poland.)

Northwest Missouri State University will host Dr. Olena Kovalchuk, vice rector at Lutsk National Technical University in Ukraine, to kick off its Distinguished Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building.

Kovalchuk will present “Oil and Water: The Mixing of U.S. and Ukrainian Politics” to provide an understanding of Ukraine and U.S. involvement in the region.

“Given the heightened interest in the U.S.-Ukrainian relations that arose in the last few years, it made sense to invite someone with insight into those relations,” Kenton Wilcox, the chair of the Distinguished Lecture Series Committee and a senior instructor of English at the University, said. “She can address interests in policy, governance, education and business, which can be of interest to students with diverse disciplines.”

Kovalchuck earned her Ph.D. in educational sciences from the Institute of Pedagogics and is a professor of Ukrainian and foreign linguistics at Lutsk National Technical University. She is the author of 56 scientific publications published in Ukraine and abroad as well as a business owner. As an international scholar and presenter across Europe, Kovalchuk is familiar with the politics of Europe and Ukraine.

The lecture is free and open to the public. In alignment with Northwest’s COVID-19 mitigation measures, face coverings are required indoors.

The objective of the Distinguished Lecture Series is to enhance the academic environment through individual discipline and interdisciplinary topics. Supported by the Office of the Provost and the Student Activities Council, the series offers the Northwest campus and surrounding communities with opportunities to hear from extraordinary individuals from throughout the globe. Scholars, world travelers and leaders in their fields visit the Northwest campus to share their wisdom, insight and experiences.

In addition to Kovalchuk, the Distinguished Lecture Series will feature Capt. Scott Kelly at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. The NASA astronaut will share the challenges he and his crew have faced during his four missions to space.