Ukraine in Context: A Historical & Personal Perspective (SPUR)

The Ukrainian people have historically lived under the rule of foreign powers for extended periods of time but have nevertheless constantly worked to preserve and develop their unique cultural and ethnic identity. The contemporary, independent, democratic nation of Ukraine was born during a period of great upheaval in Central and Eastern Europe in the early 1990s that culminated with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The reverberations from that upheaval continue today with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This course will examine the evolution of Ukraine from its very beginning, with emphasis on relevant events of the past century.

John Olienyk earned his PhD in economics at Colorado State University and subsequently served for 37 years as a faculty member there, first in the Department of Economics, then in the Department of Finance and Real Estate, where he specialized in international finance. He developed a reputation as an outstanding teacher and was the recipient of several awards for excellence in teaching. All four of John’s grandparents were born in Ukraine and Ukrainian culture and traditions were deeply imbedded in him at an early age. This background was partial motivation for his participation in a US government-sponsored faculty development program involving universities in the former Soviet Union. In this program John served as a trainer and mentor for young business and economics professors in universities primarily in Ukraine, but also in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia over a period of twelve years. He has traveled extensively throughout Ukraine and maintains relationships with many of his university contacts there.

Notes

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