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A Milestone But Not a Finish Line: 20 Years of Muskie

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Right now, nearly 5,000 leaders in cities, towns, and villages across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus are working to advance democracy, spur economic growth, reduce poverty, improve health, bolster community services, protect the environment and human rights, and promote gender equality. These alumni from 20 years of the Muskie Program are using the new technical skills and professional knowledge gained from their studies in the United States to develop their countries and communities.  Fifty percent of the alumni are working in the public and non-profit sectors. Together they form a network of change-makers forging strong ties with the United States and improving their societies from the inside.

Right now, nearly 5,000 leaders in cities, towns, and villages across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus are working to advance democracy, spur economic growth, reduce poverty, improve health, bolster community services, protect the environment and human rights, and promote gender equality.

Feature Image Caption: 
Muskie Orientation 2011

Encounters with Muskie Alumni Leaders

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I’ve been fortunate to visit four IREX field offices and one theme loudly surfaces each time- Muskie alumni are everywhere. I hear about their great work from our country directors. I run into them on the streets on my way to meet other alumni.

I’ve been fortunate to visit four IREX field offices and one theme loudly surfaces each time- Muskie alumni are everywhere. I hear about their great work from our country directors. I run into them on the streets on my way to meet other alumni. During a recent trip to Kyrgyzstan, I visited an alumna at the American University in Bishkek who is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. To my surprise, other Muskie alumni also work at the university and by the end of the appointment, we had a mini alumni roundtable.

Feature Image Caption: 
Shakirati from Kyrgyzstan, curently oversees 15 agencies for UNDP. Previous, she was the Executive Director for the Eurasia Foundation

Muskie Alumnus Advances Transparency at the Local Level

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I recently traveled to Luhansk, Ukraine, to witness alumni of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program in action. In a region filled with challenges—lagging industry, political division, and unemployment—one alumnus I met with is offering hope and driving positive change. Meet Volodymyr Shcherbachenko , who started a local NGO, the East Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives (EUCCI), which currently works to protect homeowner’s rights and open spaces like parks, forests, and neighborhoods.

I recently traveled to Luhansk, Ukraine, to witness alumni of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program in action. In a region filled with challenges—lagging industry, political division, and unemployment—one alumnus I met with is offering hope and driving positive change.

Penn State Profiles Muskie Law Fellow

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Sardorbek Abdukhalilov, a 2010 Muskie law fellow from Kyrgyzstan, is increasing his knowledge of mediation and negotiation through his studies in Penn State’s LL.M. program. 

 

Prior to becoming a Muskie fellow, Sardorbek Abdukhailov worked in Kyrgyzstan as a lawyer for energy and raw materials suppliers.  In his application essay, Abdukailov wrote that he aspired to be useful to himself, his local community, and the wider public. “The [Muskie] Program will undoubtedly help me to take my usefulness to the next level, broaden its scope and strengthen its depth,” Abdukhalilov wrote in the summer of 2010.

Commentator Zakaria Inspires Muskie Fellow

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Ani Ter-Mkrtchyan met journalist and international affairs specialist Fareed Zakaria at a dinner event during his visit to the University of Oklahoma campus.   She also attended his public lecture on America’s role in the global community. 

“Zakaria’s personality and approach inspired me to register for the dinner,” explains Muskie fellow Ani Ter-Mkrtchyan.  Ter-Mkrtchyan met journalist and international affairs specialist Fareed Zakaria at a dinner event during his visit to the University of Oklahoma campus.   She also attended his public lecture on America&rsquo

Volunteerism in Russia: A Charity Ball for Elena

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Growing up in the United States, it seemed like everyone was volunteering all of the time and the spirit of volunteerism was something I took for granted.

Growing up in the United States, it seemed like everyone was volunteering all of the time and the spirit of volunteerism was something I took for granted. I’ve now lived in Russia for a little over three years and realize that that spirit isn’t necessarily entirely universal. But that doesn’t mean that people aren’t volunteering in Russia, there just isn’t the same cultural acceptance of volunteering that there is in America.

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