Eurasia Foundation Launches Eighth Year of Young Professionals Network

September 24, 2019

On September 24th, Eurasia Foundation Trustee George Ingram will be joined by EF President Lisa Coll in welcoming 25 new members into the Young Professionals Network (YPN).

This will be the eighth cohort to join YPN. These emerging leaders will meet regularly over the next nine months to engage in meaningful discussions with seasoned professionals in diplomacy, policy, journalism, and government affairs, as well as participate in informal happy hour networking sessions. Discussion topics will include diplomacy, security, economic development, and foreign assistance.

This year’s cohort represents a diverse array of professional backgrounds, including government, non-profits, media, the private sector, think tanks, and academia, and includes Presidential Management and Pickering Fellows. The new cohort of 15 women and 10 men represent 10 countries, including Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Russia, Turkmenistan, the U.S., Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. All have extensive language, education, and work experience in the Eurasian region.

“I joined the Young Professionals Network, so I could meet other young, enthusiastic people interested in the region,” stated Eva Jovanova, an M.A. candidate at Georgetown University and editor at The Vostokian. “I’m very excited to attend events with regional policy-makers and have meaningful discussions with other fellows.”

Eurasia Foundation’s Board of Trustees established the Young Professionals Network in 2012 to honor EF’s late Board Chair Sarah Carey for her pioneering spirit and deep connection to Russia and the Eurasia region. EF identifies rising leaders who share Sarah Carey’s commitment to international engagement in the region and connects them with established professionals who can help mentor a new generation of politicians, diplomats, and analysts. During its eight-year history, EF has welcomed 239 emerging professionals into the network.

Profiles of this year’s cohort can be found  here, and a video about the program is available  here.