{"id":55515,"date":"2024-01-31T11:56:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T16:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=55515"},"modified":"2024-02-01T12:40:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T17:40:10","slug":"keim-lecture-series-brings-expert-on-russia-ukraine-war-to-emu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2024\/keim-lecture-series-brings-expert-on-russia-ukraine-war-to-emu\/","title":{"rendered":"Students gain fresh perspective on Ukraine through Keim Lecture Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EMU junior Jason Dwyer<\/strong> is interested in a career in public policy. The Fairfax, Virginia, native is double-majoring in political science and history and envisions a job someday at the U.S. Department of State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when Dr. Kristina Hook<\/strong>, a former State Department policy adviser for mass atrocity prevention, visited EMU last week to present on Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, Dwyer jumped at the chance to see her speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was fascinating and interesting to see someone in the field talk about what they\u2019re passionate about,\u201d Dwyer said. \u201cIt was cool, especially to hear not necessarily what you get on the news.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hook<\/a> is an assistant professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University specializing in comparative genocide studies. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Fulbright and USAID fellowships, she has conducted fieldwork in Ukraine since 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was selected as this year\u2019s speaker for the annual Albert N. Keim Lecture Series, presented by the EMU History and Political Science programs. In addition to her lecture, she met with faculty and students such as Dwyer for lunch, where she talked about her career progression and path through higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lys Nolt<\/strong>, a senior from Harrisonburg, also attended the lunch talk with Hook as well as the afternoon lecture. Nolt is taking a human rights and dignity course this semester, and was strongly encouraged to attend the presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The peacebuilding major is interested in working with nongovernmental organizations after graduation, and appreciated hearing Hook speak about generational trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomething I\u2019ve been learning more and more in peacebuilding is the importance of hearing the community and hearing what people have to say,\u201d Nolt said. \u201cThe amount of care she has for both the Russian and Ukrainian peoples and for their state of living and their well-being during events of mass atrocities \u2026 I was really impressed by the way she approached it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hook’s lecture on Thursday, Jan. 25, titled \u201cRussia\u2019s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Atrocity Crimes, Accountability, and Pursuing a Just Peace\u201d included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n