Kateryna Smagliy: Fighting for democracy


Two women walking down DC street talking

Photo by Aaron Kotowski

Editor’s note: This story first appeared in ASU Thrive’s special photography issue, celebrating a day in the life of inspiring people across the ASU community. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One week before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Kateryna “Katja” Smagliy moved to Washington, D.C., for her post at the embassy of Ukraine. 

Previously, the McCain Institute selected her as a 2019 McCain Global Leader to focus on strengthening democracy in her country. She calls the late Sen. John McCain one of democracy’s biggest supporters. He demonstrated “there are people ready to act in support of their values,” she says. 

Before her current embassy position, Smagliy served as director of the Kennan Institute Kyiv Office, promoting Ukraine’s public and cultural diplomacy, and led the Anti-Crisis Humanitarian Program of the International Renaissance Foundation. Smagliy also worked for the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

For this photo feature, we spent the day with Smagliy to learn more about her work for democracy as an ambassador.

In the top photo, Kateryna Smagliy speaks with Mary Leonard, founder of Love In ALX, which helps Ukrainian refugees find housing in Poland.

woman meeting with people at Ukraine House

Kateryna Smagliy’s day in the life, fighting for democracy

Wake up just after sunrise

Prepare for the day

Attend daily staff meeting with ambassador

Eat lunch while reading through notes for the night’s presentation

Meet with a group of analysts from Washington-based think tanks in the afternoon

Meet with Mary Leonard who started a nonprofit to help Ukrainian refugees find housing in Poland mid-afternoon

Meet with supporters at the Ukraine House late afternoon

Present and answer questions at George Washington University event during the dinner hour

Arrive home late in the evening

Eat a small snack 

Go to sleep

During the 12 hours of her working day, Smagliy met or talked to dozens of people in her official capacity as a diplomat.

Close up of Ukraine flag and outside of Ukraine house
Woman laying sunflowers on stairs

An international community in the U.S. capital

Since the war began, supporters of Ukraine have left signs and yellow flowers in front of the embassy, located along the busy M Street in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. As Smagliy travels around the city, she frequently spots newly hung Ukrainian flags outside other embassies, businesses and houses, as people show their support for her country.

woman sitting in maroon chair

Teaching others about her country 

Smagliy frequently gets invited to speak at university events. She enjoys this type of “professor” role as she aims to teach about Ukraine’s current affairs, keeping in mind that some students could be future diplomats or political leaders. 

Woman speaking into microphone

On a busy Tuesday, Smagliy wraps up the day around 8 p.m. after speaking at a George Washington University event “Ukraine Under Seige” alongside Ukrainian American journalist Natalia Antonova and Ukrainian visiting professor Roman Kalytchak.

View of people through door sitting at table
woman walking down stairs

The daily work of democracy

“This big broad picture and the hours of communication, that’s what together transform you and make you a new, more compassionate individual,” Smagliy says.

With the war, she spends at least 50% of her time speaking and attending fundraisers. Her role also includes many meetings with different people from different walks of life. 

 

The McCain Institute taught us key values and aimed to make sure that we stay strong, focused, determined.

Kateryna “Katja” SmagliyThe first secretary of the embassy of Ukraine, scholar from ASU’s McCain Institute for International Leadership

Photos by Aaron Kotowski. Story by Melanie Padgett Powers.

RELATED: Art as outreach: Students create Phoenix mural to support Ukraine

More Law, journalism and politics

 

ASU Law School photo from outside the building downtown

ASU Law clinics serve the state’s most vulnerable populations

Most people will need some sort of legal support at least once in their lifetime, but knowing where to get it — and having it be affordable — is a barrier to many.Arizona State University’s …

Law
The sun casts rays over the top of an orange and maroon striped building with an ASU sign

$10.5M Knight Foundation grant launches Knight Center for the Future of News at ASU’s Cronkite School

Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is launching the Knight Center for the Future of News — a transformative new initiative designed to…

People standing in line next to a sign that says polling location with an arrow on it

ASU lab to train elections officials on using AI effectively

When Bill Gates was the chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, he faced an uproar over the 2022 midterm elections as people questioned the results and harassed county employees.“I was…