SOLD OUT: Book Talk | Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch’s Lessons From the Edge

This event is sold out, if you would like to be put on the waiting list please reach out to Cserindag@world-affairs.org.

Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch became a household name when she was abruptly ousted by then-President Trump and then called to testify by the House during Trump’s first impeachment trial. Her decades of foreign service – including serving as Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan and Armenia as well as her last posting as Ambassador to Ukraine – and personal journey, having been born into a family that survived Soviet and Nazi terror, impressed on her both how precious and fragile democracy can be. Her recent memoir, Lessons from the Edge, outlines her journey from foreign service officer working to advance American interests abroad to that pivotal moment she found herself at the center of a political storm in Washington, DC. 

Join the World Affairs Council on March 31 at 12:30PM for a special luncheon program with Ambassador Yovanovitch about her experiences, lessons learned, and her thoughts and hopes for Ukraine's future.

Each ticket includes lunch and a copy of Lessons from the Edge. Ambassador Yovanovitch will sign books after the conversation concludes. For couples attending who only want one copy of the book, please purchase a "member couple" or "non-member couple" ticket.

About the Speaker

Marie Yovanovitch is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is also a nonresident fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy of Georgetown University. Previously, she served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (2016-2019), the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011), and the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008). She also served as the dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute and as the deputy commandant and international advisor at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy of the National Defense University. Earlier she served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, where she coordinated policy on European and global security issues. Before that, she was the bureau’s deputy assistant secretary responsible for issues related to the Nordic, Baltic, and central European countries.

In 2003-2004, Ambassador Yovanovitch was the senior advisor to the under secretary of state for political affairs. Prior to that, she was the deputy chief of mission of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Within the Department of State, Ambassador Yovanovitch has worked on the Russia desk, the Office of European Security Affairs, and the Operations Center. She has also worked overseas at the U.S. embassies in Moscow, London, Ottawa, and Mogadishu.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Yovanovitch has earned the Senior Foreign Service Performance Award eight times and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award on nine occasions. She is also the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the secretary’s Diplomacy in Human Rights Award. In 2020, Georgetown University granted her the Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy, and Indiana University awarded her the inaugural Richard G. Lugar Award for Public Integrity.

Ambassador Yovanovitch is a graduate of Princeton University where she earned a B.A. in history and Russian studies. She studied at the Pushkin Institute and received an M.S. from the National Defense University.

About the Moderator

For over 20 years, Matt Lantz has worked in international agriculture relations conducting the foreign policy work for US farmers. Matt Lantz joined Bryant Christie Inc. in 1999 as a Trade Policy Specialist and in 2013 was promoted to Vice President for Global Access.

Matt addresses any international issue that might affect exports for his clients, which include US potatoes, cranberries, hops, and many others. Day-to-day this entails engaging with the US Trade Representative's office on a recent free trade agreement negotiation, or opening a completely new market through technical negotiations with USDA and US Embassies abroad. Lantz's role frequently requires travel (often to unique locations).

He also serves as a cleared advisor to the USDA Secretary and formerly was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to joining BCI, Matt founded and managed a program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government dedicated to promoting the development of Russian political parties and he worked on international issues on Capitol Hill for the late Senator Richard Lugar.

Matt hold degrees in international relations from Georgetown and John Hopkins University.

The Boeing Company is an underwriting sponsor of all World Affairs Council Community Programs.