Ukrainian graduate aims to bring people together

Published: May 12, 2022

Kateryna Yakusheva. (Marlayna Demond '11 /UMBC)

Kateryna Yakusheva

Degree: B.A., Global Studies; B.A. Economics
Hometown: Kherson, Ukraine
Plans: Work in an intercultural role before graduate school

“Studying at UMBC helped me see the value of intercultural communication and helped me learn from other cultures as well.”

Kateryna Yakusheva ’22, global studies and economics, looks forward to working on the international stage, with an organization like the World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Wherever her career takes her, she knows she wants to help different groups come together to manage risks, address conflicts, and build new futures.

This vision for her future is inspired by her intercultural college experience in the U.S. Yakusheva came to Maryland from Ukraine eight years ago. She has focused on gaining exposure to many different cultures. 

Six students sitting together in professional clothing in front of a sign designating "Malta"
Kateryna Yakusheva (upper row, right) at a National Model United Nations tournament. (Image courtesy of Yakusheva)

While a student at Montgomery College, she was a delegate for the National Model United Nations. After transferring to UMBC she took courses in Chinese, adding to her language skills in Russian, Ukrainian, and French. The Chinese language courses added another dimension to her coursework in global studies. “It really opened my mind to doing things in a different way,” she says.

Yakusheva recommends that everyone get experience with other peoples’ ways of doing things. “There are so many clubs at UMBC where you can contribute and come to learn about other cultures,” she says, so students should “definitely participate in as many activities as they can.”

Story written by Karen Stysley

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