Lifelong Learning is pleased to offer Solidarity, Citizenship and the Ukrainian Refugees, with Dr. Jaroslaw Szczepański on Thursday, March 23 at 6 pm in the Franciscan Center of Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd. The lecture is followed by a reception and is free and open to the public.

The war in Ukraine has created a refugee crisis, with the majority of refugees settling in Poland. The response of the Poles and the Polish Government has been shaped by the idea of solidarity which was introduced in the 1980s and helped to crush the iron curtain. This talk will examine the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Poland and the European Union, particularly in light of ethnicity and cultural heritage.

“The Russian assault on Ukraine has ended a time of relative peace in Europe. The peace which was cherished on the continent for no more than 30 years. It is the next stage of the Russian imperialistic approach to subjugate former Soviet Republics and reestablish a sphere of influence in the Euro-Asian region. In this perspective, Polish aid provided for refugees and the Ukrainian state is part of the greater struggle between forces of freedom and the empire of evil, which is trying to resurrect itself,” says Dr. Szczepański.

Jaroslaw Szczepański

Trained as a political scientist and lawyer, Jaroslaw Szczepański, JD, DSc, currently works as an Assistant Professor at the University of Warsaw in Poland. He was named a 2021 Fulbright Fellow at the Ohio State University and recently conducted research at Victoria University of Wellington as a Visiting Scholar.

In February 2023, Dr. Szczepański addressed “Opening Borders in the Time of War: The Special Status of Ukrainians in Poland” at Victoria University of Wellington. Last August, he participated in a round table at Ohio State University focused on “The Russian Invasion of Ukraine: The Voice from a NATO Frontline State.”

Dr. Szczepański has lectured worldwide and published many books and articles. He holds several degrees from the University of Warsaw including a PhD in law, and political science and administration; and master’s degrees in law and political science. He furthered his education at Adam Mickiewicz University earning a Habilitation Doctor of Science degree in Political Science and Administration.

For more information, contact Dr. Laura Megeath, Lifelong Learning Coordinator at 419-824-3707 or lmegeath@lourdes.edu.