The Penn State School of International Affairs and Penn State Law will co-host an expert slate of panelists this week to review Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4, in the Katz Auditorium of the Lewis Katz Building. The panel will also be livestreamed via Zoom, but registration is required for the virtual option.

Four Penn State experts headline this panel, including:

• Retired Vice Admiral James W. Houck, the interim dean of Penn State Law and the School of International Affairs. He’s a former judge advocate general of the U.S. Navy and an expert in national security law, international law, and armed conflict law.
• Mary Beth Long, a current professor in the School of International Affairs who formerly worked as the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She’s previously served roles within NATO and is an expert in nuclear policy.
• Rick Rousch, the dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. He maintains a 30-year partnership between Penn State and Ukraine in education.
• Catherine Wanner, a Penn State professor of history, anthropology, and religious studies with a focus on Ukraine and Russia.

The panel is free to all attendants. More information about the event can be found here.

Earlier this week, Penn State President Eric Barron published a letter of support for Ukraine. He said that in the coming weeks, Penn State would encourage open discussions about the conflict in eastern Europe.

“As a community of higher learning, and as citizens of the world, we have the opportunity to learn from and explore this troubling time together,” Barron said. “In the coming days and weeks, Penn Staters from all backgrounds are encouraged to engage in conversations with their peers, mentors, and faculty.”