Ukrainian-American community leader, journalist, educator, and nonprofit advocate Lesia Slobodian is a Ukrainian-American journalist, editor, educator, and nonprofit leader based in New York and New Jersey. She holds a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Ivan Franko National University and has over a decade of experience in scientific publishing, education, humanitarian work, and community leadership.

Born in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Lesia began her career in academia and publishing, serving as Assistant Head of the English Language Department at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Chief Editor of the publishing house “Plai,” and researcher at the Educational and Scientific Center for the Study of the History of the Ukrainian National Liberation Movement. Her work focused on scientific editing, historical research, and Ukrainian cultural and intellectual history.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she became actively involved in humanitarian initiatives supporting displaced Ukrainians and worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), assisting refugees with integration and crisis support. After relocating to the United States, she continued her work within the Ukrainian-American community.

Lesia currently serves as Head of the Board of the New York Branch of the Selfreliance Association of American Ukrainians (AAU Selfreliance), where she leads cultural, educational, and humanitarian initiatives. She is also a press referent at the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA), Branch 64, Ukrainian educational programs in the United States, and volunteering with Liberty Ukraine Foundation.”