UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Igor Latsanych is a fourth-year Penn State student majoring in international politics and minoring in business and the liberal arts. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Latsanych’s liberal arts education, campus involvements and personal connections, have shaped his goal of becoming a diplomat focused on U.S.-Ukraine relations.
Latsanych, a Schreyer Scholar, decided to pursue an international politics major to gain relevant skills for today’s global landscape. His interest in diplomacy was shaped by his desire to assist countries with communication and fostering relationships.
“As somebody who’s lived in four different countries over the course of my life, and traveled across the world on the regular, I saw this opportunity as a wonderful starting point to mix in my previous experiences and professional experiences that I would gain during my time at Penn State,” Latsanych says.
With his minor in business and the liberal arts, Latsanych applied the financial and accounting principles he learned — along with a broader understanding of business operations in the United States — in ways that exceeded his expectations. He describes it as taking his newfound knowledge “to a level I never dreamed of,” seamlessly transitioning from classroom theory to real-world application and putting his learning into practice the moment he stepped out of the classroom.
“That’s been instrumental in deciding where I’m going to go to in the future,” Latsaynch says. “For now, I’m looking at many different things, possible work with consulting companies and possible work on my own company, but long-term goals still stand in diplomacy. These steps will help me along the way.”
Latsanych had long harbored an interest in becoming a diplomat focused on U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, it wasn't until the war started in his home country that he felt compelled to act.
“In February of 2022 when the war in Ukraine escalated, I felt a weight of responsibility towards my country and towards my people, even at such a distance,” Latsanych says. “I decided to hone the skills I had been working on and focus on a future in diplomacy.”
Latsanych says he worked tirelessly as an executive within the Ukrainian Society at Penn State to ensure that his interests within Ukraine were present and consistent.
His diplomatic interest was piqued further when he researched the topic of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances that was signed between the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom in 1994 for one of his classes. Through his research and analysis, he said he found that a seemingly minor mistranslation in a critical document led to devastating consequences — an outcome that underscores the immense responsibility of diplomats and international negotiators. This experience, Latsanych said, has fueled his dedication to improving the quality and precision of diplomatic communication, a commitment that drives his vision for the future of global diplomacy.
“This is something that really pushed me to fight further for my future in diplomacy because I’m someone who tries their best to ensure that everything is done to a quality that is great and that all parties involved leave with a sense of achievement rather than completeness,” Latsanych says.
A core part of Latsanych’s vision for diplomacy is a holistic approach to communication, he said. He recognizes that miscommunication within diplomacy is not limited to language barriers but also involves cultural misunderstandings. As someone fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and English, Latsanych said he aims to bridge these gaps by fostering clear, precise communication between countries with complex histories and diverse languages.
“I was hoping to go into diplomacy as someone who would not only be a subject-matter expert but also have the capacity to communicate in three languages and apply my knowledge of the different cultures in those countries to minimize miscommunication and ensure things are done to the highest standard,” Latsanych says.
Peer success coach and the Chaiken Center
As a student in the College of the Liberal Arts, Latsanych spends a lot of his time in Sparks Building working as a peer success coach in the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center for Student Success. He decided to become a peer success coach after learning about the opportunity from Victor Frolenko, a friend and current peer success coach. Intrigued by Frolenko’s work and the center’s mission, Latsanych applied because he wanted to support students in ways that perhaps they might be missing.
Working at the Chaiken Center has proven to be an invaluable experience, both professionally and personally for Latsanych. In addition to supporting other students, he’s currently working on a new business venture with Frolenko.
“Just the experiences that my position provides, either by talking with students or staff, it’s vital in helping me understand where I stand and where I’m going,” Latsanych says. “It’s been amazing to see such a supportive group of people working for such an amazing cause.”
Additionally, the support and resources provided by the College of the Liberal Arts have been instrumental in shaping Latsanych’s journey. From academic scholarships and enrichment funding to the invaluable guidance of faculty and staff in the Department of Political Science, the support system has been unbelievably amazing, he said.
“I will be forever indebted to my academic adviser because they have been influential in helping me through my journey here at Penn State, in regard to my classes, but also with various opportunities I have discovered along the way,” Latsanych said.
Latsanych has received academic scholarships and enrichment funding over the past few years, which he said have allowed him to devote more time to his studies and extracurriculars.
“The time provided and the pressure relieved by the funding allowed me a lot more time to concentrate on my personal and professional development,” Latsanych said.