Violetta Tutunik

Violetta Tutunik was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.  She immigrated to the United States at the age of eight.  Violetta was raised in Sacramento, California, were she regularly interacted with the local Ukrainian community and learned about the richness of Ukraine and its culture. In Sacramento, she was very active in the Ukrainian community, participating in many Ukrainian events including culture and music festivals.  She was an active member of her Ukrainian church orchestra for many years.  In addition, she hosted political-awareness informational meetings with the goal of encouraging Sacramento area Ukrainians to become more politically active in their community. 

Violetta also worked for two and a half years at the Gannett News Service Capitol Bureau in Sacramento where she learned about the media and its impact on local, national, and international politics.

Violetta graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with emphasis on International Relations and Comparative Politics.  She also completed a minor in Philosophy, concentrating on Political Philosophy and Ethics.  At UCLA Violetta became interested in the study of post-communist transition in Ukraine and other Soviet block countries.  In addition to her academic involvement, she also taught English, history, and mathematics to elementary school children. 

Violetta’s desire to learn more about Ukraine brought her to Washington, DC.  Violetta interned at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation where she worked on various projects promoting Ukraine as a strategically significant country. Among her other duties at USUF, Violetta wrote press releases and stories about U.S.-Ukraine Foundation events.  Violetta has had her work published in several newspapers including The Ukrainian Weekly, Svoboda, and Chas i Podii.  The experience at USUF influenced her to pursue studies about Ukraine, its people and political institutions.  Consequently, Violetta decided to apply for the TWG’s internship program at the Embassy of Ukraine.  At the Embassy this summer, Violetta hopes to contribute her skills and talents, while learning from the Embassy staff about Ukraine and its people.   After her internship at the Embassy of Ukraine, she plans to attend graduate school to study International Affairs.