Julia Owerko is a first-year M.A. student in Regional Studies – Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe at Columbia University’s Harriman Institute. Born and raised in Poland, Julia earned her B.A. in International Relations, with a minor in Journalism, from Boston University. Writing for the university’s academic journal, International Relations Review, became a defining part of her undergraduate experience, solidifying her passion for research-driven writing on democratic backsliding, memory politics, identity, and media polarization. After graduation, Julia interned at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York and the Kościuszko Foundation, gaining experience in public diplomacy, communications, and Polish-American affairs. Through her studies at the Harriman Institute, she intends to broaden her understanding of the political and social dynamics shaping Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on the intersection of historical memory, national and political identity, and generational change in post-transition societies. She is particularly drawn to work that combines regional expertise and in-depth research with writing that engages broader public and international debates on complex regional questions.