MOUNT VERNON — The City of Mount Vernon, in partnership with Kenyon College’s Center for the Study of American Democracy, will welcome Bridget Brink, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, to the October Washington Forum.
The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. in the Banquet Room of the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, 12 Public Square.
The event, titled “War, Peace, & Our Place in the World,” will feature a moderated conversation examining the ongoing war in Ukraine, the challenges of international diplomacy, and how conflicts thousands of miles away affect American communities, including Mount Vernon and Knox County.
Brink, a Kenyon College alumna and career diplomat, served as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Her extensive diplomatic experience offers a unique perspective on modern warfare, the challenges of negotiating peace, and America’s evolving role in international affairs.
Mount Vernon Mayor Dr. Matthew Starr will welcome attendees and introduce the evening’s program, which will be moderated by Dr. Nancy Powers of Kenyon College. Unlike a traditional lecture, the event will feature an informal, conversational format, followed by an extended audience question-and-answer session.
“Our purpose in Mount Vernon is not to prescribe conclusions, but to create a setting where differing perspectives can be heard, difficult questions can be examined, and our community can engage more deeply with the issues that will help shape our shared future,” Starr said.
“That connection reminds us that institutions rooted in our communities can help prepare individuals for consequential service far beyond them. It is a point of particular pride that Ambassador Brink, whose academic journey began here, has gone on to represent the United States on the world stage.”
Competing perspectives and national security
The discussion will also examine the competing perspectives surrounding American assistance to Ukraine, the economic and national security considerations of international involvement, and the responsibilities of American leadership as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary.
The Washington Forum is a yearlong civic discussion series presented by the City of Mount Vernon and Kenyon College’s Center for the Study of American Democracy. Throughout 2026, the series has brought together scholars, public officials, and community leaders to explore American history, democracy, civic responsibility, and the nation’s future.