Analyst Program Spotlight: Ryan Armstrong ’24

Ryan Armstrong ’24 recently presented his research on the economic and geopolitical impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during the Westminster College Analyst Program zoom session held on Thursday, Sept. 8.  

Armstrong analyzed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the context of the energy sector, more specifically the war’s current military and human status as well as the international and economic effects of the invasion to further understand the impact a crisis would have on the energy sector and humanity at large.

During the presentation, Dr. Russel Martin, professor of history and chair of the history department, delivered opening remarks and moderated a discussion following Armstrong’s presentation.

“Armstrong’s research was truly interdisciplinary,” said Martin. “It combined what he is learning as a history major, with what he understood about nature through his biology major and tied it together with what he learned about economics is the analyst program.”

Through his research, Armstrong discovered just how unsettling the Russian invasion is on a human level.

“It is one of the most disturbingly genocidal conflicts in recent European memory,” stated Armstrong. “The war is likely to continue for a significant time with a high potential of spreading farther into Europe.”

The discussion included Dr. Michael Aleprete, professor of political science; Brian Petrus ’10, assistant professor of business administration; Alina Clough ’18, senior consultant at REI Systems; and Quill Robinson, vice president for government affairs at the American Conservation Coalition.

The Analyst Program Zoom events highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary experiential learning projects rooted in Westminster College’s liberal arts traditions while allowing students to have the opportunity to work with industry experts and receive guidance and oversight from Westminster’s faculty.

Armstrong’s presentation was sponsored by Westminster’s Analyst Program, the Westminster Department of History, Lawrence County Historical Society and Pleasant Hill Historians.

To learn more about future analyst program sessions, check out the alumni calendar by clicking here.

More Stories