Meet a Mobilizer – Andrey Luzhetskyy

My name is Andrey Luzhetskyy. I am a fourth year York University student pursuing an Honours Double Major in Political Science and Economics. I had the pleasure to join the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York in the spring of 2010. My good friend Andrei Sedoff has been with the KMb Unit for over two years but I never really understood what it was he did and what KMb was all about. It is only after the opportunity to join the team presented itself and I was exposed to the work knowledge mobilizers do, that I immediately became intrigued. It takes a while for friends and family to understand the concept of knowledge mobilization but the idea is actually quite intuitive. Everyone can agree that we want policy makers to make sound and informed decisions. Only in this way can we address social issues in a meaningful way and achieve socially optimal outcomes. I am proud to be a part of the team that facilitates this process. My work as a Data and Communications Assistant consists of drafting KMb in Action stories, posting blogs, updating event calendars, and creating presentations, just to name a few. Although, I do not personally deal with research, I do embed into my work the principles of knowledge mobilization. When drafting any content for our numerous social media outlets, I take it upon myself to present information in a clear and concise manner so that it is readable and accessible to diverse audiences. This is what makes the KMb Unit so pivotal; usually researchers do not possess the skill set necessary for knowledge mobilization or they just lack interest in it altogether. This is where knowledge mobilizers step in.
I see my work at the KMb Unit as more than just an opportunity to advance a good cause, I see it as a learning experience as well. Besides the many transferable skills that I am gaining, I have learned the importance of collaboration and partnership building. I do not yet know my exact career path, but I am confident that I will continue to apply these central tenets of knowledge mobilization to any employment.
In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching various documentary films, and traveling. I am passionate about physical fitness and in recent months I resumed learning to play piano. I especially enjoy snowboarding in the winter months and camping in the summer. Close friends and family are very important to me and I take every opportunity to spend as much time with them as possible.