Alexandra Gizhitsa

Alexandra Gizhitsa is a cybersecurity professional, geopolitical analyst, and humanitarian advocate based in Connecticut. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Alexandra brings a transnational perspective to her work, shaped by formative summers spent in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and Crimea. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford and a master’s in mass communications from Sacred Heart University, where she was recognized as a featured alumna for global advocacy and civic engagement. Currently serving as a Fellow Assistant Editor at Small Wars Journal and studying Global Security – Irregular Warfare at Arizona State University, Alexandra’s research focuses on cyber operations, disinformation ecosystems, and the intersection of Eastern European and Middle Eastern security dynamics. She supported the Arizona Defense and Industry Coalition’s mission to Ukraine in fall 2024, joining leading dual-use technology innovators to strengthen strategic collaboration and field-driven innovation. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Alexandra coordinated evacuation logistics for civilians—including support operations in Mariupol under siege—and led cultural fundraisers and resilience-building trainings to assist Eastern European communities. She joined ADL Connecticut’s legislative efforts after the October 7th Hamas attack, advocating for policies against antisemitism and foreign disinformation in K–12 education. Her commentary has been featured extensively, including repeated guest appearances on NBC Connecticut for on-the-ground analysis of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in-depth interviews with the Record-Journal, and features in The Forward and the Acronis Foundation’s Hope and Humanity series. Outside her professional work, Alexandra is a mother of three, an avid hiker, and explorer of history—often adventuring with her children and dog through cultural and historical landscapes.