On July 25, 2024, American Councils in Kyiv welcomed back the first four alumni of the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program (BridgeUSA UAFP). The fellows – Andrii Balendr of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Nataliia Safonova of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Andrii Roskladka of the State University of Trade and Economics, and Taras Panchenko of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv – have returned to Ukraine after a four-week program offered by Florida State University (FSU).
BridgeUSA UAFP fellows (from the left to right: Nataliia Safonova, Andrii Roskladka, Andrii Balendr and Taras Panchenko) with FSU UTF Director Vilma Fuentes (pictured in the center) shortly upon their arrival at Florida State
The rich and eventful program at Florida State University was carefully designed and impeccably implemented by FSU’s Ukraine’s Task Force. UTF Director Vilma Fuentes and her many colleagues at Florida State went above and beyond to make sure their guests from Ukraine could make the best of their short time overseas.
As Dr. Fuentes explained in her letter to American Councils earlier in spring, FSU Provost James Clarke created Ukraine’s Task Force in 2022 to support Ukrainian colleagues and universities, to develop with them new research collaborations, and to educate FSU community about Ukraine. Comprised of faculty, researchers, and administrators from multiple colleges and institutes within FSU, such as Center for Intensive English Studies; College of Education, Health, and Human Services; Learning Systems Institute; College of Communication and Information; Trauma and Resilience Collaborative; Slavic Studies Program; Center for Global Engagement; and more, UTF is uniquely positioned to leverage these diverse resources to support Ukrainian educators and help develop U.S. – Ukrainian ties and professional partnerships despite the horrors of the ongoing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
BridgeUSA UAFP Fellows at the FSU Center for the Advancement of Teaching
As part of their stay in Florida, the UAFP fellows met with faculty and administrators from the host university’s various departments and centers to exchange knowledge and best practices pertaining to their respective fields of study and areas of professional specialization. A number of meetings, seminars, and learning sessions concerned topics critical to Ukraine’s recovery and capacity to defend itself, such as cyber security, emergency response management, and reconstruction planning. In their communication with U.S. colleagues and local community, the UAFP fellows openly shared first-hand knowledge about the current situation in Ukraine and how the war had been affecting the academia, as well as lives and well-being of all Ukrainians. The panel discussion titled “Living in a Time of Fear and Hope: Ukrainian Perspectives” provided a good setting for such momentous discussions.
As Ukraine’s cultural ambassadors, the four UAFP fellows happily shared with the FSU rich international community their stories and insights about the Ukraine’s culture, traditions and conventions. The hosts, in their turn, made every effort to expose the guests to the U.S. cultural events, historical sites and excursions enriching the guests’ cross-cultural experience and understanding.
In their communication with program staff upon returning to Ukraine after their overseas experience, the UAFP fellows expressed their heart-felt gratitude to the American Councils staff, sponsors, and the host university. They returned motivated to continue their newly established connections with U.S. colleagues and to remain open to new opportunities. Andrii Roskladka noted in his post-fellowship report:
BridgeUSA UAFP experience turned from unbelievable to unforgettable. You should be open-minded to find possibilities because there are so many potential collaborations open when you get there.
Natalia Safonova conveyed her strengthened belief in Ukraine’s bright future and the country’s changed role on the international arena:
The trip to FSU enhanced my patriotic feelings and made me believe that in 10 years Ukrainian HEIs will be visited by U.S. colleagues as an example of resilience, constant development in emergency and power.”
The BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Private Sector Exchange, with additional funding provided by U.S. host institutions.