This fall, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign welcomes a distinguished cohort of Ukrainian scholars as part of the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program (UAFP), an exchange initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the American Councils for International Education. The program's long-term goal is to help Ukrainian universities educate and train professionals critical to the country's recovery and reconstruction through lasting, productive collaboration with U.S. institutions of higher education.

From September 15 to October 15, Illinois will host three scholars, each engaging deeply with our academic community. These scholars will observe U.S. educational practices, collaborate with local faculty, and contribute to ongoing research in their respective fields.

Meet the Scholars:

Image	Dr. Volodymyr Bazylevych is the Head of the Department of Information and Computer Systems at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University. His research centers on information security and cyber threat protection. Dr. Bazylevych has also played a crucial role in professional adaptation programs for former military personnel in Ukraine. At UIUC, he will work closely with Dr. Venugopal V. Veeravalli, an electrical and computer engineering professor, and Dr. Bruce Hajek, the head of the electrical and computer engineering department.
Image	Dr. Nataliia Faryna is an Associate Professor of Ukrainian Applied Linguistics at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Her research focuses on the syntax of the Ukrainian language, the methodology of teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language, and the works of Ivan Franko. Dr. Faryna has authored several educational manuals, including "Ukrainian as a Foreign Language: An Introductory Mini-Course." During her stay, she will be mentored by Dr. David L. Cooper, head of the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures.
Image	Dr. Olha Telna is an Associate Professor of Special Pedagogy and Psychology at Kharkiv Humanitarian-Pedagogical Academy. She is a disability rights activist with research interests in special and inclusive education. Living in Kharkiv, close to the frontline, Dr. Telna is dedicated to ensuring high-quality online teaching for those affected by the war. Her mentor at UIUC will be Dr. Catherine Corr, Associate Professor of Special Education.

Please join us in welcoming the BridgeUSA UAFP fellows to our campus with an informal coffee and tea gathering on Wednesday, September 18 from 3-5pm in 108 Coble Hall. Stop by during this time to say hello and welcome these scholars to Illinois!

Upcoming Panel Event:

To celebrate the scholars' contributions and promote dialogue on shared academic interests, REEEC will host a panel discussion "Higher Education in Ukraine: Before and During the War" on Thursday, October 3 at 3pm in 306 Coble Hall. The visiting scholars will present and discuss the current state of education in Ukraine, focusing on the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine's higher education sector. The discussion will emphasize the importance of fostering connections and collaborations between Ukrainian and U.S. academic institutions. Find more information on our calendar here: https://calendars.illinois.edu/detail/698/33500510. 

The Bridge USA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program (UAFP) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with additional funding provided by U.S. host institutions. The program is administered by the American Councils for International Education. The Illinois cohort of BridgeUSA Scholars is sponsored in part by the Illinois Scholars at Risk program and the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center.