Happy Thanksgiving from the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America!
At a time when there is so much pain in the world, let us be thankful for all that is good in our lives, for the opportunity to
gather with loved ones, and be thankful for our vibrant and remarkable community of extraordinary students, faculty, and
staff at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. We want to express our gratitude for your role in making our success possible. We are grateful
for the generous support of our friends and supporters and the impact they have on Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Ukraine.
We are excited to share a few of the programs that you are helping to establish and sustain.
Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Program for Children of Fallen Heroes
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Do you remember how we raised funds earlier this year for the children of fallen heroes - those who lost their parents in the war or were forced to flee their homes? Thanks to the generosity of sponsors who donated in Chicago, kids of high school age were able to study inthe KMA vocational - academic program and received Certificates of Achievement,and an additional group of 72 children began the program on November 22.
Children who suffered from the bloody brutal unprovoked russian war in Ukraine are a special group of Ukraine’s population and they deserve care and sensitivity to their academic and psychological needs. After what they experienced during the war, these youngsters want to contribute to their country. They have a personal reason to defend Ukraine through their leadership in the future.
The academic program, “Individual Trajectory of a Leader” at the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Vocational and Continuing Education was established to support these young people, to prepare them for further studies so they can realize their potential for leadership, identify their motivation and calling. Under the extraordinary leadership of Professor Tetyana Nagornyak, dean of the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Professional and Continuing Education, the specialized team of professors and psychologists provide them with the necessary competencies to make responsible,impactful decisions and cope with the risks and challenges ahead.
Hennadiy Zubko, former deputy prime minister of Ukraine, alumnus of Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, who serves as chairman of the Kyiv-Mohyla Board of Trustees, spoke at the opening of the ceremony welcoming 72 students in grades 10-11 who come from all areas of Ukraine. They were selected in a competitive process from among many applicants. Mr. Zubko stated that “Education is the key factor of economic modernization for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Be assured that we stand with you in the road of life that awaits you.”
Mr. Zubko was joined at the ceremony by Dr. Serhiy Kvit, president of the university. They both emphasized the importance of the program and recommended that it should be scaled up to include other universities throughout the country. They thanked Dr. Tetyana Nagornyak for her initiative and extraordinary ability to build effective teams teaching and implementing this program.
On behalf of the university’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Zubko thanked all partners and donors for supporting the project, including Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America and personally Marta Farion and Maria Klimchak, The Eneida Foundation and personally Maryna Hart, the Charitable Foundation "Children ofHeroes", and the city councils and people of Vinnytsia, Bilohorodka and Feodosiivka rural communities.
Please help Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission
The Voice of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy – The Voice of Ukraine at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington DC
On November 20, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" (NaUKMA), and the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation in the U.S. co-sponsored a roundtable titled "Responses to Russian Crimes in the Ongoing War Against Ukraine." The roundtable presentations and discussion coincided with the 1,000th day of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Speakers included scholars from Kyiv-Mohyla School of Law, Dr. Myroslava Antonovych, associate professor of international and European law and director of the Center for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, and Dr. Dmytro Koval, Associate Professor of International and European Law.
The event highlighted the importance of international condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing crimes against Ukrainian civilians since the war began.
For the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy community, it is vital to deepen partnerships with universities throughout the world through its academic and research programs, and to continue advancing efforts toward establishing an international tribunal to hold russia accountable for its crimes. Work on establishing an international tribunal is ongoing—a unique precedent in world history, as such initiatives are being developed throughout the active phase of the russian war against Ukraine.
“It is crucial not only to ensure accountability for international crimes but also to name these crimes accurately and tell their story. In the case of the crime of aggression, it addresses criminal acts that enable other mass atrocities. Individual criminal accountability for aggression will help break the cycle of impunity and shed light on the decision-making infrastructure behind waging an aggressive war,” stated Dmytro Koval.
The discussion featured prominent experts, including Ambassador David Scheffer, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, and Ambassador Stephen J. Rapp, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (2009–2015). The event was moderated by Kathryn Dale, Senior Advisor and Director at USIP.
Ambassador David Scheffer echoed the points made by Dr. Antonovych and Dr. Koval, highlighting the ongoing "conflicts and atrocities" worldwide and stating, “The blatant act of aggression against Ukraine raises numerous alarming signals, including clear violations of the UN Charter.”
The event underscored the importance of academic collaboration in strengthening international justice and advocating for Ukraine's cause. Marta Farion, President of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation in America noted, “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy has always been at the forefront of innovation and the fight for democracy and freedom. The university is closely linked with Ukraine’s history and its struggle for independence. Its faculty and students were first to protests at the Orange Revolution and the Maidan Revolution of Dignity”.
Notable participants included representatives from institutions such as the Atlantic Council, Georgetown Center for National Security, USIP, Stimson Center, and others. Ukrainian diplomats Kateryna Smagliy, counselor for political and international issues and Andrii Pasichnyk, counselor of legal issues at the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S., emphasized the importance of such events in paving the way for effective mechanisms for an international tribunal.
This extraordinary round table would not be possible without the efforts of Ambassador William Taylor, vice-president of the U.S. Institute of Peace for Europe, Ukraine and Russia, Lauren Baillie, senior program Officer of USIP, and Dr. Olha Poliukhovych, vice-president of research and academic affairs at NaUKMA.
Kyiv-Mohyla Scholars participate at the ASEEES convention in Boston
Scholars and researchers from NaUKMA participated in the convention of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) convention in Boston in November.
This year, the presence and lectures by the distinguished group of scholars from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy was made possible through the generous support of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC).
The significance of a Ukrainian agenda at the ASEEES convention has grown immensely, particularly in the context of the ongoing russian was against Ukraine, as it serves as a vital tool for academic and cultural diplomacy. Kyiv-Mohyla researchers presented groundbreaking findings, engaged in thought-provoking discussions, and forged valuable connections with international colleagues, further solidifying our university's position as a leading center of academic excellence and research.
Participants from National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy included: Dr. Olha Poliukhovych, Dr. Myroslava Antonovych, Dr. Dmytro Koval, Dr. Tamara Martseniuk, and others.
Funding for the university’s research work to empower more scholars is needed and can be supported with donations to Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, with a notation that it is for research scholars.
Congressional Helsinki Commission Hearings on Ukraine attended by Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation members
On the 1000th day of russia’s war against Ukraine, the Congressional Helsinki Commission held hearings on Ukraine, and US-Ukraine relations. Ukraine’s minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sebiha testified about the 1000 of war and the need for a just peace with responsibility for russian war crimes. President Zelensky spoke online to the Commission. Members of Congress of both political parties who are members of the Commission expressed solidarity with Ukraine. After the hearing Marta Farion, Maria Klimchak and Motria Melnyk of Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation met with Congressman Mike Quigley and Representative Marcy Kaptur, both steadfast friends of Ukraine, and spoke about support of Ukraine and about the vital role of education in navigating current national security issues. They described to the Congressional members about the challenges faced by Kyiv-Mohyla Academy during the war. They also sought their support for Ukraine during the next four years.
Winners scholarships from Maria-Fischer-Slysh Endowment Fund
A selection committee for scholarships announced the laureates of the Maria Fischer-Slysh Endowment Fund. The selection was organized by the International Charitable Fund for the Revival of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Фонд Відродження КМА).
Тhe committee selected researchers for their outstanding publication activity during 2022–2024 in scientific journals indexed in international citation databases such as the Web of Science Core Collectionand/or Scopus. It also honored young NaUKMA scientists (including those with co-authored publications with students and doctoral candidates) and individual publications in the Kyiv-Mohyla Humanities Journal for 2023.
The charitable fund was established to honor Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh (1922–2012), a Ukrainian philanthropist, medical doctor, and an active member of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and the United States. Her life was devoted to serving people and supporting Ukrainian culture, education, and science. She was one of the most respected benefactors for many institutions and projects, both within the diaspora and in Ukraine. In her will, Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh bequeathed funds to the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America to support NaUKMA's general needs.
Winners of the competition were: Orlova Daria( journalism), Martseniuk Tamara (Sociology), Maltseva Kateryna (sociology), Kadochnikova (Ukrainian Language and Literature), Kuchma Tetiana (ecology), Zaytsev Volodymyr (research laboratory about the Earth), Vakuliuk Poina (Chemistry), Kozerenko Serhiy (mathematics), Dysa Kateryna (history), Kuranova Svitlana (Slavic Languages Studies), Paziuk Olena and Minko Natalia (editors of publications of scholarly journals).
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh
Maria Fischer-Slysh (1922–2012) was a medical doctor, a member of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) in Chicago, a former chairperson of UMANA in Toronto, a board member of the Canadian Friends of Ukraine Society, a member of the Ukrainian Philanthropists League in Kyiv, and an Honorary Member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in the USA.
She was one of the initiators and supporters of various projects in Ukraine, including the establishment of the Canadian-Ukrainian library centers, the development of the scouting movement, native language competitions, initiatives to encourage creative language teachers and students, and support for the Ukrainian church. Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh sponsored Kyiv-based journals such as Smoloskyp, Vsesvit, and Sonyashnyk, as well as Sivershchyna (Chernihiv), NTSh Medical Almanac (Lviv), and archaeological excavations in Baturyn. She donated $1 million to support the development of the Ukrainian Catholic University, resulting in two university departments being named after Maria Fischer-Slysh and her husband Rudolf Fischer. She also supported schools in Lviv, Sevastopol, and Feodosia, chaired the Academic Gymnasium Committee (Lviv) in the diaspora, and financed the literary competition We Are Your Children, Ukraine (Simferopol).
In Ukraine, the Maria Fischer-Slysh Pedagogical Prize was established, which has awarded scholarships to dozens of outstanding teachers of Ukrainian language and literature. In August 2009, Maria donated $100,000 to publish the ninth volume, book two, part two, of The History of Ukraine-Rus by Mykhailo Hrushevsky, dedicated to the final period of Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s hetmanate. This volume was published in memory of her parents, Dr. Adolf and Olga Slysh. Dr. Slysh frequently contributed to newspapers and journals, publishing in both Ukrainian and diaspora media.
Maria Fischer-Slysh demonstrated her love for her homeland through concrete actions, supporting the development of Ukrainian education, science, and culture as a philanthropist. For many institutions and projects in both the diaspora and Ukraine, she was among the most esteemed benefactors. In her will, Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh left $250,000 to the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America to support the general needs of NaUKMA. These funds were invested and the earnings are paid out annually.
May the memory of Dr. Maria Fischer-Slysh liver forever in the legacy she left for the Ukrainian nation and its independence.
Thank you for helping Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission