June 2025, Issue #2
Resilience and Renewal Shaping Ukraine’s Future
A Word from Marta Farion, president of KMFA
As we conclude this academic year, we wish to share some of the latest events that took place at the university - with veterans, young leaders, well-known international authors, and technology experts.
What a surprise it was to see how two Ukrainian journalists asked questions separately of President Trump and High Commissioner Rutte at the NATO Conference. We are delighted to know that both are graduates of the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Journalism.
This year when we face the loss of USAID support in Ukraine, it is more important than ever to support the education of those who will rebuild the country. We know this war is not fought on military and humanitarian fronts alone. Victory depends on sustaining Ukraine’s institutional core—its systems of law, governance, education, health, and innovation. That is why our support for Kyiv-Mohyla Academy has never been more critical. This is the moment to expand our support—not retreat. Your donation keeps classrooms open, faculty safe, and future leaders engaged in shaping Ukraine’s future. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
KMA Alumna, Journalist Myroslava Petsa engaged President Trump in a Public Conversation at the NATO Conference
The world’s media turned attention to the question-and-answer session between journalist Myroslava Petsa and President Donald Trump at the NATO Conference. Myroslava Petsa, who works at BBC Ukraine, is a graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Journalism. “Never in my life I expected that Donald Trump will send greetings to my husband fighting at the front”, said Myroslava after the press conference.
In a pool of international journalists at President Trump’s press conference, Ms. Petsa asked the president whether the US is ready to sell Patriot missiles to Ukraine and stated that Russia had just bombed and killed tens of civilians in Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa. The president turned to a more personal tone and asked Myroslava about her family, and took an interest when she said her husband is fighting at the front. When President Trump said to send greetings to her husband, it was a surprise to Myroslava and to the public. The conversation was shared live throughout the world.
Congratulations to Myroslava Petsa for her professionalism. We are proud of yet another alumna of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy on preparing leaders for Ukraine.
More information: https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c0j4g7gde71o
KMA Alumna, Journalist Natalia Rop asks Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, about assistance to Ukraine
The recent NATO Conference provided yet another opportunity for a Kyiv-Mohyla graduate to ask Secretary General Mark Rutte about the amount of assistance that Ukraine can expect by the end of this year and what is the number of weapons required for Ukraine to win the war.The Secretary-general stated that the result will be positive, and the amount will surpass previous assistance by 50 billion Dollars, with the help of European and Canadian partners.
Congratulations to Natalia Rop, graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Journalism on her professional work. We are proud of our graduates for their leadership.
More information: https://nv.ua/.../ryutte-vidpoviv-chi-otrimaye-ukrajina...
Exhibition by celebrated Italian artist Jannis Kounellis at NaUKMA
A remarkable exhibition titled Untitled (1997/2025) by the celebrated Italian artist Jannis Kounellis has opened in the historic Academic Building of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. It will remain open to the public until September 1, 2025.
This installation is a reimagining of Kounellis’ original1997 exhibition at the very same location, which at the time housed the George Soros Center for Contemporary Art. The gallery was then curated by Marta Kuzma, now Professor at the Yale School of Art. Today, as Artistic Director and Chief Curator of Faktura 10, Kuzma brings Kounellis' work back to Kyiv-Mohyla — in a new era, under new conditions.
“Reconstructing Kounellis’ 1997 installation in today’s Ukraine is an acknowledgment of how war shaped the artist,” Kuzma notes. “Having lived through World War II and the Greek Civil War, Kounellis often used industrial materials — remnants of destruction, common in wartime production — to reflect on postwar humanity, rupture, and trauma. As he once said: ‘After war, all we have are contradictions.’”
Untitled (1997/2025) is presented by Faktura 10 — a leading initiative of RIBBON International — in partnership with the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the Kounellis Archive in Rome, the Bell Museum in Lutsk, the National Preserve of “St. Sophia of Kyiv,” Forma Architectural Studio, and curator Martha Kuzma.
More information: https://bit.ly/4nbkzIx
Please help Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission
Heroes Never Die: New “Water Bears” Species Named in Honor of Fallen Ukrainian Scientist Bijan Sharopov
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In a moving tribute to Bijan Sharopov, a biologist, biophysicist, Hero of Ukraine, and graduate of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a newly discovered species of tardigrade has been named in his honor by Ukrainian and Polish researchers working in Ecuador.
Tardigrades, also known as “water bears,” are microscopic invertebrates renowned for their extraordinary resilience — capable of surviving extreme heat, freezing temperatures, high radiation, dehydration, and even the vacuum of outer space.
Naming this new species after Bijan Sharopov is both a scientific recognition and a memorial gesture honoring his life, intellect, and sacrifice. Sharopov was a gifted researcher, full of ideas and energy — sincere, courageous, and deeply engaged in his country’s future. A true warrior, he gave his life in defense of Ukraine. Eternal memory and gratitude to the Hero.
Interdisciplinary Expertise for Ukraine’s Recovery and Development – an International Conference
NaUKMA recently hosted the international academic and practical conference “Interdisciplinary Expertise for the Recovery and Development of Ukraine”, organized by the Kyiv-Mohyla School for Professional and Continuing Education.
Partners of the conference included the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, Jagiellonian University, East European Studies at the University of Warsaw, the Institute for Demography and Life Quality of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the GDIP Media Center.
The event brought together over a hundred participants, including experts, diplomats, and scholars from Ukraine and Poland, for a professional dialogue on the urgent challenges facing Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Discussions focused on effective practices for managing the country’s post-war recovery and transformation.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Piotr Bajor, Professor and Dean of the Institute of Political Science and International Relations at Jagiellonian University, stated: “It is unfortunate that in the 21st century, Europe is once again faced with the challenge of rebuilding a nation after war. And yet, it is encouraging to see this essential discussion taking place here at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, in the capital of a country fighting for its freedom, as the platform for strategic thinking and long-term development.”
The conference also featured workshops designed to build practical skills and introduce tools for implementing systemic change — from personal and team-based approaches to broader community and national transformations.
More information: https://bit.ly/3TrCSeS
FPV Drone Architecture: A New Academic Course at the KMA Faculty of Informatics
A groundbreaking new course — FPV Drone Architecture — has been launched at the university’s Faculty of Informatics. This is not just another academic discipline; it’s a strategic investment in skills that are already shaping the technological landscape of tomorrow.
As part of the course, students from NaUKMA and the Ukrainian Catholic University are learning to design and build FPV (First Person View) drones from the ground up, from hardware assembly and programming to hands-on testing of their own prototypes.
Classes are held in a newly equipped 3D printing and electronics lab, a space where bold ideas become reality. Andriy Hlybovets, dean of the School of Informatics, stated, “This course represents our commitment to training a new generation of engineers who are ready to innovate, respond to challenges, and actively influence global and national technological development”. The course is part of the academic program “Automation, Computer-Integrated Technologies, and Robotics.”
Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Hosts Inaugural Judith Thurman Essay Prize Ceremony
NaUKMA held the first-ever Judith Thurman Essay Prize Ceremony, with the participation of the award’s founder, acclaimed biographer and The New Yorker journalist Judith Thurman.
The annual prize will recognize the most compelling young voices in Ukrainian essay writing among students, graduate researchers, instructors, scholars, and alumni of NaUKMA under the age of 30.
The first recipient of the award is Maria Kopaniova, a master's student in Literary Theory, History, and Comparative Studies, honored for her essay “Languages I Do Not Keep Silent In: On the (Un)Translatability of Experience.” Finalists also included Olha Petrenko-Tseunova and Illiа Rudiiko. Judith Thurman personally presented the award to the laureate.
The prize was established by Judith Thurman in collaboration with the Department of Literary Studies at NaUKMA and with the support of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation in Ukraine. The jury included Judith Thurman herself, David Riff, honorary professor at NaUKMA, Olha Poliukhovych, vice president for Research and Academic Studies; and Roman Veretelnyk, head of the Department of Literary Studies.
The Judith Thurman Essay Prize is a symbol of support for Ukraine’s younger generation —those who continue to study, reflect, and create amidst the hardships of war. The $1,000 annual award is intended not only to honor literary talent but also to provide meaningful encouragement to those shaping the intellectual future of Ukraine while defending it and imagining what comes next.
Victoria Romaniuk speaks at UNESCO Conference in Paris: AI and Digital Transformation in the Public Sector
On July 4–5, Victoria Romaniuk, director of the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Journalism, participated at the UNESCO high-level conference in Paris focused on building capacity in artificial intelligence and digital transformation in the public sector. The event gathered international experts to discuss strategies for ethical, inclusive, and effective digital governance.
Ms. Romaniuk spoke at a special session co-hosted by IFAP and Zhejiang University, titled “Digital Inclusion and AI Ethics.” The speaker lineup featured globally renowned thought leaders, including Prof. Manuel Castells of the University of Southern California; Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, Director for Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Transformation at UNESCO and IFAP Secretary; Prof.Yupei Zhao, Zhejiang University; and Dr. Stefaan Verhulst, NYU and The GovLab.
The event was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and marked a key moment in the global conversation about how artificial intelligence and digital tools can foster inclusive societies and strengthen the public sector worldwide.
Rule of Law in Wartime: Kyiv-Mohyla Law Faculty Visits Central European University
At the invitation of Mathias Möschel, Dean of the Department of Legal Studies at Central European University (Vienna, Austria), Volodymyr Venher, dean of the Law Faculty at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), delivered a public lecture titled “Rule of Lawin Wartime.” In his presentation, Professor Venher addressed a series of complex legal and ethical questions: Is it possible to maintain fair procedures under martial law in Ukraine? Which elements of the rule of law remain applicable during wartime? Can transitional justice tools be applied in the Ukrainian context? Does martial law itself pose a challenge to the rule of law in Ukraine?
The discussion was further enriched by the contributions of Oleksii Tseliev and Ivan Yatskevych, faculty members of the Kyiv-Mohyla Law School, who offered their insights into the ongoing legal challenges facing Ukraine amid war.
While in Vienna, the delegation from NaUKMA also met with colleagues at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, where Prof. Dr. Martin Winner, Vice-Rector of the university, expressed support and interest in future collaboration.
A noteworthy part of the academic visit included meetings at the Austrian Constitutional Courtland the Supreme Court of Austria, organized with the assistance of Prof. Stefan Weber. The delegation had the opportunity to engage with sitting, newly appointed, and retired judges, exploring shared legal challenges and identifying avenues for joint academic and professional cooperation. Topics included plans for guest lectures, joint conferences, and collaborative research projects.
Blood Donation as a Core Value at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
On the eve of World Blood Donor Day, NaUKMA, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center, hosted a large-scale blood donation drive on campus.
Blood donation has long been a part of the university's culture. More than 40 volunteers registered with the Zhytomyr Regional Blood Center mobile team. After medical screening, 38 participants were eligible to donate.
Together, they contributed over 17 liters of blood — a life-saving resource that helps treat and rescue both civilians and soldiers across hospitals in Ukraine every day.
The event also featured a briefing and the presentation of anew public service announcement promoting regular blood donation. Among the speakers were representatives of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center, and the NaUKMA administration.