Daniels to lead panel discussion featuring Purdue's Ukrainian scholars
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's program to provide continuity of education for those displaced by war in their homeland, Ukraine, is considered one of the most ambitious – and first of its kind – in the United States.
Since launching the Purdue Ukrainian Scholars Initiative in March, the university has received more than 100 inquiries from those interested in participating in the program, according to a release. Seven scholars, Purdue stated, are studying in West Lafayette now, while three others are expected to arrive in the near future.
The scholars are expected to remain at Purdue for at least 12 months, the release stated.
An upcoming panel discussion, to be led by President Mitch Daniels, will feature some of the displaced scholars continuing their education on the West Lafayette campus.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at 6: 30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Hiler Theater in Purdue’s Wilmeth Active Learning Center. The event comes a day before the Ukrainian national holiday, Day of the Defender, celebrated on Oct. 14.
According to descriptions provided by the university, the panelists from Ukrainian Scholars Initiative Program include:
Yaryna Borenko, a trainer and advisor for the Skills Lab at the Women’s League of Donechchyna in Mariupol, whose expertise is focused on human rights and citizenship. She is continuing her academic pursuits through the Human Rights Program, housed in Purdue’s Department of Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts.
Tetiana “Tanya” Gordiienko, who is continuing her doctoral studies in media consumption and literacy from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy through Purdue’s Brian Lamb School of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts.
Illia Kuznietsov, an associate professor of neuroscience at Volyn National University in Lutsk, who was here on a yearlong U.S. Fulbright fellowship with Purdue’s Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences when the war broke out in February. His stay here was extended through the Ukrainian Scholars Initiative.
“The goal of this discussion is to introduce these impressive and courageous Ukrainian women and men to our community, highlighting their deep scholarship in a variety of disciplines and getting at least a glimpse of their incredible stories and the odds they have overcome simply to be in the United States and escape the horrors from Russia’s military invasion,” Daniels said in the release.
“By their very presence at Purdue through our unique program, these Ukrainian scholars personify the quest for freedom and serve as living reminders to our students and members of the community who have never seen what real oppression looks like and how precious and fragile true freedom really is.”
Purdue's Ukrainian Scholars Initiative aims to help faculty and PhD students whose found their academic goals hindered by Russia's February 24, 2022, invasion of their country.
The scholars’ studies represent a variety of disciplines, Purdue stated, including chemistry, library sciences, psychology, linguistics, communication, sociology and neuroscience to political science, management, history, and earth and planetary sciences.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Daniels to lead panel discussion featuring Purdue's Ukrainian scholars
