Florida State University’s (FSU) Ukraine Task Force (UTF) was established in 2022 as part of the institution’s broader internationalization strategy. Ukraine was deemed as a country of particular interest because it provides members of the university community with an excellent opportunity to research a unique environment not available anywhere else. FSU students and faculty can learn about and research new and evolving emergency management strategies, education under long-term crisis situations, entrepreneurship during times of war, new applications of cutting-edge drone technology, the spread of diseases during wartime, and recovery from war and trauma. Through partnerships with Ukrainian higher education institutions, FSU can also participate in grants and applied research related to urban reconstruction, mental health, military veterans’ reintegration, therapy interventions, workforce development, and the containment of disease. As a highly educated country in Eastern Europe with a long and impressive history of producing top scientists, Ukraine also presents FSU with an excellent opportunity to strengthen its fundamental science research in fields related to quantum, nuclear energy, superconductivity, and rare earth minerals.
FSU's Ukraine Task Force
Advancing the FSU Mission
-
RESEARCH
Research: by developing new research partnerships and pursuing sponsored grants and projects related to Ukraine
-
TEACHING
Teaching: by exposing FSU students to Ukraine, its current and historic relationship to Europe and Russia, and their relevance to American security and economic interests
-
CREATIVE ENDEAVORS
Creative Endeavors: by hosting new visiting artists that educate the public about Ukrainian music, dance, and culture
-
SERVICE
Community Service: by organizing public-facing events related to Ukraine and Eastern Europe, a part of the world that has garnered significant interest among the American public
UTF Testimonials
Dr. Svitlana Kretovych, Office of the President of Ukraine
Dr. Andrii Balendr, head of the language training and testing center at Bhodan Khmelnytskyy National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
Dr. Natalia Safonova, professor of English at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
Dr. Taras Panchenko, Head of the Computer Science Department at Taras Shevchenko National University
Dr. Hanna Shchutska, Director of the Kyiv College of Light Industry
Roman Dadak, Director of the Technological College of the National Forestry University
Ukraine Task Force News
-
Fuentes Meets with the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
Vilma Fuentes, Ph.D. recently returned from Ukraine where she met with the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service (NASBGSU) leadership to discuss collaborations between Florida State University, the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) and the academy.
-
Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M’s Bush School Welcomed to FSU by Ukraine Task Force
Florida State University's Ukraine Task Force (UTF) and the Center for Global Engagement welcomed Kateryna Shynkaruk to campus as part of the Engage Your World Speaker Series.
-
Student Senate Passes Proclamation Lauding FSU’s Ukraine Task Force
Florida State University’s 78th Student Senate recently passed a proclamation celebrating the school’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF).
-
2025 UTF Annual Report
Florida State's Ukraine Task Force continued it's work in 2025 continuing FSU's broader internationalization strategy.
-
FSU and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Sign MOU for Future Research Collaborations
FSU Provost Jim Clark and Dr. Serhiy Kvit, President of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine, have signed a memorandum of understanding signifying the university's commitment to work together on future research projects.
-
Ukrainian BridgeUSA Fellows Visit FSU to Forge Future Collaborations
Two Ukrainian scholars spent four weeks at Florida State University, sharing lessons learned from a war-torn country and building relationships for shared research projects. The exchange is part of the BridgeUSA Ukraine Program for Resilience and Reconstruction.
-
Ukrainian Public Health Expert Visits FSU
Humphrey Fellow and American Society for Microbiology Ambassador to Ukraine, Dr. Dmytro Stepanskyi, spent a week in Tallahassee meeting with FSU faculty and staff across campus.
-
Campus Walk and Talk with DakhaBrakha
DakhaBrakha returned to Tallahassee in April 2025 to play another show in conjunction with FSU. The band toured the FSU campus and shared their thoughts on a number of topics.
-
-
Head of Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization to visit FSU
Oleksandra Matviichuk, one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Ukraine and head of the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), will be presenting at Florida State University. CCL is the first Ukrainian organization to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which it won in 2022.
-
2024 Ukraine Task Force Annual Report
In 2024, the Ukraine Task Force leveraged the strength and expertise of our university to extend a hand of support to Ukrainian academics and higher education institutions during this incredibly difficult time.
-
Ukraine Task Force Is Impacting Programs For Ukrainian Military Veterans
Dr. Vilma Fuentes spent almost two weeks in Ukraine, meeting with members of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Office and other Ukrainian political and educational leaders.ca
-
FSU Students Collaborate With Peers In Ukraine On Hack-a-Thon
“Hack Disaster: The International Hackathon to Rebuild Cities,” was hosted by the FSU Innovation Hub in collaboration with FSU’s Ukraine Task Force and the Ukrainian-based organization Hackathon Expert Group.
-
Dr. Romanova Talks To Students At The Dedman College Of Hospitality
The lecture focused on utilizing tourism and travel not only as entertainment but also as a tool for the recovery of disaster-affected areas.
-
FSU’s Ukraine Task Force Hosted Ukrainian Delegation From Nizhyn, Ukraine
FSU's UTF hosted six visitors from Nizhyn, Ukraine, affiliated with the Nizhyn Lyceum (magnet high school), a historic institution founded in the 19th century.
-
International Hackathon To Partner Ukrainian And FSU Students
An online Hackathon for students at Florida State University (FSU) and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) to respond to the rise of natural and manmade disasters in the 21st century.
-
FSU’s Success Working With Veterans Makes An Impact On Ukrainian Educators
Florida State University's Ukraine Task Force hosted 14 educators from Ukraine this summer. An area that resonated strongly with the groups that visited FSU was the university's commitment to veteran success and the programs that support that goal.
-
UTF Members Join Local Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration
Members of Florida State's Ukraine Task Force joined with more than 150 people to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day in Tallahassee.
-
Ukrainian Educators Visit FSU To Learn About Serving Military Veterans
In early August 2024, FSU’s Ukraine Task Force welcomed nine senior higher education leaders from Ukraine. Eight members of these groups were alumni of two U.S. Department of State-sponsored Community College Administrator Program (CCAP) implemented in 2016 and 2018.
-
BridgeUSA Ukrainian Fellows Leave FSU With Collaborative Relationships
Florida State University became the first American university to host fellows from the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows program. After one month of working in partnership with FSU's Ukraine Task Force, the four Ukrainian fellows left Tallahassee enriched personally and professionally.
-
FSU welcomes BridgeUSA Fellows from Ukraine
Florida State University is hosting four academic fellows from Ukraine for a monthlong visit through the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program
-
Connections Formed During CCAP Keep LSI Connected To Ukraine
For ten years, Florida State University's Learning Systems Institute has administered the Community College Administrator Program in partnership with Santa Fe College, 15 CCAPs have been held for 15 countries. Two of those groups were community college administrators from Ukraine
-
Dr. Paziuk Delivers An Important Message As A Guest Of Ukraine Task Force
Dr. Andrii Paziuk had many reasons to accept the invitation from FSU's Ukraine Task Force and travel to Tallahassee. He came to establish relationships for future collaborations, connect with colleagues, and, more importantly, share a message.
-
Ukrainian Cybersecurity Law Expert Makes Most Of FSU Visit
Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force (UTF) hosted Andrii Paziuk, a professor of international and comparative law at the National Aviation University in Kyiv, Ukraine.
-
Dr. Romanova Looking To The Future Working With Ukraine Task Force
Dr. Anna Romanova, a former member of the Ukrainian Parliament, has joined the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University. As a researcher, Dr. Romanova utilizes her passion, expertise, and network to inform FSU's Ukraine Task Force.
-
FSU's Ukraine Task Force Holds Vyshyvanka Day Celebration
Florida State University’s Ukraine Task Force and the Center for Global Engagement held a celebration for Vyshyvanka Day Wednesday, May 15, in The Globe Auditorium
-
How FSU’s Ukraine Task Force Is Making A Difference
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wages on, faculty and researchers at Florida State University are continuing to develop ways to support education in the country through FSU’s Ukraine Task Force.
-
Dr. Fuentes Named Program Director Of FSU Ukraine Task Force
As the newly appointed Program Director for FSU's Ukraine Task Force, Dr. Fuentes is responsible for facilitating connections between Ukrainian universities and FSU faculty.
Spotlight on FSU BridgeUSA Fellows
FSU's Ukraine Task Force
-
James Clark
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs -
Dr. Vilma Fuentes
Program Director for the FSU Ukraine Task Force/Visiting Associate in Research -
Dr. Stephen McDowell
Assistant Provost -- John H. Phipps Professor of Communication -
Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer
Dean of the College of Communication & Information and Professor in the School of Information -
Valerie Lynn Boulos
Associate Dean for Resource Management and Discovery Services. Administration -
Eric Liguori, PhD
Associate Dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Full Professor of Entrepreneurship -
Dr. Dina Vyortkina
Assistant Dean for Innovation and Instructional Technology Enhancement at the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences -
Rabieh Razzouk
Director, Learning Systems Institute, and Director, FCR-STEM -
Dr. Cynthia Green
Director Center for Global Engagement -
Dr. Patrick Kennell
Director of the Center for Intensive English Studies -
Ashley Krutz-Ordner
Director, International Travel, Safety and Risk Office of the Provost -
Angi Yoder Maina
Director, Trauma and Resilience Collaborative -
Dr. Bill Hunkapiller
Chief Information Security Officer -
Leila Gibradze
Information and Information Technology Librarian, Assistant Director of Innovation Hub -
Dr. Jeffrey Milligan
Former Director, Learning Systems Institute; Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies -
Dr. Anna Romanova
Eastern Europe Researcher, Project Consultant - USAID, LSI Researcher -
Laura H. Greene
Chief Scientist at the National MagLab/MarieKrafft Professor of Physics -
Dr. Bryant Harden
Program Director of the Global Citizenship Certificate/Instructional Specialist in the Center for Global Engagement -
Dr. Michael Shatruk
Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry -
Dr. Irinel Chiorescu
Professor Department of Physics -
Dr Jonathan Grant
Professor of History -
Dr. Nick Cogan
Professor of Mathematics -
Dr. Robert Romanchuk
Pribic Family Associate Professor of Slavic in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics -
Dr. Lisa Ryoko Wakamiya
Associate Professor of Slavic in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics -
Dr. Sean McGinley
Associate Professor, Director of International Studies,Dedman College of Hospitality -
Dr. Svitlana Jaroszynski
School of Communication Visiting Faculty -
Dr. Vadym Kulichenko
Visiting Scientist/Researcher at The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory -
Dr. Mykhaylo Ozerov
Research Faculty, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory -
Brad Lister
Assistant Director, Opening Nights at FSU -
Dr. Bruce Thyer
Distinguished Research Professor -
Dr. Joe Calhoun
Teaching Professor, Director of Stavros Center for Economic Education -
Kelsey Klopfenstein
Global Media Manager -
Elliott Finebloom
LSI Asst. Director -- Media, Communications and Marketing -
Rachel Neale
Compliance Program Coordinator
Recognition
TWINNING INITIATIVE
In recognition of your institution's exceptional leadership and commitment to the UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative.
Your support has played a vital role in sustaining Ukrainian higher education during a time of war - helping universities remain open, connected, and resilient.
We extend our sincere appreciation for your contribution to this important partnership.
