Congratulations to the Harriman Institute’s director, Valentina Izmierlieva, who was recognized for her leadership in the field of Ukrainian Studies and for her “dedicated work which has illuminated the authentic history and culture of Ukraine.”
The recognition was awarded on July 10, 2024 at the conference, “The U.S.-Ukraine Partnership in Education: Stronger Together.” It was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi. The conference was organized in conjunction with the NATO Summit and took place at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. It was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Embassy and the U.S. National Academy of Science, with a keynote speech from First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The recognition certificate states that Izmirlieva’s “efforts have greatly contributed to understanding the complex and multifaceted development of the Ukrainian state, revealing the true essence of the Ukrainian nation.” It notes that her contributions to the field of Ukrainian studies during the “challenging period” of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine, “are of exceptional value.”
Bohdan Vivitsky, President of the Ukrainian Studies Fund, says the recognition is, “So well deserved—for Izmirlieva’s individual scholarly contributions, for her initiatives on behalf of Ukrainian culture makers, and as the director of one of the two leading academic institutions that have hosted Ukrainian studies the longest.”