Last fall, undergraduate Allison Tate (Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy) received the WCEE-Release Peace Fellowship to pursue research on peace, security, and human rights in Europe and Eurasia and produce an article for Release Peace: The Magazine under the mentorship of professional editors at The Hague-based NGO. 

Tate recently published her research in the article “The Visible and Invisible Traumas of the War in Ukraine,” co-authored by Sofiia Tretiak, a Ukrainian student at Middlebury College’s Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs. Their work examines how Ukraine is facing a growing amputation crisis as artillery, drones, and mines reshape battlefield injuries. They argue, however, that recovery extends beyond prosthetic limbs, as survivors also face trauma from torture, captivity, and conflict-related sexual violence, while legal, psychological, and social support systems struggle to meet the scale of need. 

“Co-authoring this publication with Sofiia has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my undergraduate career,” commented Tate. “Beyond deepening my understanding of Ukraine's amputation crisis and the often-overlooked impacts of conflict-related sexual violence, this collaboration strengthened my ability to conduct cross-cultural research, write concisely for a public audience, and communicate evidence on complex geopolitical issues. I am deeply grateful to the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and Release Peace for making this opportunity possible." 

With an academic focus on diplomatic and peace policy, Tate is pursuing a BA in Public Policy with minors in the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) and Community Action and Social Change (CASC). She is currently interning with the United Nations in New York City as part of the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship. She has previously served as a Donia Human Rights Center Fellow (Social Change Initiative, 2024), and a PICS Longwoods Fellow (2025). Following graduation, Tate plans to pursue several years of international public service before returning to academia to earn either a JD or a master's degree.