Supporting scholars at institutions of higher education in Ukraine
In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) at the University of Michigan created a residential fellowship in Ann Arbor for Ukrainian scholars who were not able to safely conduct their research in Ukraine. The initiative became formally known as the WCEE Scholars at Risk Fellowship, which was extended through August 2025.
After an open application in Spring 2022, WCEE awarded the fellowship to six Ukrainian scholars, many of whom came to Ann Arbor with their families in September 2022. WCEE provided roundtrip-airfare for scholars and dependents, visa support, health insurance, and a stipend.
The fellows, all affiliated with Ukrainian universities near the frontlines, were matched with U-M faculty working in similar fields. They continued their research, taught courses on Ukraine to University of Michigan students, and became integral members of the WCEE community.
Two fellows were able to return to Ukraine after one year in Ann Arbor, and a third returned after two. The last three scholars remained in Ann Arbor with their families through August 2025.
Read more about the fellows and their scholarly interests.
Oksana Chabanyuk (2022-25)
Yurii Kaparulin (2022-25)
Iryna Sikorska (2022)
Katerina Sirinyok-Dolgaryova (2022-25)
Anna Taranenko (2022-23)
Kseniya Yurtayeva (2022-24)
The Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia is grateful to the generous individual donors who contributed to this fellowship and to the following U-M units who hosted fellows and made financial contributions: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Copernicus Center for Polish Studies, Center for Emerging Democracies, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, Department of History, and the International Institute.
Questions about the WCEE Scholars at Risk Fellowship can be sent to weiseraward@umich.edu.
More information
CREES Curriculum Includes Unique Courses Taught by WCEE Ukrainian Scholars at Risk (February 19, 2024)
WCEE Welcomes Ukrainians as Scholars at Risk Fellows (August 30, 2022)
Scholars at Risk Fellowship: University of Michigan supports Ukraine’s higher education faculty (August 30, 2022)
