This fall, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) had the privilege of hosting two distinguished Ukrainian professors as part of the BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program (UAFP). This initiative, operated by American Councils, fosters collaboration between U.S. and Ukrainian academic institutions while equipping Ukrainian faculty with valuable insights to train the next generation of engineers, scientists, and problem solvers who will play pivotal roles in rebuilding Ukraine post-war.
From September 15 to October 15, WPI welcomed Cybersecurity Dr. Yevgen Kotukh from Dnipro Technical University and Dr. Anastasiya Stefanyshyn from Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University. The BridgeUSA program aims to match international faculty with US-based counterparts, and the visitors were hosted by WPI’s own CS professor Dr. Xiaoyan “Sherry” Sun and BME professor Dr. Diana Alatalo, respectively.
Reflecting on this meaningful exchange, WPI Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Alex Wyglinski, shared: “Hosting and collaborating with our two visiting Ukrainian faculty members this past fall through the BridgeUSA UAFP program was an incredible experience. It provided many members of the WPI community the chance to connect with Professor Kotukh and Professor Stefanyshyn, sparking several exciting and impactful global initiatives rooted in our project-based learning culture.”
This collaboration showcases WPI’s commitment to global engagement and project-based learning. For more information about the BridgeUSA UAFP program, visit the American Councils’ site.