On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter hosted a panel discussion in Isenberg School of Management Room 210 to mark over three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The event celebrated the ongoing partnership between UMass Amherst and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), featuring Professors Anna Nagurney and Bogdan Prokopovych alongside four remarkable exchange students from Ukraine: Asta Motrenko, Marharyta Nechytailo, Oleksandra Horusieva, and Karyna Lutsenko.
The event kicked off with Professor Nagurney sharing highlights of the UMass Amherst–KSE partnership, which began swiftly after the invasion in March 2022. This collaboration, has enabled student exchanges to support Ukrainian academia amidst wartime challenges. Professor Nagurney praised the rapid response of UMass leadership, including the Office of Global Affairs, and noted KSE’s incredible growth—tripling its student body despite the ongoing war.
The spotlight then turned to the exchange students, who shared their personal stories and perspectives. Asta, Marharyta, Oleksandra, and Karyna, reflected on the challenges they faced in Ukraine—power outages, water shortages, and studying in bomb shelters—while expressing gratitude for KSE’s resilience and support. Their transition to UMass Amherst brought a mix of relief and new experiences, from navigating an expansive campus to enjoying the diversity of dining hall food (though they still crave Ukrainian borscht!).
Moderated by Professors Nagurney and Prokopovych, the panel tackled questions about differences in education and daily life between KSE and UMass. The students highlighted smaller, discussion-based classes at KSE versus the larger, theory-heavy lectures at UMass, appreciating the independent learning opportunities here. They were surprised by the scale of UMass—its massive campus, diverse student body, and endless events—describing it as a vibrant, supportive community that reminded them of both the challenges and joys of student life.
The audience, including representatives from the Office of Global Affairs and the INFORMS Chapter officers, engaged eagerly in a Q&A session. Questions ranged from favorite UMass experiences (like exploring Amherst’s downtown or attending basketball games) to plans for Ukraine’s future. The students expressed a strong desire to leverage their education for recovery efforts—whether through research, or fostering international connections to rebuild their homeland.
A special moment came with the exciting news of the President of KSE, Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov, revisiting UMass Amherst. He will deliver a talk titled “The Future of Europe if Ukraine Loses” on March 7, 2025. The event is scheduled for 3:00 PM in the Integrated Applied Life Sciences Conference Center, Room S330-S340. It will be followed by a reception from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room S320.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Asta, Marharyta, Oleksandra, and Karyna for their inspiring participation, as well as to Professors Anna Nagurney and Bogdan Prokopovych for their insightful moderation. Special appreciation goes to the Office of Global Affairs, the Isenberg School of Management, the Operations and Information Management Department, and other UMass supporters for making this event a success.
Last year, we also hosted an event featuring exchange students in a panel discussion titled Higher Education in the US and Ukraine. The event explored the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad and emphasized the importance of academic collaboration between the US and Ukraine. You can revisit our blog post about that event here:
For more details on KSE President Dr. Mylovanov’s upcoming talk or to stay updated on future INFORMS events, check our blog posts, along with the UMass and Isenberg event pages. Keep following us for more coverage of the Chapter’s exciting initiatives!