Visiting Professor Volodymyr Dubovyk Speaks about his Journey from Odesa to Tufts

By Vishal Manve, MALD 2023 Candidate, The Fletcher School

Since Fall 2022, Professor Volodymyr Dubovyk has been a regular presence across Tufts University and The Fletcher School’s campus. Professor Dubovyk has conducted classes on Ukraine’s foreign policy and Black Sea regional security, participated in a bevy of conferences, led discussion sessions, and cultivated a strong and savvy media presence, receiving regular spotlights widely across multiple media platforms, including CNN, Politico, and even Vice. He has emerged as a credible voice on the global and American stage, highlighting the on-the-ground realities of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its foreign policy implications. 

In a Zoom interview in late April 2023, Professor Dubovyk spoke at length about his journey from Odesa to Boston. He is currently the Director of the Center for International Studies at Odesa Mechnikov National University. He moved to the U.S. under the aegis of Tufts’ Scholars at Risk initiative, an international program supporting academics from war-torn countries. He has received Fulbright Fellowships twice and has led research at the Kennan Institute, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland.

Professor Dubovyk recalled his professional history, beginning in Odesa in southern Ukraine, where he studied history from 1987 to 1992. He called it an interesting time, comprising “Gorbachev, Glasnost, and everything else.” 

“Despite being a history student, I was more inclined towards international relations–history, theory, the present day, and that’s why I was involved with a group of my former professors. I’ve been teaching in one form or another for the last 30 years in Ukraine,” Dubovyk said. 

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Professor Dubovyk left Odesa and relocated to Western Ukraine, where he stayed for eight months as an internally displaced person. Eventually, he was approached by Tufts through the Scholars at Risk program. He decided to take up the opportunity and both teach Tufts students and continue to teach Ukrainian students virtually without interruption.

He recounted the challenges he faced through the process, saying, “I accepted the Tufts offer but the problem was to get all the necessary permits, papers, and documentation, since Ukraine has martial law. And that means men between 18 and 60 years of age couldn’t just leave. In my case, university professors are exempted from mobilization to go to the army but at the same time, we are not allowed to leave.”

The documentation issues resulted in his arrival being delayed until mid-October 2022. Since arriving at Tufts, he has taught two courses on Black Sea regional security and Ukraine’s foreign and security policy. 

Dubovyk highlighted how Ukrainian scholars and students are akin to ambassadors. He stated, “We have a heavier duty and responsibility compared to what it was in previous years. Everyone knows about the war, but it is upon us to remind people that the war is ongoing and that people are still dying because as the war becomes longer, people tend to pay less attention. I’ve been hammering this idea in recent weeks and months in my talks around this country,” including events at MIT, Harvard University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of West Virginia, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Atlantic Council, and the RAND Corporation, among others.

There are instances during his sessions when he receives questions influenced by Russian disinformation, which he has learned require careful responses. 

“I’ve learned how to address them, but you need to explain it to people because they keep hearing this from their local news stations. You need to deconstruct those narratives and put together your own,” Dubovyk explained. 

While discussing academic opportunities for Ukrainian scholars, Dubovyk said, “Last spring, when the major aggression began, there was a surge of support offered to Ukrainians worldwide. But then, the momentum faded as people reasoned they could only mobilize their resources once due to financial limitations.”

“This is unfortunate, because if any U.S. university announces fellowships for Ukrainian scholars, there may be two or three fellowships available, leading to a long queue of dozens of scholars vying for these opportunities. This scarcity of support falls short of what’s truly needed.”

However, he noted how many institutions are now introducing nonresident fellowships, which hold significant importance for Ukrainian scholars back in the country. “This approach serves as an important lifeline for those of us who are unable to leave Ukraine at this time,” he added. 

Dubovyk also spoke about the difficulty of managing trauma and continuing to teach as the war continues. He said, “It was quite challenging at times to detach personal feelings from the teaching process. I remember participating in online events while still in Ukraine and struggling to compose myself. At times, tears would well up as emotions ran high. However, with time, a sense of composure developed. While I’ve learned to suppress my inner feelings, there are moments when emotions resurface. We’re all human and affected by the scale of the war.”

While the path may be challenging, Dubovyk expressed that his feelings of duty and purpose serve as a driving force. Participating in teaching, dialogues, interviews, and other endeavors help provide a sense of direction. 

“It prevents me from dwelling on negative thoughts and gives me the satisfaction of contributing positively to our country,” he concluded.