Alfred University leading effort to award honorary degrees to Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy

ALFRED, NY – Alfred University is among a group of 17 colleges and universities in five states that intend to jointly offer honorary degrees to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this spring, recognizing his leadership during his country’s brutal invasion by Russia. The colleges and universities—seven of which are in Upstate New York—will honor Zelenskyy during their respective commencement ceremonies.

The idea to present Zelenskyy with jointly offered honorary degrees and in honor of the citizens of the Ukraine originated with president Mark Zupan of Alfred University. On March 19, Zupan wrote to Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, asking if Zelenskyy could speak virtually to the graduating Class of 2022 and their campus communities at a combination of higher education institutions including Alfred University.

“The gesture was motivated by the inspiring example provided by President Zelenskyy to his people and the broader world in defense of freedom and democracy, plus the significance of what the citizens of Ukraine were fighting for, not just for themselves but in the greater geo-political context,” Zupan said.

“Given how effectively President Zelenskyy was communicating with so many different audiences around the world, I thought that perhaps he might be interested in speaking to our graduating students.”

In addition to requesting Zelenskky address Alfred University’s graduating students, Zupan pursued a broader effort to honor Zelenskyy’s courageous leadership, which has served as a global inspiration. He began reaching out to his counterparts at colleges and universities throughout the Greater Rochester area, which is home to a significant population of citizens of Ukrainian descent. .

Ultimately, an official at the Ukrainian embassy graciously declined the speaking request; Zelenskyy, after all, has been busy for more than five weeks leading his nation’s resistance to a brutal Russian invasion.

An Alfred University alumna, Beryl Torthe ’18, suggested to Zupan that the honorary degrees could be awarded to Zelenskyy in absentia. “Her suggestion was pivotal to the endeavor being launched,” Zupan said of Torthe, who was one of two Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior award recipients in 2018.

The idea was well received by other schools in the Rochester area, and spread to other institutions, first throughout Upstate New York and then in other states.

The higher education institutions which have presently publicly committed to participating in the endeavor include Alfred University, Bard College, Canisius College, Hilbert College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Keuka College, Le Moyne College, and  Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; Adrian College and Siena Heights University, Michigan; Lenoir-Rhyne University, North Carolina; Alvernia University, Gratz College, Manor College, and York College, Pennsylvania; and Shenandoah University and Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia. It is expected that other institutions will join the growing effort.

“It has been beyond heartening to see how readily and positively colleagues at other higher education institutions have responded to the idea. It speaks to how all of us have been galvanized by President Zelenskyy and the citizens of Ukraine to doing whatever we can to help their cause,” Zupan commented. “Given the role colleges and universities play in promoting the rights of individuals and a liberal society, adding our voice in recognition of and support for the Ukrainian cause is a meaningful way that we can put our shoulders to the wheel.”

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Inside Higher Ed, and Rochester Business Journal published stories on the colleges and universities awarding honorary degrees to Zelenskyy.

While Zelenskyy will not be addressing Alfred University seniors at commencement, Zupan said the example he has set since the war in Ukraine began in February will not be lost on this year’s graduates. “May our soon to be Class of 2022 graduates and all of us who are part of the Alfred University community have the courage to do the right thing, no matter how adverse the circumstances we confront.”

Alfred University has offered admission to three Ukrainian students who wish to continue their higher education in the U.S and continues to review other applicants from the Ukraine. The University is also investigating resources to include scholarship aid to those students.