REEESNe Workshop: Protecting Vulnerable Scholars and Partnerships

Workshop
Series
Special event
Event Format
In person
Address
S020 (Belfer Case Study), CGIS South, 1730 Cambridge Street

Protecting Vulnerable Scholars and Partnerships

The 2025-2026 Faculty & Administrator Workshop, organized by the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Northeast Network (REEESNe), will focus on protecting vulnerable students, researchers, and collaborations at U.S. universities and colleges, with a particular attention to navigating changes in U.S. and Russian policy and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

Friday, November 7

2:15 pm: Meeting the Moment: The Scholars at Risk Program at Harvard University

  • Keynote Lecture by Jane Unrue, SAR, Harvard University

4:15 pm: Panel I, Emerging Challenges

  • Dan Epstein (Harvard University Scholars Without Borders): Challenges Facing Foreign Researchers
  • Lynda Park (ED for Association for Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies): Funding, Undesirable Organizations
  • Ksenia Ivanenko (American Councils and BridgeUSA): Ukrainian-focused Programs (for researchers

Saturday, November 8

9 am: Panel II, Assisting Students and Scholars

  • Abbie Swartvagher (Bard College): Bard College’s Displaced Student Program and Health Care
  • Jonathan Becker (Bard College): TBA
  • Eliot Borenstein (New York University): Visas
  • Billie Jo Ember (Bryn Mawr College): Export Controls (data)
  • Kevin Repp (Yale University): Export Controls (vulnerable artists and materials)  

10:45 am: Workshop Session, Helping foreign students and scholars at risk sustain their positions in the U.S.

  • Violetta Soboleva, President and CEO of Liberty Forward

1:15 pm: Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech

  • Tim Harte: Navigating Changing University and Governmental Policies--Protests, Prejudice, or other Matters of the Academy
  • Benjamin Rifkin: Academic Freedom
  • Jon Stone: Helping Students Navigate Freedom of Speech
  • Irina Busygina: TBA

3:15: Open Discussion

4 pm: Workshop Concludes


 

 

Sponsorship

The event is co-sponsored by REEES Network.

Accessibility

The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at 617-495-4037 or daviscenter@fas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance if possible. Please note that the Davis Center will make every effort to secure services but that services are subject to availability.