Back to News

National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Faculty Visit Yale Law School

a delegation from National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy visiting the Law School
A delegation from National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy visited the Law School in January.

This January, Yale Law School received a long-awaited visit: a delegation from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, one of Eastern Europe’s oldest academic institutions. The delegation comprised four members of the Academy’s Law School, including Dean Dr. Volodymyr Venher, Dr. Oleksii Tseliev, Dr. Mariia Melnyk, and Visiting Professor Taisa Markus.

The journey wasn’t without risk: the four had to travel by train through western Ukraine from Kyiv to the Polish border to catch their flight to New Haven.

The group’s twin goals, said Gordon Silverstein, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at Yale Law School, were to learn more about the School’s approach to legal education, and strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.

Over three days, the delegation met with Yale Law School Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor Heather K. Gerken, Alexander M. Bickel Professor of Public Law William Eskridge Jr. ’78, Charles F. Southmayd Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy Scott Shapiro ’90, Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law Oona Hathaway ’97, Binger Clinical Professor of Human Rights James J. Silk ’89, and many others.

Silverstein, who helped coordinate the trip, said it proved a rich experience for faculty from both institutions. “The three-day visit included meeting Yale Law students and Yale undergraduates from Ukraine, as well as a chance to sit in on YLS seminars and courses,” he said.

The Ukrainian group wanted to focus on learning more about Yale Law School’s faculty research and teaching, particularly in the areas of international criminal law, cyber law and artificial intelligence, and legal education, with an emphasis on legal writing, he added. They visited Sterling Professor of International Law Harold Hongju Koh’s classroom, spoke with students, and met with scholars of the Information Society Project. The group also met with James Tierney, the Director of Yale University’s English Language Program. 

“The delegation established relations with a wide range of our centers and programs, and we were delighted to focus on building connections we hope will continue to flower and grow,” said Silverstein.