College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Mariia Novoselia arrived at Western Kentucky University from her home in southern Ukraine in January 2022 for a one-semester international exchange program. A month later, Russia invaded her home country. 

As one of 17 Ukrainian students placed at U.S. universities through the Global UGRAD Program, Novoselia faced an uncertain future in Bowling Green, 5,496 miles away from family in her hometown of Odesa. 

“At that point, I didn’t know whether I would be able to stay here or go back or where I would be because one of the main rules of the program was you cannot stay in the U.S. after your one semester,” Novoselia said. 

But thanks to a change for that cohort and with support for displaced students from the WKU Resilient Refugee Program, Novoselia transferred to WKU as a full-time student. During the past 2½ years, she has taken advantage of opportunities and experiences on the Hill. 

This spring, Novoselia completes a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Science and a certificate in Organizational Leadership. 

At Commencement on May 2, Novoselia will be recognized as the Spring 2024 recipient of the Ogden Foundation Scholar Award, WKU’s top undergraduate academic honor.  

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the email,” she said, recalling the morning she learned she was selected for the award. “I was very surprised, very happy and grateful.”  

The award and graduation will cap her unexpected WKU journey.  

“I never intentionally chose WKU. Instead, I was placed here as a Global UGRAD exchange student,” said Novoselia, who spent 2½ years at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University. “As part of this program, students who are selected to study abroad in the United States do not have a choice of where they are going. I found out I was coming to the States at the end of spring 2021, but it wasn’t until November that year that I found out I was coming to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to study at WKU. That being said, I love WKU, and I am very happy that I was placed here.” 

Novoselia was happy to continue pursuing her journalism degree at WKU. “I have always liked telling stories and writing. In addition, I have always wanted to make the world a better place,” she said. “I have had many ideas as to how I can do both, and around the time I was in high school, after talking to my mom, I realized that the answer is journalism. I firmly believe in the power of journalism to bring about positive change by giving voice to people, educating, and inspiring them.” 

Professor Gordon “Mac” McKerral said Novoselia ranks among the top journalism majors he has taught during nearly 20 years at WKU.  

“She has remained dogged in her pursuit of a degree from WKU,” McKerral said. “She has overcome every hurdle. And I am not sure people appreciate how difficult it is to remain so focused when you are separated from your family, friends and loved ones because they live thousands of miles away in a war-torn country. And I have never seen Mariia when she did not have a smile on her face. She is humble, respectful and so eager to learn.” 

Novoselia wrote for the College Heights Herald and had summer internships at the Bowling Green Daily News and the Chautauquan Daily in New York. This summer, she will work at South Dakota News Watch before beginning graduate school at the University of Missouri. 

“The classes that I have taken at my university back home and here at Western have prepared me to work as a journalist,” she said. “Western has given me much more than just an education for sure. I have had so many opportunities to work with other people starting with the WKU Global office and being a Global Learning Ambassador.” 

An ambassador since fall 2022, Novoselia promotes Global Learning opportunities, works with students to find the right study abroad program and helps international students get used to living in the United States. “I love being part of the WKU Global office family,” she said. “Everyone who works there is exceptionally kind and supportive. They have been with me every step of the way.” 

Global Learning Student Services Specialist WesleyAnne Watkins noted that Novoselia is culturally engaged, appreciates diverse perspectives and exhibits a strong work ethic, resilience in the face of challenges and a thoughtful approach to every task.  

“In Mariia, you find a rare combination of intellect, joy and humor. Her optimistic outlook and infectious laughter brighten even the dullest moments,” Watkins said. “She's not just inspirational; she's the kind of person who can turn your day around with just a smile and a witty remark. The Hill became a better place with her as a member of our community, and I can’t wait to see her continue to change the world one smile at a time.” 

In addition to taking classes, attending campus events and working for WKU Global and the Herald, Novoselia looked for ways to spread awareness about the war in Ukraine. 

“Right after everything started, Julie Mishchuk and I set up a booth at DSU. We were serving coffee and Ukrainian honey cake and handing out bracelets with the colors of the Ukrainian flag,” she said. 

In the spring of 2023, she founded the Ukrainian Club at WKU “to give students at Western a platform to share their culture and an opportunity to learn something new, as well as to spread awareness about the war back home.” Then in February 2024, she and Ukrainian exchange student Taisiia Maslenko organized an exhibition called “Unissued Diplomas” to honor 40 Ukrainian students who died in the war and never graduated or received their diplomas. 

“Overall, the process of setting up the exhibition was so unique and unlike anything else,” Novoselia said. “It was a whirlwind of emotions for me, and one of the things that stood out to me was how all the tools that Western has been giving me since my first day on the Hill came into play.” 

With support from Dr. Martha Sales, Dr. John Sunnygard, WKU Global, Mahurin Honors College and others, “we opened the exhibition on Feb. 27 to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion.” 

At the opening ceremony, Maslenko shared memories of the five people she knew whose stories were included in the exhibit. 

“The way the project was received was also incredible,” Novoselia said. “I really appreciate the fact that my friends, professors and even people who I didn’t know took some time out of their day to learn about my country and what is going on – this is invaluable.” 

While Novoselia is looking forward to her summer internship and graduate school, she won’t forget her WKU experience.  

“My time here has been extremely transformative and just wonderful,” she said. “The best part though is the people that I have found here. My friends, classmates, professors, advisors, the people I stood in line with – they all made every day so special and so unique. There have certainly been times when I was not feeling my best, but it was the people around me who cheered me up and encouraged me to keep going, and I cannot express how grateful I am to all of them.”

#WKUGrad series: As part of our #WKUGrad series, articles on graduating students are shared in the weeks leading up to Commencement. See all of their stories at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.