Nina Klimenkova and Arsen Martyshchuk, recipients of UTC Global Response Assistantship scholarships, will be receiving master’s degrees from UTC on Friday, May 3. Photo by Angela Foster.
The last few months Nina Klimenkova was in her hometown of Voznesensk, Ukraine, she and her family hid from Russian occupants who were attempting to break into their house.
Meanwhile, Arsen Martyshchuk was in the rural villages of Krasnyk—where he grew up—working tirelessly with his family hosting humanitarian workers providing aid to Ukrainians.
A little more than two years later, on Friday, May 3, the two will walk across the stage at McKenzie Arena, recipients of master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The invasion
On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Klimenkova and Martyshchuk were finishing up their undergraduate studies.
Klimenkova evacuated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, where she was a computer science major.
“It was hard to study because I had no internet, no lights or energy,” she said. “We didn’t have anything for two or three weeks after the occupation.”
The chaos of war plagued their streets; it became normal to see guns and bombs, Klimenkova said.
Klimenkova’s parents—both veterinarians—were out of work for over a month.
“My family, my grandparents, we gathered together just to survive,” she said.
Martyshchuk studied international relations at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, evacuating after the first threats of invasion.
“It’s terrifying to hear that,” he said. “You don’t expect that to happen. A lot of people did not expect that to happen.
“The area where I left was bombed on the 24th of February.”
Pushing through the mayhem, the two finished school online and earned their bachelor’s degrees.
Shortly after, they came across UTC on Education USA—a platform operated by the U.S. Department of State that offers educational advice and opportunities to people around the world.
The UTC Global Response Assistantship
Thanks to Dr. Takeo Suzuki, the executive director of the UTC Center for Global Education, Martyshchuk and Klimenkova discovered the opportunity that would help them achieve their life goals.
After the invasion, Suzuki reached out to former students living in Ukraine. While some of them said they were OK, one alarming plea stood out—a student who requested weapons and armory to protect her family.
“I knew her two summers ago,” Suzuki said. “Here, in person, in Chattanooga. I was just shocked. I couldn’t sleep that night.”
The following day, he spoke to Chancellor Steven R. Angle, who suggested Suzuki contact the Student Government Association (SGA).
For the next two weeks, Suzuki worked alongside the SGA to create the UTC Global Response Assistantship, providing two Ukrainian students a chance to pursue their master’s degrees at UTC completely free.
Though it was not necessarily easy for Martyshchuk and Klimenkova to apply, they said they knew they had to take their chances.
“My family convinced me to apply because I was hesitant,” Klimenkova said. “Of course, it’s a great opportunity. I realized it’s a big step for my future career, but I just couldn’t imagine leaving my family when something like this is going on in my country.”
Two weeks after applying, Suzuki called them individually, congratulating them on their acceptance.
They agreed that they tried to remain as professional as possible during that call.
“We were on a call with Takeo Suzuki,” Klimenkova recalled. “We had to behave ourselves.”
# # # # #
A message from Dr. Takeo Suzuki:
“Two years ago, Arsen and Nina arrived at UTC as the inaugural recipients of the UTC Global Response Assistantship. Coming from war-torn regions of Ukraine, they carried not just the weight of academic challenges but also the hopes of contributing to the rebuilding of their country. I am so happy and proud of the significant milestone: their graduation. I believe this graduation ceremony is not just a celebration of academic achievements; it’s a profound acknowledgment of Arsen and Nina’s unyielding spirit.
As the Executive Director of the UTC Center for Global Education, watching Arsen and Nina grow and excel in their academic programs despite the challenges at their home has been truly inspiring. I have witnessed firsthand the value Arsen and Nina have added to our UTC campus community. Their presence has been a profound reminder of our interconnected world, bringing empathy and diverse perspectives that enrich our understanding and appreciation of global dynamics. They’ve taught us all invaluable lessons in perseverance and hope. They have not only shared their rich cultural heritage but have also brought a perspective that reinforces the strength found in the power of education.
I want to acknowledge the instrumental role played by the UTC Student Government Association and all faculty members in supporting Arsen and Nina. Their advocacy and diligent efforts have been crucial in providing the necessary resources and fostering an environment that has contributed significantly to their success.
As we celebrate their accomplishments, I look forward to a future where their skills and knowledge will play a crucial role in shaping a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine and the world. Congratulations, Arsen and Nina, on your graduation, and all the best for your journey ahead. Your courage and achievements light the way for many.”
Takeo
# # # # #
Life at UTC
Martyshchuk and Klimenkova arrived at UTC in August 2022. Martyshchuk chose to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. Klimenkova started working toward an MBA.
Adjusting to life in the U.S. was challenging, but the two settled in quickly.
“I think two months in, I started really enjoying the process,” Martyshchuk said. “Everyone is supportive, starting with professors, classmates and the Center for Global Education. Kudos to them. They’re really nice people.”
Martyshchuk said he was one of the first international students in the history of the Master of Public Administration program.
“When I first got here, I was going to classes and they were talking about some local Chattanooga things,” he recalled, “and I was like, ‘Oh. OK. Interesting. I don’t know what you guys are talking about.’ But then, as you are here for a little while, you understand how the city works.”
They said their supportive and friendly fellow Mocs—from their peers to their professors—made the process easier.
“It was a little bit hard because it’s a long distance from my family,” Klimenkova said. “It was still dangerous in my region, so of course I was very worried about my family all the time. But because of the friendly community here and the support of the Center for Global Education, it was easier.”
Despite traveling thousands of miles to live in a new country, the two did not hesitate to get involved with the Chattanooga and campus community.
One of the first moves Martyshchuk made on campus was joining the UTC men’s soccer club.
“I played soccer back home so I couldn’t miss this opportunity,” he said.
He also joined the UTC Student Government Association which became a highlight of his graduate school career.
“It was probably the most important and exceptional thing for me in terms of my professional development,” he said. “I was trying to show what could be changed on campus. I was trying to be a representative for international students and graduate students, being the only one of them in the senate.
“At the end I managed to become Senator of the Year. The other senators nominated me for the role, although I know a lot of people in the senate who deserved that too because they worked a lot.”
Martyshchuk completed an internship with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. He said urban planning is his passion; friends in SGA even nicknamed him “Bus Guy.”
Early in Klimenkova’s UTC adventure, she worked in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business with Elizabeth Bell, who oversees graduate and international programs, and Christine Estoye, director of the MBA and graduate management programs.
“I’m really grateful to them because they helped me to adapt to this community,” Klimenkova said. “I’m really proud of being able to promote our local international experience programs because it’s an amazing experience for students.”
She also interned at Lee-Smith, a commercial truck dealership in Chattanooga.
“They’re amazing people, amazing company,” she said. “I got a lot of insight into commercial business with them.”
They both worked as graduate research assistants, allowing them to get research experience and reverse roles from students to educators.
Martyschuk’s research focused on urban planning and refugee resettlement. Occasionally, he taught classes in urban planning.
Klimenkova gave lectures to undergraduate business students and graded essays.
“It was an amazing experience for me,” she said. “That’s actually why I started thinking about a Ph.D. career and a professor career in the future.”
Martyshchuk and Klimenkova also worked together to start the UTC Ukraine Club to educate other students about Ukrainian history and culture.
“It was a very nice experience for us and our international community and the University community in general,” Klimenkova said.
Since the beginning of their UTC journeys, both said they’ve grown in self-confidence.
“I became more confident, definitely,” Klimenkova said. “I’m sure I can make some difference in the world. I have some ideas. I know approximately how to do that now and I’m not afraid to ask questions anymore. That’s very important for me.”
Life back home
As of now, the war in Ukraine continues and the death toll is still rising.
Fortunately, Martyshchuk and Klimenkova’s families are relatively safe, they said.
“We’re just grateful for what we have here and UTC has been amazing,” Martyshchuk said. “But you wake up every day and you see the terrorists from the other side of the border. They bomb cities, communities, families.
“Nothing really changed since 2022.”
A massive problem in Klimenkova’s eyes is the lack of education and stability for children in Ukraine—something her little sister, Uliana, is currently struggling with.
“Imagine you’re 11 years old and you are sitting in class listening to your teacher,” she said. “You’re learning something but an air alarm is happening and you have to run to the basement in the winter.
“She’s always asking me, ‘Why is it happening?’ It’s very hard to explain to her what is going on.”
Klimenkova said she still has hope for the future, though.
“I think it’s not a coincidence,” she said. “I think we can make a difference. There is no way I’m going to forget where I came from. I’m not going to forget about Ukraine.
“I believe Ukraine needs some strong young people with strong knowledge, a new approach.”
The future
As their time at UTC comes to a close, the two plan to continue their hard work in their next endeavors.
Klimenkova is headed to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts to pursue a doctoral degree in data science.
“Do you know those annoying questions that everyone asks you like, ‘What are you going to do in life?’ I wasn’t sure how to answer those questions before my UTC experience,” she said.
She said the path became clearer with her experience working in the commercial world and working with students as a graduate assistant.
“I tried both and then realized that I want to pursue my career in academia.”
Martyshchuk, who has scouted a couple of potential job opportunities, couldn’t reveal too much about his post-graduate plans. He did say, however, that he wouldn’t mind staying in Chattanooga.
“Wherever I go,” Martyshchuk said, “when people ask me, ‘Hey, what do you do?’ I will say, ‘I went to this very amazing school in the south.’ I will reference all the amazing people who helped me along the way here.”
Klimenkova said they are putting UTC on the map.
“Lots of students in Ukraine know about UTC,” she said. “At my university back in Ukraine, everyone knows about UTC, about this opportunity and program. Also at my future university, all of them know about UTC.
“I feel like it’s very important to tell people what an amazing thing UTC did for us.”
Saying goodbye
As Martyshchuk and Klimenkova bid farewell to UTC, they also prepare to say goodbye to each other.
They recalled the day they met at the train station, where Martyshchuk helped Klimenkova carry her suitcase. “A gentleman,” Klimenkova said with a laugh.
“It was great to share this experience,” she said. “I’m going to miss Arsen. But we will still be friends and communicate.”
Martyshchuk described the days leading up to their graduation as “sappy” and “bittersweet.”
“This has been an amazing experience,” Martyshchuk said. “I can’t be thankful enough for what UTC has done for us, as well as the Center for Global Education, Dr. Suzuki. I mean, he was at the forefront of establishing the scholarship. My gratitude for the MPA program, our advisors and everyone who has been supportive and helpful.
“I can tell a lot about Chattanooga, about the community, but the people are the most amazing people I’ve met in my life.”
Looking forward, Klimenkova shared a simple statement for current and future international students: “Don’t forget where you came from.”
Learn More
UTC Global Response Assistantship
Ukraine grad students settling in at UTC
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
