**Renowned Ukrainian Historian Steps Down as Director of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute**
After 12 years at the helm, Serhii Plokhii, a leading expert on Ukrainian history, is leaving his position as director of the Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI) at Harvard University. In a farewell message, Plokhii expressed gratitude to colleagues, staff, and supporters, while also thanking historian Terry Martin, who will take over as director in the upcoming academic year.
Plokhii’s tenure was marked by significant growth and expansion of HURI’s programming. Under his leadership, the institute established the Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program in 2019, which became a crucial initiative in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The program aimed to promote research and scholarship on contemporary Ukrainian issues.
As one of the leading experts on Eastern European history, Plokhii has written several best-selling books, including “The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine” and “The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union.” Born to a Ukrainian family in Russia, he has lived in Ukraine for 35 years and is widely respected for his expertise.
**A Legacy of Excellence**
Plokhii’s departure marks the end of an era at HURI, which was founded in 1973 through the support of the Ukrainian-American community. The institute has been a leading academic hub in the United States focused on Ukrainian studies. Under Plokhii’s leadership, HURI promoted research and scholarship on Ukraine’s history, culture, and politics through fellowships, conferences, digital initiatives, and its flagship journal, Harvard Ukrainian Studies.
**A New Chapter**
Terry Martin, the incoming director, is a scholar of Soviet history and professor of Russian studies. He will bring his expertise to lead HURI into a new chapter, building on Plokhii’s legacy of excellence. The institute remains committed to advancing “good knowledge” about Ukraine and the region, as Harvard’s motto would have it.
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