Hometown: Belmont, MA
Current Position: Preceptor in Ukrainian, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
Professional Interests: Memory studies
Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is the author of Russia’s Denial of Ukraine: Letters and Contested Memory (Lexington Books Press, 2024) that explores the gradual and long-lasting integration of contested memory in the cultural memory of Ukraine. As a series editor, she works with Arrowsmith Press on an anthology of contemporary Crimean Tatar literature forthcoming in 2025. Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed is also an H-Ukraine review editor and host on the New Books Network (Ukrainian, East European, and Literary Studies channels).
Why did you decide to join the Shevchenko Scientific Society?
When I was accepted to the Society, it was a true privilege. I followed the Society’s events regularly because it was a place that attracted scholars and professionals dedicated to Ukraine and the Ukrainian cause. I joined the Society in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and I perceived my membership as a modest contribution to Ukraine’s fight against the elimination of Ukraine conducted by Russia. It’s been vitally important to make Ukraine’s voices heard and the Society has had a long history of ensuring Ukraine’s visibility in the international context.
What do you value about membership in the Society?
I appreciate the Society’s long-standing values of high-quality academic and professional work. The events organized by the Society carry on the legacy of the dedication to Ukraine and Ukrainian studies; at the same time, the Society members welcome and promote new ideas. I’ve always admired the work of those who dedicated their careers to Ukrainian Studies when Ukraine had to fight for its visibility on the international academic and mnemonic map.
How did your interest in Ukrainian culture and society influence your career path?
I was born and raised in Ukraine, where I received my first education and developed a deep interest in and appreciation for American literature. I had the privilege of studying under the guidance of the late Tamara Denisova, a leading scholar of American literature in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. My interest in American literature also brought me to the U.S. for the first time in 2008 as a participant in the Fulbright Faculty Development Program.
The year 2014 made me reconsider my interest in American postmodernism. At that time, I was already based in the U.S. and realized how difficult it was to convince broader audiences that Crimea was not Russia; that Crimea was Ukraine. This was when I decided to dedicate my research and teaching to Ukrainian studies. Many things have changed since Russia’s initial assault on Ukraine, but for me, Ukrainian culture still embodies the values of staying true to yourself and dedicating work to something deeply meaningful, both personally and as a researcher.
What is your current research project?
My current research project, titled “Russia’s Memory of the Past: The War Against Ukraine and the Forgotten Future,” focuses on the intricate mnemonic matrix utilized by the Kremlin since the early 2000s to shape the collective memory in Russia that comfortably accepts the denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty and justifies the eradication of Ukraine and Ukrainian identity as Russia’s self-defense measure.
What career advice would you give to new members of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in the United States?
The Shevchenko Scientific Society is a hub of academic and professional resources that help stimulate and promote Ukrainian studies in the U.S. and beyond. Today international networking is vital for anyone who is considering to dedicate their career to Ukrainian studies. Being open and receptive to new knowledge as well as to the critical exchange of opinions and research ideas provides a foundation for high-quality research and academic dialogues which are vital for the further sustainability of values such as freedom, democracy, and humanity.