On August 26, 2026, Sumy State University once again welcomed guests from the United States. The university hosted Karl AHLGREN, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and founder of the nonprofit organization UkraineAction Plan, and Aron Jon YORK, Deputy Mayor of Tulsa and Director of Policy.

Together with representatives of the Sumy City Council, they met with Sumy State University Rector Vasyl KARPUSHA, Vice-Rector Ivan KOZII, and Head of the International Relations Office Alla KRASULIA.

The visit marked another step in a partnership that began nearly two years ago with academic ties between Sumy and Oklahoma and has since grown into something much broader – a connection between universities, cities, and people.

From First Meeting to Long-Term Cooperation

Sumy State University’s partnership with Oklahoma State University (OSU) dates back to 2024. With the support of Vitalii Tarasiuk, Consul General of Ukraine in Houston, representatives of the two universities held their first online meeting on October 29. Just a few months later, on January 23, 2025, Sumy State University and OSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding, establishing an institutional framework for further cooperation. The Memorandum was not an endpoint, but rather the beginning of practical collaboration. It provides for student and faculty mobility, joint research, international grant projects, scholarly publications and conferences, as well as virtual and hybrid forms of academic cooperation.

Since then, researchers from the two universities have developed several areas of collaboration, including civilian and military mental health, pediatric psychology, robotics and innovative rehabilitation technologies, autonomous and digital technologies, cybersecurity, food security, green energy and energy resilience, sustainable development, academic mobility, and joint research projects.

Karl Ahlgren: A Partnership Beyond Institutions

Karl Ahlgren’s personal engagement has become an important part of this growing partnership. In April 2026, the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Tulsa visited Sumy State University, where he met with university leadership and researchers. By then, the conversation had already moved beyond intentions to the work of established research groups in three broad areas: environment and sustainable development; mental health; and engineering and technological solutions for security, recovery, and development.

During his April visit, Mr. Ahlgren emphasized that one of his priorities is to help American audiences better understand the realities of life in Ukraine – particularly in border communities and at universities that, despite the war, continue their work and remain actively engaged internationally.

At the same time, the academic partnership was expanding into a broader city-to-city relationship. In February 2026, Sumy and Tulsa officially established a Friendship Cities partnership, with education and research providing natural avenues for turning this relationship into meaningful, practical cooperation.

Academic Diplomacy Beyond the University

Another important step in this dialogue was the participation of Alla Krasulia, Head of the International Relations Office at Sumy State University, in the international Forum “35 Years of Faith and Freedom”, held in Kyiv ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. Dr. Krasulia attended the Forum at the invitation of Karl Ahlgren.

The event brought together more than 1,000 participants representing over 50 countries. Among them were Mike Pence, the 48th Vice President of the United States; General Keith Kellogg; U.S. senators and members of Congress; diplomats; military representatives; and leaders from think tanks, civil society, and faith-based organizations. Discussions focused on national security, economic development, and the values and principles that will help shape Ukraine’s recovery.

For Sumy State University, engagement in international forums like this is another important dimension of academic diplomacy – an opportunity to bring the voice of Sumy and the wider region directly to those shaping international partnerships, build new connections for the university, and draw greater attention to the needs of Ukraine’s border regions.

“What impressed me most was the remarkable diversity of people brought together by Ukraine. I hope we can preserve this sense of unity – people with different perspectives and experiences who are still able to listen to one another and stand together around what matters most. Because we have to win together. And together, we have to build a Ukraine that is strong, free, educated, and humane,” Alla Krasulia noted.

August 26: Turning Partnership into Concrete Next Steps

The August 26 meeting provided an opportunity to build on nearly two years of cooperation and discuss the next stage of the partnership. For Karl Ahlgren, it was a return to a university community he already knew well, while Aron York was visiting Sumy State University for the first time.

The visit began with a film about Sumy State University, produced together with the university’s UK partner as part of the Twinning Initiative. The film set the stage for a broader conversation about what the university is today – after years of full-scale war, destruction, and persistent security challenges – and how, despite these circumstances, SumDU continues to educate students, conduct research, implement international projects, and pursue new opportunities for growth.

Welcoming the guests, SumDU Rector Vasyl Karpusha expressed his gratitude to the United States and the American people for their continued support of Ukraine.

“Despite all the challenges, losses, and destruction of what we had before, our university is not simply carrying on – it continues to grow and move forward,” the Rector emphasized.

According to Prof. Karpusha, SumDU is committed to expanding its cooperation with partners in the United States, and the growing relationship with Tulsa and Oklahoma offers significant potential for new joint initiatives.

A central focus of the meeting was how to turn existing connections into sustainable mechanisms for long-term cooperation. The participants discussed opportunities in information technology, medicine, law, and other fields, as well as the potential development of research infrastructure for SumDU scholars, donor engagement, and support for the recovery of the city of Sumy.

Particular attention was given to healthcare and medical education. SumDU’s Academic and Research Medical Institute plays an important role in the region’s healthcare system: according to figures shared during the meeting, approximately 75–80% of physicians working in Sumy and the surrounding region are university graduates.

Safety as a Foundation for Education

Another key topic was the university’s infrastructure resilience. Rector Vasyl Karpusha presented the American partners with a project to construct an underground dual-purpose educational and protective facility. The facility would accommodate up to 500 people for in-person classes and serve as a shelter for up to 2,000 people during emergencies. The project has already received a positive expert assessment and envisions a fully underground reinforced-concrete structure equipped with backup power, ventilation and water supply systems, fire protection, and barrier-free access.

For a university operating close to the front line, this is far more than an infrastructure project. It is an opportunity to bring more students back to safe, in-person learning while creating a protected space that can serve both the university and the wider Sumy community.

Distance Should Not Be a Barrier

Reflecting on the future of the partnership, Rector Vasyl Karpusha emphasized: “Neither the Atlantic Ocean, nor any other ocean or time zone, should stand as a barrier between us.” Aron York echoed this sentiment, underscoring Tulsa’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Sumy and turning the relationships already established into concrete joint initiatives. This idea captures the spirit of the partnership now taking shape between Sumy State University, Tulsa, and Oklahoma. Despite the thousands of miles that separate them, their universities and communities continue to discover common ground – from research, medicine, and technology to security, recovery, and community development.

The August 26 meeting was therefore more than another international visit. It marked another step toward a new stage of partnership: from introduction to trust, from agreements to practical cooperation, and from individual connections to concrete joint projects.