UKRAINIAN RESOURCE and DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Kule Chair
Promoting Ukraine as an academic subject, supporting faculty who have internationally recognized scholarly activity, advancing research that focuses on Ukrainian–Canadian issues—the responsibilities of the Peter and Doris Kule Chair in Ukrainian Community and International Development are many and varied.
The position, more commonly referred to as the Kule Chair, was established in 2004 through a generous $1 million gift to MacEwan University from Drs. Peter and Doris Kule. The first Kule chair, Dr. Roman Petryshyn, was also the founding director of the Ukrainian Resource Development Centre.
Meet Dr. Jeffrey Rice
An assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, Economics and Political Science, Dr. Rice has taught more than two dozen courses, establishing himself as an expert in international security, military affairs and transatlantic relations.
He has demonstrated a strong and consistent research record, publishing more than half a dozen peer-reviewed articles and securing a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant, among other external funding. Dr. Rice also oversaw the creation of MacEwan University’s chapter of Women in International Security-Canada (WIIS-C), an organization dedicated to advancing the participation of women in international security that serves as a mentoring network and a platform to highlight expertise.
“Kule Chairs have made significant impacts through their research thanks to a generous donation by Drs. Peter and Doris Kule,” says Dr. Craig Monk, provost and vice-president, Academic. “I know Dr. Rice will continue that tradition with his work in the role, especially as he involves students in his scholarship.”
Dr. Rice’s current research program, supported by the SSHRC grant, focuses on the use of crowdfunding campaigns in Ukraine following the annexation of Crimea and Russia’s full-scale invasion. He has been exploring how both time and space have been condensed on the battlefield and how new technological platforms facilitate widespread participation by individuals in highly technologized battlespaces.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be selected as the next Kule Chair of Ukrainian Community and International Development and to be entrusted with continuing the important work that the Chair represents,” says Dr. Rice. “I feel immensely privileged to be able to continue my research on Ukraine in this capacity.”
In this role, Dr. Rice will explore how transformations in the Ukrainian military since 2022 have altered the NATO and West Ukraine relationship. His work will prioritize engagement with students, including WIIS-C, through training and mentorship, while fostering new partnerships with Ukrainian and Canadian stakeholders. He also plans to disseminate his findings through peer-reviewed publications and broader public-facing venues.
This research aligns closely with the chair’s mandate to promote interdisciplinary education and public interest in Ukrainian studies. It also supports the goals of the Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre (URDC) and MacEwan University’s broader international objectives.
“I am very excited that Dr. Rice will be the next Kule Chair. His research program and scholarly interest in issues pertinent to Ukraine and the local Ukrainian community align well with the chair’s objectives,” says Dr. Craig Kuziemsky, associate vice-president, Research. “I am confident that Dr. Rice will make significant contributions as chair as Ukraine looks to rebuild its post-secondary system in the coming years.”
Dr. Roman Petryshyn, who served as the first Kule Chair from 2004 to 2015, was also the founding director of the Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre. A published author, academic and community visionary, he has contributed to collaborative international teams across Canada and with Ukraine. For his tireless commitment to multiculturalism and Ukrainian community development, he has received numerous awards. In 2015, he received the MacEwan Medallion in recognition of his collaborative work on international projects in all four faculties and for putting MacEwan University on the map throughout Ukraine and within the Ukrainian–Canadian community.