1. Introduction

Natalia Yevdokymova is a prominent Ukrainian scholar, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor, Rector of Pylyp Orlyk International Classical University, and a full member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Her academic and civic contributions have earned her international recognition as a visionary in the fields of psychology, education, and academic leadership. She is the founder of the scientific school “Strategies and Technologies for the Development of the Personality as a Subject of Life Creation,” which was officially recognized by the global scholarly community in 2019. Her pioneering work spans the domains of psychological support in education, personality development, and educational resilience under crisis conditions, especially during times of war.

Professor Yevdokymova was born in the village of Lavrivka, Kokchetav region, Kazakhstan. She received her first degree in Russian Language and Literature from Mykolaiv State Pedagogical Institute in 1990. Over the years, she earned further qualifications in Law (2008), Psychology (2017), and dual master's degrees in Preschool and Primary Education, as well as Journalism (2022) from the International Economic-Humanitarian University named after Academician Stepan Demianchuk. She defended her Candidate of Psychological Sciences dissertation in 2005, was awarded the academic title of Associate Professor in 2007, and obtained her Doctorate in Psychology in 2013. In 2015, she received the title of Professor in Theoretical and Applied Psychology. Her professional career is distinguished by a trajectory of consistent academic leadership, including roles as a deputy director of a secondary school, university professor, and vice-rector. In 2023, she was elected by competition as Rector of Pylyp Orlyk International Classical University.

2. Achivements

Professor Yevdokymova’s scientific legacy centers on her original research school dedicated to the formation of individual life strategies and technologies for personal development. This school integrates the principles of existential psychology, personal agency, and innovative educational practice. She has supervised multiple doctoral dissertations and continues to mentor postgraduate students. Her leadership extended into national research initiatives funded by the state, including foundational work on the psychological design of student development and the psychological-pedagogical formation of professional subjectivity. These projects resulted in applied innovations within university psychological services, including structured psychological support systems and diagnostic frameworks tailored to educational institutions.

As Rector, Professor Yevdokymova has spearheaded over a dozen educational innovation projects, many of which were awarded medals at national and international forums such as the “Innovation in Modern Education” and “Modern Educational Institutions” exhibitions. She implemented a multi-level model of inclusive education, modernized teacher training programs with ECTS alignment, and developed psychological protocols to support academic communities under stress. Her leadership during wartime has been particularly significant in ensuring the psychological resilience of both faculty and students. This includes creating psychologically safe educational spaces and introducing crisis education strategies.

Her global reputation is evidenced by major international distinctions. In 2025, she was named “Scientist of the Year” by the Academic Union (Oxford and London). She was awarded an international education grant by the International Historical Biographical Institute and completed a 180-hour international qualification program titled “Together with Great Leaders of the Present and Nobel Laureates.” She holds memberships in prestigious professional associations including the American Psychological Association, the Royal Medical Academy of Ireland, the Australian Academy of Clinical Supervision, and scientific institutions in the United Kingdom and Germany. In 2023, she was awarded the honorary title “Ambassador for Peace” by the World Peace Federation, which holds consultative status with the UN ECOSOC.

Professor Yevdokymova is also a prolific scholar and editorial contributor. She served as editor-in-chief of the Psychology series of the Scientific Bulletin of Mykolaiv National University from 2008 to 2016 and currently sits on editorial boards of multiple indexed academic journals. Her recent publications include the monograph “Children and War,” which explores the psychological consequences of armed conflict on youth. She is also a co-author of the international volume “Neuroscience, Metacognition, and Digital Frontiers in Psychology,” which addresses neurointerfaces, decision-making in conditions of learned helplessness, and innovative digital tools in psychodiagnostics and online therapy. Another important contribution is the collective monograph “Narratives of the Formation of Ukrainian Military Identity (XVI–XX Centuries),” which bridges psychology and history to examine national identity and memory.

Her public service includes a long-standing role as expert of the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance and Chair of the Mykolaiv Regional Division of the Ukrainian Psychological Society. She has been a frequent contributor to state-level psychological programs, national educational reform efforts, and civic initiatives aimed at strengthening national-patriotic identity. She is also actively involved in supporting youth psychological development and trauma-informed teaching practices.

In December 2023, Professor Yevdokymova represented Ukrainian academia at the International Leadership Conference “Europe and Ukraine: Shared Perspectives and Values,” held at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. There, she presented both the aforementioned monograph and her broader vision for the integration of Ukrainian education into the European scientific space. Her participation underscored the importance of academic diplomacy, peace-building through education, and Ukraine’s role in the future of Europe.

Throughout her career, she has received more than 30 awards from national and international institutions. These include numerous honorary diplomas from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences, regional and city administrations, and leading educational exhibitions. She has been recognized for outstanding contributions to the modernization of Ukrainian higher education, national scientific advancement, and psychological support for society during war.

Today, Professor Yevdokymova continues to advance research on psychological resilience, crisis education, and mental health support systems for academic communities affected by military conflict. Her scholarly approach unites neuropsychology, metacognitive science, and dynamic psychotherapy in service of holistic educational reform. As both rector and scholar, she exemplifies the intellectual and moral leadership vital to Ukraine’s educational sovereignty.

As she has noted in public statements: “Today, the educational space must serve as a humanitarian fortress for the nation — holding the line alongside its defenders.” These words encapsulate her philosophy: that universities are not merely centers of learning, but critical institutions of resilience, national identity, and peace.