Kateryna Forynna

Kateryna Forynna serves as the Director of the UNCW English Language Center, where she provides strategic leadership for a diverse portfolio of English language, teacher training, literacy, and workforce development programs. With over a decade of experience in international higher education, she specializes in developing partnerships with universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to expand UNCW’s global reach and directs grant-funded initiatives that promote educational access and innovation. She also leads community-based programs supporting literacy and career readiness for refugees, fostering integration and economic empowerment through education.

Education

MBA in International Business, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC (2026)
M.A. in World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
M.A. in Applied Linguistics and Translation, Cherkasy State Technological University, Cherkasy, Ukraine
B.A. in English Language and Literature, Cherkasy National University, Cherkasy, Ukraine

Professional Service

Faculty, Innovation Initiative: Advancing Teaching and Learning with AI, UNCW Center for Teaching Excellence (2024)

Project Director and Faculty, EmpowerED Professional Development Program for Ukrainian Educators in War-Affected Areas.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State. Grant amount: $73,200 (Oct. 2023 – Jan. 2025).

Faculty, Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State (Feb.–Mar. 2020, 2021, 2022).

Faculty, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Project: “Integrating Sustainability Issues in the EFL Classroom.”
Partnership between UNCW and the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (Nov. 2021 – Oct. 2022).

Project Director and Faculty, UNCW Access Camp: Language and Cultural Immersion Program.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Tashkent. Grant amount: $233,787.73 (July–Aug. 2022).

Project Director and Faculty, UNCW Online Language and Culture Program for High School Teachers in Uzbekistan.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Tashkent. Grant amount: $20,000 (Aug.–Sept. 2020).

Honors & Awards

UNCW Staff Scholarship (2025)
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program Scholarship (Global UGRAD), U.S. Department of State (2009-2010)