Roman Serbyn

BIO

Prof. Roman Serbyn was born in Ukraine in 1939. He studied at McGill University
in Montreal, University of Sorbonne in Paris, University of Toronto and Universite de Montreal. He received his PhD in History at McGill University in 1975. His Ph.D. thesis was” The Character of the Rus Commonwealth (1140-1200). He taught Russian and East European history at University du Quebec a Montreal from 1969 to 2002. Presently retired. However, continues to work on various historical topics attending academic conferences throughout North America and Europe. He founded and is current editor of Holodomor Studies, a semiannual academic journal. This is the first academic journal specifically dealing with the study of the 1932-1933 famine in Soviet Ukraine as genocide. He is a member ofNTSh (the Shevchenko Scientific Society); C.A.S. (the Canadian Association of Slavists); UVAN (Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences) and executive member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Quebec Provincial Council/Montreal branch. He received medals/special recognition for his historical research on World War Two from the First Division of Ukrainian National Army in 2007 and a special medal from Ambassador Ihor Ostash on behalf of the President of Ukraine for his community work, especially in Holodomor research in 2008. Prof. Serbyn has done groundbreaking, pioneering research on the Ukrainian Famine of 1921-22 doing archival research in North America and Europe. (Please see attached for list of articles and publications). He also did pioneering research on conceptualization of Ukrainian participation in World War II. During the Deschesnes Commission in Canada he organized the Information and Anti-Defamation Commission in Montreal, countering the disinformation about Ukraine and World War II, monitoring the press in Canada and actively, with his committee, responding to false allegations. He introduced the analysis of the Ukrainian Holodomor as genocide and is currently at the forefront on this topic, participating in national and international academic conferences sharing his research with academics around the world. He was instrumental in having the 1932-33 famine as genocide, included in the course offered annually in genocide studies at Concordia University, Montreal. Working closely with Prof. Frank Chalk, the Holodomor was included in Concordia’s textbook on 20th century genocides, for university students.
He organized the highly successful, First International conference on Holodomor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, in 1983. Renowned academics from around the world participated. Had excellent mainstream media coverage. Tapes of the conference were donated to the National Archives of Canada. He is working closely with UCC’s National Holodomor Committee, headed by Valentyna Kuryliw, to include Holodomor studies in the public educational system in provinces across Canada. Prof. Serbyn is frequently a consultant to numerous projects on 20th century history. Works closely with the Ukrainian university students at McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal making all effort that the clubs are active and continue to organize various projects. At the 50th SUSK Congress held recently at McGill University, he was acknowledged for his years of work with SUSK. Finally, Prof. Roman Serbyn has always worked with the Ukrainian community in Montreal and across Canada, with all organizations. He is generous with his time, shares his knowledge, encourages others to continue historical research. Truly a deserving candidate for the Shevchenko Medal.