Board of Directors

 Vladislav Shapiro is a Ukrainian-born mathematician who has lived in the United States since 1991. He has been an active supporter of the Ukrainian cause since the Orange Revolution in 2004. Although his professional expertise lies in Identity Governance and Cybersecurity, Vladislav has never forgotten his Jewish-Ukrainian roots.

His lifelong mission has been to raise awareness about Ukraine and its rich heritage among Americans, while also fostering professional connections between U.S. and Ukrainian experts in his field. Thanks to his activism—especially following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022—many Identity professionals across the U.S. and Europe have stepped up to support Ukraine through donations and advocacy.

Vladislav has been traveling regularly to Ukraine since 2001 and has established partnerships with major Ukrainian cybersecurity organizations, including Bakotech, one of the country’s leading cybersecurity distributors, and software vendor Hideez. He has contributed to several Identity Management projects in Ukraine, sharing his expertise in U.S.-based technologies and the latest industry trends with Ukrainian colleagues.

As a frequent speaker at major Identity conferences worldwide, Vladislav uses every opportunity to promote Ukrainian culture and rally support from fellow professionals and attendees.

He holds two U.S. patents in the field of Identity Governance and is the author of numerous articles and books, including “Costidity: The Cost of the Human Factor,” published in 2016.

In 2005, Vladislav founded and began leading the International 145 SHKOLA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine in education, culture, and research. All members of the board of directors are alumni or teachers from Ukraine’s renowned School No. 145—a prestigious mathematics and physics high school—who now reside and work in the United States.

An active member of the Ukrainian community in Boston, Vladislav has been deeply involved in local Ukrainian initiatives since 2014. He has frequently appeared in Boston-area media to discuss relevant issues and advocate for Ukraine. Additionally, he works to build Jewish-Ukrainian solidarity by raising awareness among American Jews about the current state of Ukraine’s Jewish community.

In 2023, Vladislav and his wife, Nataliya Proskura, launched the Ukrainian Cultural Initiative, a program dedicated to promoting Ukrainian visual art and cultural heritage.

Nataliya Proskura, PhD, is a pivotal founder of Ukrainian Cultural Initiatives, a visionary leader whose work has profoundly shaped the promotion and preservation of Ukrainian culture abroad. Born in Kyiv into a family of a psychologist and physicist, and great-grandniece of the poet Mykhail Semenko, she carries a legacy rich in intellect and creativity.

With a PhD in Mathematics from Kyiv University, Nataliya has passionately shared the beauty of mathematics through teaching in Germany and the United States since 1999.

She was among the first to establish a Ukrainian language school for preschoolers in Berlin, creating a vital cultural hub for a fledgling community. Nataliya also organized and frequently spoke at events honoring Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, helping to build and nurture the emerging Ukrainian diaspora in Berlin.

In 2014, she was invited to speak at the Holodomor Remembrance Day near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and began personally supporting hospitalized Ukrainian veterans by bringing meals, preparing a Ukrainian-German dictionary, and delivering books—efforts deeply valued by those she aided.

Fluent in German, Nataliya has translated key news and updates about Ukraine for international audiences, amplifying the country’s voice abroad.

When the full-scale war began, living in the U.S., she led a landmark exhibition of Ukrainian art at Gallery @First, collaborating with renowned artists to showcase creators who remained in Ukraine despite hardship. This initiative expanded to exhibitions in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, supporting artists financially and contributing to art therapy programs for children and veterans.

Her involvement at the American-Ukrainian Veterans Golf Tournament in Washington, D.C., fostered important connections, including with board member Kristina Tanasichuk, whose vision sparked a new era of growth for Ukrainian Cultural Initiatives.

Today, under Nataliya’s leadership, the organization pursues a bold mission: to introduce Ukrainian contemporary art to wider American audiences, support cultural and therapeutic programs in Ukraine, and ensure that the vibrant spirit of Ukrainian creativity continues to inspire across borders.