Employee highlight: Alex Gavrylenko
March 6, 2024
Elevator mechanic moved from Ukraine nine months ago
Elevator Assistant Mechanic Oleksii “Alex” Gavrylenko moved to the U.S. only nine months ago from Ukraine.
He came to the U.S. through the Uniting for Ukraine program — a U.S. program that provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens fleeing Russia's invasion to come to the U.S. for a two-year period.
The elevator assistant mechanic — who started at Facilities Management in January 2024 — first learned English in grade school but did not regularly use the language until his move to the U.S. nine months ago. Since then, he has adapted very quickly, although he admits that at first it was very tiring as he thinks his thoughts in Russian and has to translate to English within his head before he speaks.
Gavrylenko was born in Belarus, grew up in Ukraine and then was most recently living in a part of Ukraine technically considered Russia before his move.
“There are built up borders [between these countries] for now, but it doesn't feel like that to us, it's all the same,” he explained of his time living in what are technically different countries but all located within the same region and share similar culture and language. His parents and cousins continue to live throughout that region, but he has a cousin who has lived in northern Virginia for the past 15 years and has sponsored his stay here.
After graduating from college, Gavrylenko got his first job as an elevator mechanic in 2009 and continued to work in the industry until his move to the U.S. He initially lived in Stafford and worked for FedEx delivering packages as he applied for jobs in the elevator industry. He found the position at UVA online and was happy when he landed an interview. He felt that other places he had applied had not read his resume closely and understood the extent of his experience.
So far, he has found the elevators in the U.S. are very similar to the ones he serviced in Ukraine, besides some differences in the location of certain controls. He has been enjoying his time at UVA and says his coworkers and manager have been great and helpful when needed. “I keep learning something new every day,” he said.
In his free time, Gavrylenko enjoys going to the gym and playing volleyball, a sport he hopes to continue here in the U.S.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu