Maya Brin Residency Program
Learn about the Maya Brin Residency Program, which brings leading Russian scholars, artists and cultural figures to UMD.
When Emeritus Professor Michael Brin brought his family to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1979, he and his mother both found a home at the university. He researched and taught math for more than 30 years, and she, a former English teacher, taught in the Russian department for nearly 10.
“She liked the people, she liked the work,” Brin says. “It was good for her.”
That’s why he’s given $600,000 to establish the Maya Brin Endowment in Russian, following her passing in March 2012. The endowment will fund a residency, which will bring leading Russian scholars, artists and cultural figures to campus for short-term stays to promote Russian culture, and a new permanent teaching position.
“This has great potential, both for students studying Russian and those outside the field,” says former Russian department head Elizabeth Papazian. “It’s a way to bring Russian culture closer to non-Russian speakers. I hope this will inspire more students to take on this difficult language.”
Dr. Elizabeth Papazian, Former Russian Department Chair