Maia Linask
“While working toward my master’s degree in international relations, I happened to take a few economics classes. I found it remarkably applicable to the policy I was studying, and I really enjoyed the analytical rigor. It just made sense to me.”
Dr. Maia Linask, assistant professor of economics at the Robins School of Business, did not always plan to pursue a career in economics, but her foray into the field forever altered her trajectory. With a bachelor’s degree in history and literature from Harvard University and a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University, Linask went on to pursue her doctoral degree in economics from Johns Hopkins following those few fateful classes. Upon earning her doctorate, Linask joined the Robins School faculty at University of Richmond.
“What drew me to the Robins School in particular was the emphasis on teaching. The people here respect that work, and it’s considered equally important compared to research, whereas in other places it’s usually secondary,” she revealed.
Over the course of her time here, Linask realized an important method for teaching successfully. “You have to think about the subject you know very well from a student’s perspective, and then present the material in a way that will make sense to someone learning the subject. It’s a fascinating challenge.”
Last year Linask stepped out of the classroom to advise a student on her senior thesis. “She now works at a healthcare consulting firm and was asked to aid two senior people at the firm on a white paper. It was a fulfilling experience to advise her, not to mention rewarding to see the skills she developed while writing her thesis are now applicable in her career.”
Linask is not only a devoted educator but also an adventurer. “In college, I spent a year studying abroad at Oxford. I was in a new place with new people, and I thought I might as well gain some new experiences. I heard about bungee jumping through a friend and decided to try it. From my perspective, it’s not that big of a risk. We always jumped from cranes and tested with sandbags to ensure everyone’s safety. Honestly, the only bad part for me is the end where you bounce because I actually get motion sickness,” she admitted.
After many jumps tethered to cranes, Linask decided to give skydiving a try. “I’ve only been once. The first time you’re attached to someone, so you’re really just along for the ride. I wouldn’t say I actively seek out these opportunities, but I do enjoy the fun, new experiences.”
Rollercoasters are a different story, however. “Every year, the University holds a Busch Gardens day, and my husband and I went one year. The first ride turned out fine, but the second one had a steep drop near the beginning, and something about the movement triggered my motion sickness. Two rides in and I was done for the day. I guess my motion sickness is selective!”
Apart from her time suspended in midair, Linask takes to the ground as a skilled athlete and gardener. “I love soccer and I’ve played in almost every place I’ve lived. When I lived in D.C., we’d often play pick-up soccer games on the Ellipse, which was a lot of fun. Now I play on a few recreational teams here in Richmond. I also like to garden when I can. We grow tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and swiss chard, and we have this great fig tree growing in the yard.”
Since joining the Robins School, Linask has grown close with the other faculty members. “In the past few years, we’ve had a number of new faculty members join the school to create this group of recently joined faculty in addition to those who have been here longer; we call that a bimodal distribution. We’ve been able to form a supportive group, and the atmosphere is very collegial as a result. I’ve developed some great friendships.”