Alina Makin

Alina Makin, M.A. in Applied Linguistics, is a Lecturer in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan. She also serves as head of the Intensive Russian Program at the university's Residential College. A native of Moscow, she holds degrees from Moscow Linguistics University and the University of Leicester, England, in applied linguistics and language acquisition.

• Education: Moscow Linguistics University (now), University of Leicester, England

Her research and teaching focus on Russian language pedagogy, cultural studies, and the history of food and cooking in Russia. She has produced educational video content and public lectures on Russian foodways, mushroom- and berry-picking traditions, and food in Russian literature and folklore.

Alina has worked at the University of Michigan for over fifteen years, teaching all levels of Russian and offering advanced seminars on topics such as the polar roles of Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russian culture. She is affiliated with the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES), the Residential College, and the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.