School of Modern Languages Celebrates Retirement of Yan Gao and Natalia Myshkin

Posted June 3, 2020

Please join us in congratulating Yan Gao (Lecturer of Chinese) and Natalia Myshkin (Lecturer of Russian) on their retirement. We would very much like to thank them for their years of teaching, service, and research! 

Natalia (Natasha) Myshkin joined the School in 1992 for eight years, and returned to us in 2006. She has taught generations of Georgia Tech students and got them excited to make Russian part of their lives and careers. A recipient of multiple Class of 1940 Teaching Awards, she taught beginning to advanced level Russian classes and accompanied many students through this progression. Natasha's service has made a vital contribution to growing the Russian program and to send students to study the language and culture abroad. 

“Natasha was a binding element in our Russian program, exciting students and preparing them well for participation in study abroad (for which she also served twice as on-site director).  One of her signature touches were the trips she would regularly organize for students to the Buford Farmers Market to try Russian food and converse with the Russian-speaking staff in the deli/bakery.  She brought her warm camaraderie to all our events.  It was always visible how much she was loved by her students, and she will be missed by them and by us.” - Stuart Goldberg, Associate Professor of Russian 

Dr. Yan Gao joined the School of Modern Languages in 2016. She has taught Chinese at all levels. She has made many important contributions to the Chinese program through her leadership as lower-division language coordinator, her weekly conversation lessons, and her promotion of the Chinese program across campus. She also taught at GT Shenzhen during the China Summer Program. Yan recently received a ML professional development grant over $1,200 for her research for a translation project. 

“You always shared your teaching materials with anyone in need and answered my rookie questions in a candid and patient manner. I will miss all of your generous help, but I will miss more the Friday chat and the expectation of a pleasant interlocutor. I hope you have a truly enjoyable, relaxing, and fulfilling life after retirement, one that promises numerous movies, a cup of good tea (perhaps grown by Fu laoshi?), great Chinese food, and world travel!”
- Lu Liu, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese 

In the name of the School of Modern Languages, we would like to offer our gratitude to Natasha and Yan, for their years of dedicated service to the School, for being such wonderful colleagues, and for making an impact on the lives, academic development, and careers of the students of the Institute. We very much hope that we can come together in the Fall to celebrate their retirement in person. In the meantime, we truly appreciate their many contributions and will miss working with them. We wish them the best for the new chapter that lies ahead!