Since joining the Graham School in 1998, Katia Mitova’s deep knowledge and insightful instruction have shaped the Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults. Her dedication to students earned her the Excellence in Teaching Award for the Basic Program in 2008 and the Dean’s Service Award in 2022. Now, her legacy will continue to inspire both colleagues and students through a newly endowed instructorship.
Katia first came to the Basic Program because of her love of great books; she stayed for the students. “What attracted me to the Basic Program was the opportunity to teach across the curriculum,” said Katia.
“Although by now I’ve taught all courses several times, I still feel I could start afresh. In my first year as an instructor (1998-1999), I was amazed by how much I learned from my students. Each of them came with a unique background that enriched our class discussions. This amazement never went away.” – Katia Mitova
Katia’s deep connection with her students and her enthusiasm for modern literature have been the driving forces behind her time in the program. In recognition of her lasting impact, a group of students (listed below) in the Graham School collectively raised $1 million to establish an endowed instructorship in her name as a testament to her commitment to and influence within the community.
Katia was incredibly touched by this outpouring of community generosity: “The endowed instructorships are affirmations of the long-existing Basic Program community… Nothing contributes to the community like doing lasting things together.”
The effort to establish the Katia Mitova instructorship started with long-time student Kevin Russell. Kevin and his wife Lisa generously provided a lead gift of $350,000, and then Kevin led the effort to raise the remaining funds.
“I joined the Basic Program a dozen years ago, in large part for the intellectual challenge it promised,” said Kevin. “I’ve lost count of the number of classes I’ve taken with Katia—all of Nabokov, most of David Foster Wallace, Joyce, Bulgakov, Toni Morrison, and on and on. Katia delivered on the program’s promise of intellectual challenge by masterfully employing the Socratic method. When I made a point in class, she typically related it to other textual matters or came at it from a slightly different perspective, asking a follow-up question that as often as not confounded me. Katia motivated me by being herself—brilliant and steely-eyed, but warm and fun.”
Kevin’s commitment to establishing this instructorship stems from a profound sense of admiration, both in him and across the Graham community.
“The Katia Mitova Distinguished Instructorship reflects the Graham community’s unalloyed admiration, appreciation, and affection for Katia. Katia’s mastery of the material and her craft will set a high standard for the instructor who is privileged to hold the position bearing her name.” – Kevin Russell
Inspiring Lifelong Learning
For Steve Benjamin, being one of Katia’s students meant reigniting his love of learning. He admired her fearless approach to the discussed books. “Her teaching style and enthusiasm for tackling a wide variety of challenging works will forever be an inspiration—helping me grow as a lifelong learner and as a person.”
Jennifer Lind, a student in the Basic Program who also teaches Open Enrollment courses, echoed this sentiment. Katia’s influence extended beyond what she taught—it was how she taught. “Quite simply, Katia taught me to focus on the learning rather than the teaching,” Jennifer explained. “Her respect for each and every one of us in the classroom is what now inspires me in my own teaching.”
Katia’s mentorship played a critical role in Jennifer’s journey as an educator as well. “I would not be an instructor at our beloved Graham School without Katia,” she admitted. “With every course I’ve taught, I sent my draft proposals and syllabi to her for thoughtful, invaluable critical feedback.”
Shaping the Program, Shaping Lives
Katia’s influence isn’t limited to her students. Her colleagues feel it just as deeply. Zoë Eisenman, Director of Academics and a fellow instructor in the Basic Program, describes Katia as both an inspiration and a mentor. “Observing her teaching has made me a better instructor,” Zoë shared. “She has been a thoughtful contributor to the Basic Program staff discussions, and her kind and generous nature is an additional enhancement to her academic expertise. I’ve always admired the way she blended her creative passions with her academic work, and I envy her sense of style!” Zoë added.
Zoë and her colleagues are thrilled to see the community come together to honor Katia.
“I’m very happy that the students are eager to demonstrate their appreciation for her many years of innovative and engaging classes with this initiative.” – Zoë Eisenman
Igniting Curiosity
For Kathy Berger, she continued to be drawn to Katia’s classes after completing the Basic Program. “Her thoughtfully designed courses inspired me to explore authors I hadn’t encountered before,” Kathy explains. “Her expertise in analyzing complex texts and fostering inclusive discussions made every class enriching. Her courses inspired me to explore other works by the authors we studied, thanks to her skillful teaching, enthusiasm, and encouragement. Learning in her class feels reciprocal, as Katia embodies the idea that a teacher can also learn from her students.”
Basic Program student April Ljung also cherished the unique learning environment Katia cultivated. “It is a very special and intimate experience for a small group to thoughtfully read and share all the novels written by one single remarkable author,” she said. “And it is an absolute gift to experience this alongside weekly guided seminar discussions with an expert instructor.”
What set Katia apart was her ability to spark curiosity. April recalled how Katia went above and beyond, providing carefully curated additional resources—biographies, essays, music, and films—that allowed students to explore at their own pace. “The more I read her supplemental material, the more I wanted to read,” April reflected. “But that wasn’t a hardship—it broadened my intellectual horizons and expanded my appreciation for literature.”
April credits Katia with helping her embrace lifelong learning: “She taught me that I can wander in many directions on any topic, which I will continue to do in the future. I thank Katia for that.”
Instructorship
Through their generous contributions to the Graham School, community members have shown their strong commitment to supporting the exceptional instructors of the Basic Program. The endowed fund for the Katia Mitova Distinguished Instructorship is a key component of the Securing the Future initiative, ensuring that her legacy will continue.
“Securing the Future is an ambitious initiative created by a dedicated group of Basic Program students who are committed to supporting our instructors and sustaining the program’s excellence,” says Graham School Dean Seth Green. “It is truly inspiring to see our students come together to celebrate Katia’s extraordinary contributions and ensure that the Program she has shaped so meaningfully will continue to thrive for generations to come.”
“What is most important to me is the donor participation of so many of my students,” said Katia. “They are doing something meaningful together, ensuring the future of a program that propels Socratic freedom and discipline. That the instructorship carries my name is humbling. Though it took me some time, I accepted the idea as a great honor and am grateful to everyone who contributed to its realization.”
The Graham School and its Basic Program community have been deeply enriched by the opportunity to learn from Katia. Her passion for literature and dedication to education will continue to inspire her students in their lifelong learning journeys. This instructorship will create new opportunities for continued learning and growth within our community.
To learn more about opportunities to help impact the Graham School through giving, please contact Tiana Schlottman at tianas@uchicago.edu.
“Books I Read with Katia”
We invited some of Katia’s students to share a book they read with Katia and reflect on its significance.
“Katia’s class on Dictatorship through the reading of Latin American novels was one of the most enriching classes I’ve taken in 37 years with the Basic Program. Part of her brilliance is introducing her students to incredible writers her students are unfamiliar with such as Miguel Angel Asturias author of The President. This book was some of the best writing I’ve ever encountered and her guidance through the reading was a prime example of teaching excellence.” – Barbara Andrews, Lifelong Learner
“To be in a class with Katia Mitova is to be immersed in the magic of literature. She brings her deep, engaging ability to make a work of the imagination come to life. Over many years as a student at Graham, I’ve enjoyed Katia’s classes on Woolf, Nabokov, Roth, Marquez, Borges, Bulgakov, Saramago, Yourcenar, Kafka, Kundera, Gombrowicz, Brodsky …. Not to mention Homer. So to name one favorite …. Impossible! To think about all of these writers and how Katia infused each and every class with her deep love and knowledge and countless hours of class preparation for each of these writers …. Well, it just doesn’t get any better. As her students, we are blessed to have experienced Katia’s wonderful, dedicated, and thoughtful devotion to both the writers and to us. Thank you, Katia Mitova!” – Larry Shiff, Basic Program Graduate and Lifelong Learner
“Over the years, I took five classes with Katia, on Kafka, the Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska, Giuseppe Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard, Alfred Doblin’s novel Berlin Alexanderplatz, and a class on “history two ways,” a novel by Marguerite Yourcenar (Memoirs of Hadrian) and Jose Saramago (The History of the Siege of Lisbon). All excellent. She was prepared, engaging, and enthusiastic. I learned a lot. Some of these books I would have been unlikely to read on my own, so I’m grateful for her guidance. But the one thing I will remember is after Covid, when in-person classes became rare, she did the Doblin class in-person on Saturday morning at the Gleacher Center, and always invited class members to have lunch with her and her husband Dave after class at a nearby restaurant. I attended several, and it was great to interact with her and other students informally—and to learn about her experience getting a PhD in the Committee on Social Thought.” – Thomas Ioppolo
Thank You to the Following Donors:
Barbara Andrews
Kathy Berger & Louis Schorsch
Dianne Hayes Blanco
Bonnie Bomberg
Friends of Nancy Brandt
Gail Bumgarner
Brian W. Burrows
Debra & Keith Cantrell
Dr. Timothy & Debra Chrapkiewicz
David Conder
Derek L. Cottier
Jo-Anne Engelke
Carin Gendell & Steven Benjamin
Steve Gevinson
Sue & John Gibbons
Karyn Glass
Dr. William & Barbara Greenfield
Claire Heideman
Louise and Patrick Hillegas
Sol Hinami
Thomas & Donna Ioppolo
Walter & Elaine Kurczewski
Patricia Larkin Gerber
Roberta Lee
Jennifer Lind & Sean Ryan
Michael and April Ljung
Jessie and Douglas MacDonald
Michael & Sheryl Markman
Tom Pawlik & Ava Cohn
Don & Anne Phillips
Thomas & Karen Reepmeyer
Charlotte B. Reiter
Gerald & Roberta Ritter
Catherine A. Rudolph
Kevin and Lisa Russell
Carole Schecter & Steven Mayer
Benita Scott
Laurence & Janet Shiff
Gary R. Strange
James M. Sulzer
Deborah K. Watrach
Denise and Joseph Weintraub
James White & Carol Brady
George Willenborg
