She grew up in a Terp family and found her way from Los Angeles to College Park in 2018.
Natalie Kinnear joined the Brin Mathematics Research Center (Brin MRC) as a coordinator in 2023, following in the footsteps of family members who attended and worked at the University of Maryland. Kinnear shared her experiences and insights managing and coordinating the activities that take place in the Brin MRC in an interview below, which has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you end up at the University of Maryland?
My mom grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her three brothers, so I always had a connection to Maryland even though I grew up in Los Angeles. Of the four children, three graduated from the University of Maryland. The irony is that the one who didn’t go to UMD has been working in the Physics Department for over 30 years! A few years back, he told me there was a job opening in physics that I would be perfect for. I wasn’t really looking for a new job at the time, but I applied anyway.
Even though I didn’t get that job, it led me to search for other positions at UMD. I came across an Event Coordinator position at the Brin Mathematics Research Center. I loved that it was a brand-new position in a recently established center, which meant there was a lot of potential to shape the future of the Brin MRC. I was also looking for a job that allowed me to focus on event coordinating full-time. I applied for the job, and the rest is history!
What is your favorite thing about working in the Brin MRC?
The people you get to meet. We host many activities at the Brin Center (about 18-22 a year), and with each one, you meet people from all over the world in different areas of mathematics, biology, physics, medicine and more. Every group that comes through has its own distinct culture, and it’s been really rewarding to meet such diverse groups of people and make so many connections. Ultimately, I think that’s what the Brin Center is really about: connection and collaboration.
Did you always think you’d work in academia?
No, actually! I studied international relations in college with the goal of becoming a diplomat one day. The path to success isn’t always linear and the “dream job” you think you want at 18 might not be the same in your 30s. I may not be the U.S. ambassador to Australia (my favorite country), but I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for anything. Plus, as it turns out, you pretty much use diplomacy skills in any job!
What are your key responsibilities in your role?
My primary role is to oversee and coordinate all activities taking place at the Brin MRC. This includes pre- and post-event planning, organizing travel arrangements, managing event budgets, processing reimbursements, reconciling expenses, and overall promotion of the center. Thankfully, I don’t do it alone; my colleague Anais Bardyn helps run everything too.
What does your day-to-day look like in your job?
Every day looks a little different, which is one thing that keeps my job exciting. Some days may be filled with administrative tasks that keep me glued to my desk, while other days I may be running around (literally) to and from Kirwan Hall and the Computer Science Instructional Center to set up and clean up for multiple events. Most of my days are easy to plan and I know what to expect, but when it comes to event coordinating, sometimes you have to expect the unexpected!
What do you like most about your job?
I love planning the small details for each conference. For me, it’s the little things like making sure that all the spaces in the Brin Center are clean, that the registration table is well-organized, and that the set-up for lunch and especially our receptions look pristine. I get a lot of satisfaction out of setting up for what we call “High Teas” and making sure that everything looks perfect.
What motivates you to do your job well?
Loving what I do is the ultimate motivator! I’m also surrounded by brilliant minds, and that’s another huge motivating factor. If I do my job well, the mathematicians who come through the Brin Center don’t have to worry about any of the details or logistics of their respective conference, and they can focus on the math.
What is your favorite UMD memory?
I would have to say the people I work with and the friends I’ve made here. It’s more general than one specific memory, since I’ve made different memories with each of them. For example, from 2018 to 2020, I worked in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where I met Cedric Nwafor, a rising graduate at that time. I got involved in his (then) student club called ROOTS Africa, which is now its own 501(c)(3) organization. I’m still friends with him and am now also friends with his wife. We even took a family vacation together last October to California, and our kids are becoming best friends! How cool is that?
What do you like to do outside work?
I love to travel and have been to over 20 countries and counting. I’m also currently working toward my PADI certification as an open-water scuba diver. I just finished my second dive in Anse Cochon, Saint Lucia, and plan to take a trip to Catalina, California, toward the end of the summer to complete my certification.
