Remembering Linda Majka, Professor of Sociology Linda Majka, professor of Sociology, died November 17, 2014. She was 67. A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Linda Majka earned a BA in Economics from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1969, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Linda joined UD in 1981 with her husband Theo Majka, both having previously taught at Portland State University. She earned tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1984, and was promoted to professor in 2002. Illness forced her retirement in January 2014. In her more than 30 year career at UD, Linda authored three books and more than twenty scholarly contributions on human rights, economic policies, farm labor movements, and immigration. Her most recent book is Children’s Human Rights (2005) co-authored with UD professor Dr. Mark Ensalaco. Ensalaco noted, Linda was always more eager to listen than to speak. But when she spoke, she spoke with deep conviction and absolute sincerity. Linda represented what is best about higher education. She had a fierce devotion to freedom of inquiry and education. She was committed to the pursuit of the truth and she devoted her marvelous talents as a sociologist to the cause of justice. Linda Majka played an active role in various programs at the University of Dayton, especially CORE, Human Rights Studies, and Women and Gender Studies serving as director of the Women’s Studies Program from 1995-99. Dr. Linda Majka, with her spouse UD Professor Dr. Theo Majka, were joint recipients of the College of Arts & Sciences 2011-12 Award for Outstanding Service. “The Majkas” (as they are often known) have been tireless in service to the Dayton Community and the University, particularly around the issues of Immigration and Social Justice. They have exercised leadership in Dayton’s Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Caucus, a program initiative of the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton, organized Forums on Immigration held at UD in 2008, 2009 and 2012 and helped create the Welcome Dayton: Immigrant Friendly City initiative. Linda has a reputation of being a dedicated teacher and mentor, both to students and to other faculty colleagues. Former department chair Sister Laura Leming noted, I knew of Lindas work on immigration long before I joined the department as a colleague through one of my Marianist Sisters who worked with Linda and Theo on local migrant communities. Linda was a welcoming and supportive presence when I became a sociologist, and her engagement in Womens Studies and in writing for justice helped encourage me to forge my own path as a scholar engaged in local and global communities. Linda is survived by her husband of 44 years, Theo Majka, an active professor of Sociology at UD, and other relatives. Plans for a memorial service are in progress.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:41:19 +0000
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