German Advising Contact Information With Office Hours From Tuesday, April 21 - Wednesday, April 29

You can reach the German advisors through a general email: germanadvising@umich.edu

We have two advisors for German undergraduates:

* Mary Rodena-Krasan (MLB 3128; mkrasan@umich.edu)

Mary's office hours this week are:

Tuesday, April 21: 3-5 p.m.,

Wednesday, April 22: 10-2:30 p.m.,

Thursday, April 23: 10-4:30 p.m.,

Tuesday, April 28: 10-4:30 p.m.,

Wednesday, April 29: 10-3:30 p.m.,

and by appointment.

Mary's Link for Office Hours: https://umich.zoom.us/j/92765512004

* Karl-Georg Federhofer (MLB 3422; kallimz@umich.edu)

My office hours this week are:

Tuesday, April 21: 9-12, 1-4:30 p.m.,

Wednesday, April 22: 11:30-2:30 p.m.,

Thursday, April 23: 9-12:30, 1-5 p.m., 

Friday, April 24: 8-12:30, 1-5 p.m.,

Monday, April 27: 9-12:30, 1-4:30 p.m.,

Tuesday, April 28: 9-12, 1-5 p.m.,

Wednesday, April 29: 9-12, 1-4:30 p.m.,

and by appointment.

My Zoom Link for Office Hours: https://umich.zoom.us/j/909147087

It is best to schedule appointments, which you have to do by 4 p.m. on the previous day. You can schedule appointments with us here: https://myadvising.lsa.umich.edu/appointments/offices/GERM

If you would like to get in contact with a peer mentor in our Department, please write to: germanmentors@umich.edu.

Last German Conversation Opportunity of the Term - 'Schokoladenstunde': Tuesday, April 21, 10-11 a.m., MLB 3110

The last Schokoladenstunde convenes in the German Department Lounge (MLB 3110) this Tuesday, 10-11 a.m. There will be some German chocolate to snack on. Mary Gell will bring games (e.g. Tabu), and the hour will be spent playing games and chatting in German.

Job Posting - Marketing and Communications Specialist at the University of Michigan: Thursday, April 23 (Application Deadline)

The Departments of Germanic Languages and Literatures (GLL) and Slavic Languages and Literatures (SLL) at the University of Michigan seeks a qualified, collaborative, enthusiastic, and service-oriented Marketing and Communications Specialist. These departments emphasize language, literature and the arts in larger social, cultural and political processes. As the Marketing and Communications Specialist you will be a strategic partner in the development of digital and print marketing strategies and responsible for applying these strategies to each department's print and digital platforms. You will also plan and support a dynamic calendar of events to support the department's missions. Effectively communicating and working in partnership and consultation with departmental stakeholders are essential to success in this position.

This position will be hybrid in nature with the expectation of 3-4 days per week in person and 1-2 days per week working remotely depending on the time of year. Schedule flexibility is required in order to support events and may indicate the need to be in person 5 days a week at some points during the academic year. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Responsibilities:
- Marketing and Communication - 25%
* Develop marketing and social media strategies using experience and expertise to outline plans and present recommendations to Chair and Chief Administrator as needed including but not limited to: increasing awareness of units/courses and increasing enrollments in specific courses, boosting declared majors/minors through social media, website and other digital and print platforms. Implement plan(s) according to established deadlines.
* Develop relationships with faculty, graduate students and staff in order to develop website content and enhance the content of publicity materials by understanding the cultures and needs of the Departments and their audiences.
* Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of digital and other marketing tactics including the creation of user-friendly reports for colleagues and departmental leadership.
* Strategically evaluate and proactively enhance units' websites on a regular basis. Identifying and implementing ways to improve its layout/visual presentation, enhance the content and engage the intended audiences (current and future graduate students, undergraduate students, alumni and faculty in similar fields across academia).
* Ensure content on websites, publicity, and social media is consistent with the units' message and image, while adhering to University and LSA formats, styles, and logo standards. Review and update websites, publicity, and social media accordingly.
* Develop an annual timeline for auditing each page of the website to ensure each page is reviewed and updated on an annual basis by the assigned stakeholder.

- Digital/Social Media - 25%
* Proactively utilize social media platforms to publicize departmental events, activities, and programs. Foster engagement with students, alumni and the broader public through social media platforms.
* Develop and maintain a digital content calendar for the units. Utilize social media content scheduling, data summarization and social listening/monitoring tools.
* Photograph, or arrange for the photography of events and individuals for departmental publicity. Maintain a digital archive of all images for each unit and its respective events/programming.
* Create content for and manage the digital screen in MLB, 3rd floor.
* Partner with units within LSA and other communities internal and external to the University of Michigan to develop events, marketing materials, conduct outreach, etc.

- Graphic Design - 25%
* Design and create original flyers, posters, digital signage, event programs, and other required event and publicity materials in partnership and consultation with stakeholders as needed and requested, using DEI friendly communication and accommodation design techniques and guidelines. Collaborate with stakeholders on timeline requirements, meet agreed upon deadlines.
* Design and layout departmental annual newsletters. SLL is sent by early July and early January; GLL is sent by the end of May and early December.
* Follow all University of Michigan, LSA and departmental brand guidelines in the development of print materials.
* Design logos and other graphic identifiers as needed for specific events and programs.
* Utilize University of Michigan preferred vendors for printing, coordinate printing bids for all projects and ensure cost effectiveness.
* Ensure all design files are formatted and compressed per vendor guidelines to ensure high quality printing and visual presentation.

- Event Planning and Implementation -15%
* Organize and coordinate in-person and virtual logistics in collaboration with faculty and staff stakeholders for a wide range of departmental events including but not limited to, catering, venues, flights, lodging, transportation, audio/visual and IT needs, and honorarium payments. Provide in-person coverage for events, as needed. Set up and break down all events.
* Utilize internal tracking systems to ensure all stakeholders are consistently aware of the progress and status of events. Communicate consistently with stakeholders ensuring they are aware of progress and status of events.
* Create and send detailed itineraries to invited guests in collaboration with faculty and staff stakeholders.
* Provide primary staff support for GLL's Annual German Day (outreach event).
* Work directly with the faculty director on all aspects of planning and support for the event, which brings in 400+ middle and high school students in early April. Please see: https://lsa.umich.edu/german/germanday.html

- Administrative/Other - 5%
* Develop budgets ranging from $1,500 - $30,000 (~ $50K annually) for events and marketing projects, monitor expenses and ensure events stay within budget.
* Retain a historical record of archived website pages and all marketing/social media content created.
* Write/create and update best practice documents for all facets of this position.
* Attend LSA Communicators group meetings.
* Consult with and collaborate with LSA Marketing/Communications as needed.
* Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
* Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, graphic design or equivalent combination of education and experience.
* At least three years of professional experience related to this position's outlined responsibilities.
* Creative and innovative graphic design experience especially for social media and other digital platforms with expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Suite software.
* A demonstrated commitment to the values of LSA with the ability to integrate these values in a marketing strategy.
* Outstanding oral and written communication skills with proven editorial skills and experience enhancing content quality to meet unit goals.
* Proven ability to excel in a team setting promoting a culture of respect and collaboration.
* Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the capability to execute multiple projects simultaneously.
* Self-starter who can work independently and with limited direction.
* Creative problem-solving skills.
* This position requires the ability to move materials weighing up to 25 pounds to a height of 3-4 feet and set them on tables, carts, or other surfaces. The chosen candidate must have the ability to physically set up and tear down events including moving and arranging tables, chairs, and mobile equipment.

Desired Qualifications:
* Experience using a variety of tactics and strategies for enhancing the profile of a unit within higher education.
* Demonstrated experience planning events including budget development and oversight
* Experience evaluating marketing and social media campaigns/strategies.
* A commitment to lifelong learning and staying current with digital technologies.
* A commitment to the mission and goals of GLL and SLL.

How to Apply:
* A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume and must specifically address the required qualifications of the position. Candidates that do not include a cover letter and indicate how they meet the required qualifications will not be considered for the position.

Website: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/275988/marketing-and-communications-specialist

Heinz Prechter Scholarship for Internships in Germany: Thursday, April 30 (Extended Application Deadline)

The $2,500 Heinz Prechter Scholarship aims to support a Michigan student completing an internship in Germany to encourage learning about German business and culture.

College and university professors conducting study projects directed at introducing a group of students to Germany, its culture, language, business environment and network, are also encouraged to apply.

Sponsored by the German American Business Council of Michigan (GABC), the Scholarship is named after Heinz Prechter to honor the unparalleled contributions he made to the advancement of international relations between Germany and Michigan.

Application Requirements:
* Letter of Application: description of the applicant’s qualifications including academic background, relevant employment history, and a statement indicating why the applicant wants to in Germany
* Resume: include academic background, employment history, special interests, accomplishments and awards, and international travel
* Offer-of-Internship Letter: written in German or English, on the company’s letterhead and signed by an appropriate company official
* Letters of Recommendation: letters of recommendation from at least two faculty members who teach in the applicant’s fields of study.
* Course Transcripts: comprehensive academic transcripts of all semesters completed at institutions of higher education

Notes for Applicants:
* Applicants must complete a video/phone interview with the scholarship committee. Part of the interview will be conducted in German to assess the applicant’s basic conversational skills in the language.
* Scholarship recipients must agree to submit to the GABC a written report of their internships and (if schedule permits) to give an oral presentation on the internship at a GABC event.
* Submit completed application and supporting documentation by Thursday, April 30.

Contact Anna Swartz at info@gabcmi.org for further details.

The committee will make rolling decisions. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, once they have received an actual internship offer.

Website: https://gabcmi.org/hps

DAAD German Studies Research Grant: Friday, May 1 (Application Deadline)

This specialized DAAD program offers German Studies Research Grants to highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students who are nominated by the professor supervising their research project. The grant may be used for short-term research (one to two months) in Germany. The program is designed to encourage research and promote the study of cultural, political, historical, economic and social aspects of modern and contemporary German affairs from an inter- and multidisciplinary perspective.

Eligibility:
* Undergraduates with at least junior (third-year) standing pursuing a German Studies track or minor may be nominated for the grant by the professor supervising their research project.
* Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the US and Canada who are enrolled full-time at the US or Canadian college or university that nominates them, or, in the case of international students, must be enrolled in a degree program at a US or Canadian college or university and living in the US or Canada for a minimum of six months by the time of the application deadline.

Terms of Award:
* Research support ranging in value from $2,000 to $3,000 is available to individual scholarship recipients and is intended to offset living and travel costs during the active research phase. Support cannot be provided for stays in Germany in the context of study abroad programs.

Website: https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/graduate-opportunities/research-grants/german-studies-research-grants/

International Internship Scholarship Through College of Engineering: Friday, May 1 (Application Deadline)

Want to explore new and diverse cultures while gaining valuable engineering experience? The College of Engineering (CoE) is excited to offer financial support in the form of scholarships to students participating in international internships.

Awards between $1,000-$3,000 will be made to CoE undergraduates pursuing international internships during the spring/summer term.

The scholarship is designed to benefit those who would otherwise face financial barriers to participation and is open to students pursuing in-person, paid or unpaid, international internships (for credit or not for credit).

Website: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=10413

Public Humanities Internship for Institute for the Humanities at the University of Michigan: Monday, May 18 (Application Deadline)

The Institute for the Humanities at the University of Michigan is a center for innovative, collaborative study in the humanities and arts. The Institute provides fellowships for Michigan faculty, graduate students, visiting scholars, and visiting artists. The Institute offers a wide array of public events, including workshops, lectures, panel discussions, art exhibitions, exhibition tours, and artist events.

Located in the South Thayer Building (across from MLB), the Institute for the Humanities is a unique unit in the College of LSA. We are not an academic department like "History" or "Philosophy," but rather an institute focused on programming and events. Its mission is to support humanities scholarship at the University of Michigan, to help others better understand our world through engagement with the humanities, and to communicate to our campus and beyond the value of the humanities.

About the Public Humanities Internship:
The Public Humanities Internship is a paid internship program that provides 8 selected undergraduate students at the University of Michigan with the unique opportunity to participate in the life of the Institute for the Humanities. Interns interact with each other as well as faculty fellows, graduate student fellows, staff, visiting scholars and artists, and other members of our community to explore humanities topics and ideas. They then turn those conversations into humanities-related programs and events geared toward undergraduate students. Interns work 7 hours/week and are paid $18/hour.

Past Intern-Organized Projects:
* Humanities at Michigan newsletter
* Many Manifestations of Home workshop with architecture professor Mireille Roddie
* Humanities Career Panel featuring alumni at Google, U-M, the DIA, Union for Reform Judaism, and more
* Expressive Arts & Social Change event featuring University of Michigan faculty
* Dancing Across the Globe with student dance groups
* Voices in Uniform oral history workshop with ROTC students

Benefits of a Public Humanities Internship:
* Real-World Application of Humanities Skills – Discover how humanities knowledge and critical thinking apply to professional and community settings beyond the classroom.
* Collaborative Experience – Work closely with a team of fellow interns to design and execute meaningful humanities-related projects.
* Leadership Development – Take ownership of at least one project or event, building confidence in decision-making, problem-solving, and project management.
* Event Planning & Execution – Gain hands-on experience in organizing, coordinating, and hosting events, from initial concept to successful implementation.
* Marketing & Outreach Skills – Learn how to develop and implement effective promotional strategies for events, including social media engagement, digital marketing, and audience outreach.

Commitment & Availability:
* This internship is a valuable, interesting, and fun learning experience. It is also a job that requires a professional commitment to the program and your peer interns. As such, interns are expected to prioritize the internship over other extracurricular activities and employment.
* Must be available Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. for weekly group dinner meetings.
* Able to commit 7 hours per week (2 hours for the group meeting + 5 hours in person at the Institute for the Humanities).
* Interns attend and participate in intern-organized events and programs.
* Interns attend and assist at two Institute for the Humanities events per semester (separate from intern-organized events).
* Willingness to take the lead on at least one project/event during the internship.

Eligibility & Academic Requirements:
* Must be a rising junior or senior at the University of Michigan during 2026-27.
* Must be in residence for the entire academic year (September 2026 – April 2027) (students studying abroad during this period are ineligible).
* Open to students from all majors, but a strong interest in the humanities is required.

Skills & Qualifications (i.e., what the Institute is looking for):
* Strong interest in the humanities and in exploring their relevance beyond the classroom.
* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
* Creativity and enthusiasm for developing engaging humanities-related events and programs.
* Strong organizational and event-planning skills (prior experience is a plus but not required).
* Reliability and professionalism in meeting commitments and deadlines.
* Interest in marketing and event promotion, including social media, newsletters, and outreach strategies
* Recommendation from a previous employer, instructor, or internship supervisor (e.g., restaurant manager, campus job supervisor, professor, etc.).

Intern Perks:
* Weekly dinner at the Wednesday evening group meetings
* Get paid to attend humanities events
* 24/7 access to interns' shared office
* Networking opportunities with faculty & graduate student fellows, visiting artists and scholars, and more.

To apply, submit the following by May 18, 2026
* Application Form.
* Attach your resume and cover letter as one PDF to the application form.
* The application form includes questions about your recommender. The Institute will send them instructions.

Important Dates:
* Applications are due May 18, 2026.
* Semi-finalists will be notified by June 19, 2026.
* Semi-finalist Zoom interviews will take place in July, 2026.
* Finalists will be notified and offer letters will be sent by August 1, 2026.

Website: https://lsa.umich.edu/humanities/undergrad-students/public-humanities-internship-program.html

Heidelberg University Study Abroad Scholarship: Sunday, May 31 (Application Deadline)

Heidelberg University Association is excited to announce that stipends are available to qualified students from a United States university planning to study at Heidelberg University.

HAUS Scholarships are funded by generous donations from alumni and members of Heidelberg Alumni U.S. (HAUS).

The HAUS Study Scholarship:
The scholarship award is $7,000 for master’s program students or $4,500 for bachelor’s program students for the 2026-27 academic year.

The University of Heidelberg is looking for candidates with a strong academic background who can also fulfill the role of ambassador for HAUS upon their return from their study abroad experience.

Website: https://www.hua.uni-heidelberg.de/en/scholarships/haus-study-scholarship

Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Sunday, August 30 (Campus Deadline)

The Institute of International Education (IIE), on behalf of the U.S. State Department, administers the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which offers research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. This competition is administered on campus by the International Institute.

In 2025-2026, the University of Michigan was a "top producer" of finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Website: https://ii.umich.edu/ii/funding/fulbright-program/fulbright-us-student.html

Study Abroad in Germany - Winter 2027 in Tübingen: Tuesday, September 15 (Application Deadline)

The Tübingen program, which is organized through the Center for Global and Intercultural Studies (CGIS), takes place in the Winter term, and it is intended for students who have completed at least German 221/231 by the end of the Fall 2026 term. The German Department strongly recommends that you precede your stay in Tübingen by attending one or two three-week sessions at the Goethe Institut.

This Goethe Institut segment is not part of the CGIS program itself. Please talk with Mary or me about the Goethe segment.

The CGIS portion in Tübingen will start early in March with a mandatory 'Startkurs' (up to 6 credits). While you will be enrolled for the Winter 2027 term at the University of Michigan, you will then take classes during the 'Sommersemester' at the Universität Tübingen (mid April - late July). You will earn 15-18 credits for Winter 2027: the courses that you take in Tübingen can be language courses for international students or regular university courses.

Various university courses outside the English Department are taught in English. Tübingen credits can be used to satisfy degree requirements for a German major or minor.

For more information about the Tübingen program and to apply, use this link: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=10248

Study Abroad in Germany - Social Sciences and Humanities in Berlin (Winter 2027): Tuesday, September 15 (Application Deadline)

This English-taught IES program is designed for students without a German language background who are looking for an in-depth look at the culture and context of the metropolis of Berlin. German majors should consider the University of Michigan programs in Freiburg and Tübingen.

The program examines issues relevant to major cities today, such as architecture, cultural identity, gender and sexual politics, multiculturalism, popular culture, and urban studies. Wherever possible, courses take advantage of the city’s many historical, artistic, and cultural sites. A 4-credit German language course is required for beginning and intermediate students. On-site staff help the students integrate into life in Berlin. Learning is enhanced by an extended course-related trip to Vienna or Warsaw and various day trips to German cities. During free time, tour neighborhoods and visit museums to gain a better understanding of Germany’s complex history and culture.

Eligibility:
* Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing
* Good academic standing
* Minimum 2.75 overall GPA
* No previous German language study is required

Academics:
Students must take 13-16 credit hours per semester. One German language course (4 credits) is required for beginning and intermediate students. All other courses are taught in English and worth 3 credits unless otherwise stated. Two week-long field trips will be included in the program, as well as day excursions that complement your learning in the classroom and contribute to a general knowledge of German culture and society.

Please see program website (IES) for details.

For more information about the Social Sciences and Humanities in Berlin program and the application material, go to: https://mcompass.umich.edu/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=11723