Nick Henry
’15 German Linguistics/Applied Linguistics and Language Science (dual-title Ph.D.)
My name is Nick Henry, and I’m an assistant professor in the Department of Germanic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. I graduated from Penn State with a dual-title Ph.D. in German Applied Linguistics and Language Science in 2015.
I initially came to Penn State because I was interested in pursuing research in Second Language Acquisition. I’ll be honest—I wasn’t looking for a program in “German” at first because I thought I wanted to be in a linguistics or applied linguistics department. But after meeting everyone at Penn State and after seeing what the CLS had to offer, I was convinced that the doctoral degree in German would give me plenty of opportunities to work with colleagues in other languages and in other disciplines, especially if I worked towards the dual-title degree. Doing the Ph.D. in a language department also meant that I had good opportunities to teach German, which had always been important to me and to my research. Taken together, the Ph.D. in German at Penn State was a really good fit.
To students who are interested in German, there are several good reasons to pursue a graduate degree today. First is that German programs are really dedicated to their students. We dedicate a lot of time and effort to teacher training and professional development in addition to research skills. Second, the field is also full of wonderful colleagues who will go out of their way to help each other. The community of German linguists that I’ve found through my studies and in professional organizations has been instrumental to my career. Third, German isn’t “just” German. German graduate programs provide excellent grounding in the various disciplines that make up the field of “Germanic Studies”, and they present a huge array of opportunities to make your work interdisciplinary.
Mallory Bubar
’20 German Literature and Culture (Ph.D.)
My name is Mallory Bubar, and I am currently the Education Projects Manager for the Transatlantic Outreach Program at Goethe-Institut Washington, D.C. My doctoral degree is in German Literature and Culture with a focus on Holocaust Studies. I chose to pursue a Ph.D. well… because I’m an absolute nerd and love learning! I also love teaching others not only information they need for life but also information that simply enhances their life! I chose a doctoral degree in German though because this is my main area of interest. I was a high school exchange student with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program, and I haven’t stopped being interested in all things German since. On a very practical level though, I chose to pursue a doctoral degree because as I was wrapping up my master’s degree, I noted the jobs I was interested in were listed as master’s degree required, doctoral degree preferred, so if I could get the funding why not? Penn State German was where I landed after the application process because again practical level, they fund their students entirely to attend. What really sold me though was the collegial nature of the department that I immediately noted when I went for my campus visit. I may have been in literature but linguistics and literature work together in the Penn State German department. I knew I would have the support system I would need to be successful (and their post grad placement rate was a good sign too). My research track was still undecided at the time of application, but after meeting different professors I knew I’d find an adviser no matter which direction I went (diversity in research!) If I had the chance to do it all over again today, I absolutely would. Not only do I have the degree level many of the jobs I look at want and I’m able to apply my content knowledge regularly, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve also used the practical skills gained from a doctoral degree in my non-academic work. Even if you aren’t looking to go into academia, a doctoral degree can make a massive impact on your long-term career success.
Valerie Keppenne
’23 German Linguistics/Applied Linguistics and Language Science (dual-title Ph.D.)
Hi everyone! My name is Valerie Keppenne, and I hold a doctoral degree in German Linguistics and Language Science (dual-title degree). My research at Penn State focused on the cognitive mechanisms involved in adult second language learning and how these can be leveraged to facilitate learning, utilizing neuro- and psycholinguistic methods combined with applied linguistics research. My dissertation explored the role of prediction and feedback in second language learning, a topic that bridges cognitive science with practical language acquisition. I am currently a research project manager at Penn State’s Survey Research Center, where we offer project management services and consultations for social science research projects.
My decision to pursue a doctoral degree in German Linguistics specifically stemmed from a deep fascination with the cognitive processes involved in language learning and use. What is involved in learning a language? Why is it easier for some adults to learn a second language than for others? Can we use what we know about language learning to make it easier for adult learners? The field of German Linguistics provided a unique lens through which to examine these processes, allowing me to explore the mental mechanisms that support second language acquisition and make the findings directly applicable in my work as a language teacher.
The Ph.D. program at Penn State was an ideal fit for my academic aspirations due to its strong interdisciplinary approach, exemplified by the unique structure of the German department, which offers dual tracks in both linguistics and literature. This allowed me to focus intensively on linguistic research while still engaging with the broader cultural and literary context of Germany. This well-rounded approach significantly enhanced my interactions with language students. Moreover, the Center for Language Science, a hub for cutting-edge research in language acquisition and bilingualism, provided an incredibly interdisciplinary environment that fostered collaboration and innovation.
In the German Linguistics program at Penn State, I had the privilege of working alongside renowned researchers in German linguistics, language acquisition, and cognitive science, whose expertise and mentorship were instrumental in shaping my academic journey. The German department’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community was equally important. Moving across an ocean away from family and friends is a big decision, but from the moment I joined, I felt welcomed and valued by both faculty and fellow grad students alike. The friendly atmosphere within the department made Penn State feel like home and created an environment where I could thrive both personally and professionally.
Today, studying German (linguistics) at the graduate level remains incredibly relevant, as I feel like it equipped me with a powerful set of skills that are highly transferable to a wide range of careers. First and foremost, the program develops strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, skills invaluable in any profession requiring the evaluation of complex information and the ability to make informed decisions. Communication skills are another key strength cultivated through this program. The ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, whether in writing or speech, is honed through a focus on sharing and presenting research findings to a broad audience. Finally, the rigorous research skills developed in the program are applicable in any field where research and evidence-based decision-making are valued—you learn how to ask the right questions, and more importantly, you learn how to answer them as well! These core skills provide a versatile foundation for success in various professional contexts and definitely helped me secure my current position as a research project manager.
Whether you’re interested in linguistics, literature, or even both, the graduate program in German at Penn State offers an enriching and supportive environment to explore your academic passions and to prepare you for a successful career!
Juliane Schicker
’15 German Literature and Culture (Ph.D.)
I am Juliane Schicker, associate professor of German and Chair of German and Russian at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. I graduated from Penn State in 2015 with a doctoral degree in German and an interdisciplinary dissertation topic. Before I started my doctoral degree, I had received a master’s degree in German from Texas Tech University and completed the First State Exam for German and English at a German university, which is the first step to becoming a teacher in that country. German and English were two subjects that had interested me the most during my own school years, because they allowed me to think about the human condition. I now think and teach about that human condition at a small liberal arts college that bases its work on its “unmatched teaching” and “close-knit community” where “intellectual curiosity leads to a lifetime of exploration”— this actually describes exactly who I am: I thrive when I can teach, aim to create a learning environment for my students where they can feel connected and supported, try to make them curious about the world and about their own interests, and engage in ongoing professional development myself to learn about innovative and impactful ways to do my job.
My time at Penn State provided me with the basis for the person I am today: I took classes in the German section of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages, including classes on classroom pedagogy, as well as in the Departments of Comparative Literature, Philosophy, and also Music. My dissertation addressed the socio-political engagement of an East German concert hall and its artists in the resistance movement in the 1980s in the Eastern Bloc. Getting to this topic took a moment, and taking diverse classes in different fields with the support of various professors really helped. At the time, the idea of interdisciplinary studies in my particular field was just in its infancy, and I am still beyond grateful for my Ph.D. advisers Bettina Brandt in German and Chuck Youmans in Music to have believed in me and my work. Through their care and feedback, I learned that the academic profession benefits from new ideas and viewpoints, whose integration may not always be a comfortable process but necessary not only for the survival of our profession but also to the benefit of our students and global concerns.
Doing this hard work is part of academic activism. I believe that we are here to change our profession for the better so that we can partake in making the world a better place to live for everyone and everything. Within the German Studies world, I am engaged with the DDGC, the Diversity, Decolonization, and the German Curriculum Collective, that is committed to teaching and scholarship that ends the oppressions that persist in today’s world. I work together with my colleagues at Carleton and beyond to make German Studies a place where we can do the hard work together, because, again and again, German Studies has been at the crux of a plethora of global issues and discussions that surround the topics of antisemitism, racism, settler-colonialism, neoliberalism, freedom of speech, and more. Approaching these topics critically has been a focal point of my teaching in the classroom and also of my research. I believe that studying German is one step toward understanding how we got here and also a way to find how we can advance.