Where and what did you study before you came to Germanic and Slavic Studies at the University of Waterloo?
Before coming here, I did my BA and MA in History at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. In my MA thesis, I wrote about the East German pedestrian traffic light figure Ampelmann and the memory of East Germany.
What are your interests in German Studies?
I still focus primarily on memory studies in relation to the former East Germany.
Why did you choose the University of Waterloo?
I chose to come here because of the strong, interdisciplinary programme the department of Germanic and Slavic Studies offers.
Do you already know what you want to write your thesis on?
I’m not committed to anything just yet but I am looking for a topic that involves memory and material culture in relation to East Germany.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
At the risk of sounding dreadfully unilateral in my future planning, I actually wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid. Having taught for a year at the Albertus Magnus Gymnasium in Bensberg, and a bit here as well, I still want to teach!
What is a fun fact about you?
Not entirely unexpected but I absolutely love riding my bike. I could just ride around in circles for hours and be completely happy.