German Institute
The German Institute at Wartburg College provides organization and focus for the college’s wealth of Germany-related programs, knowledge, and relationships. Its founding in 2014 strengthened the college’s ties to its German heritage. Wartburg traces its roots to Neuendettelsau, Bavaria, and is named for the castle in Eisenach where Martin Luther took refuge during the Reformation.
The institute’s goal is to deepen and broaden cultural heritage and German connections among all institutional constituencies, including past, present, and future, by supporting existing programs and assisting in the development of new ones with informational, logistical, and, whenever possible, financial support, while respecting and abiding by the academic governance system. An executive committee leads the institute, acting on guidance from an international advisory board.
Wartburg is seeking to build the institute’s endowment, which will increase the types of programming and support it can offer. With additional funds, the German Institute will:
- Provide more immersions for Wartburg students in Eisenach.
- Hold an annual German cultural event in the Cedar Valley.
- Provide scholarships to German students for immersion here.
Resources
- Learning German is a major income multiplier.
- Expand your worldview. Study abroad, conduct research, do an internship, and learn German along the way.
- Gain invaluable experience in understanding and adjusting to new cultures and situations.
- View breathtaking landscapes and explore important historical sites.
- Exposure to another culture provides better leadership and management skills.
- Experience new and different food, language, and culture.
- Gain a greater sense of independence.
- Experience a new culture and explore history; don’t just read about it.
For those desiring to conduct research or to intern in a lab, science and research in Germany are characterized by an excellent infrastructure, a wide variety of disciplines, well-equipped research facilities, and competent staff. Germany offers various forms of research locations: universities, non-university institutes, companies, and institutions run by federal or state (Länder) authorities.
Germany is the economic engine of the European Union, the U.S.’s largest trading partner. Together, they account for over 50 percent of world GDP in terms of value and 40 percent in terms of purchasing power (Transatlantic Economy 2014).
Germany is the biggest national economy in Europe, fourth-largest economy in the world, and second-largest exporter of goods in the world. Germany produces one-fifth of the GDP of European Union. The country enjoys very high standard of living, low corruption, qualified work force, and a lot of capital. Main exports for Germany are in machinery and automobiles, chemicals and metals, and in the field of energy, such as wind and solar power.
Programs of study
Study abroad
- May Term opportunities
- GER 260/261 German Culture and Intensive Conversation
- GM 223 Tour with the Arts
- ID 303 Historical Roots of Mathematics and Physics
- GM 106 Eisenach Immersion
- RE 277 Reformation Then and Now
- PSY 395 History of Psychology
- Semester-long programs in Berlin and Lüneberg
Faculty resources
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) — Supports research funding, study abroad, group study visits (ideal for Wartburg’s May Term classes), lectures, and hosting scholars.
- Fulbright Scholar Program — Provides fellowships for research/teaching in Germany
Internships
- Eisenach placements include Wartburg Castle, the city archive, the Gallery of Contemporary Art, Wartburg Radio, the International Music Archive, the Bachhaus, the Lutheran Diocese, the St. George’s Church music program, and the municipal library. Contact Dr. Brian Pfaltzgraff at brian.pfaltzgraff@wartburg.edu for more information.
- Research Internships in Science & Engineering (RISE)
- Study and Internship Program (SIP)
- Bundestag Internship (EMGIP)
- Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
Scholarships
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Dr. Daniel Walther, institute director, Gerald R. Kleinfeld Endowed Chair in German History
- Dr. Allan Bernard, assistant professor of business administration
- Dr. Ethan Blass, assistant professor of German
- Dr. Christine Devries, associate professor of chemistry
- Scott Leisinger, vice president for advancement
- Dr. Brian Pfaltzgraff, associate professor of music
- Dr. Penni Pier, Grant L. Price Endowed Department Chair of Journalism & Communication
- Kathleen Sihler, study away coordinator
- Dr. Rick Snyder, associate professor of education
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
- Heike Apel, honorary appointee, mayor’s office — Eisenach, Germany
- Erik Bettermann, former director-general, Deutsche Welle — Berlin, Germany
- Kay Ferris ’80, CPA, James Ferris Dentistry — Sterling, Illinois
- Dr. Karl Fink ’64 (Chair), professor emeritus of German, St. Olaf College — Northfield, Minnesota
- Dr. Gerald Kleinfeld, professor emeritus of history, Arizona State University/founding director, German Studies Association — Tucson, Arizona
- Dr. John Kretzschmar — Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Mark Kretzschmar, Ph.D. candidate in texts and technology, University of Central Florida — Oviedo, Florida
- Nancy Magnall, former resource information specialist, Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association — Waverly, Iowa and McPherson, Kansas
- Dr. Ardith Meier, professor of languages and literature, University of Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, Iowa
- Udo Michallik, secretary general, KMK – Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in Germany — Berlin, Germany
- Laura Olson ’92, director of human rights program, The Carter Center — Atlanta, Georgia
- The Rev. Larry Trachte ’66, professor emeritus of religion, retired campus pastor, Wartburg College — Waverly, Iowa
- Kirk Vogel ’83, senior vice president, HSBC Bank USA — Charlotte, North Carolina
- Dr. Daniel Walther, Gerald R. Kleinfeld Endowed Chair of German History, Wartburg College Waverly, Iowa
- Janeen Stewart, assistant to the president for special projects, national advisory boards coordinator, Wartburg College — Waverly, Iowa
Financial Support
The goal of the institute is
“… to deepen and broaden our cultural heritage and German connections among all institutional constituencies, including past, present, and future, by supporting existing programs and assisting in the development of new ones with informational, logistical, and, whenever possible, financial support.”
Each Fall Term, the German Institute makes $7,000 available to fund activities related to German and or/Germany. The fall deadline is Oct. 31.
Each Winter Term, the German Institute makes $2,000 available to fund activities related to German and or/Germany. The winter deadline is March 15.
Applications should address the following (please be as specific as possible):
- How will you use the awarded funds? Include an itemized budget.
- How does this financial support enrich students’ experiences, your program, and/or the institution?
- How does it meet the goal of the German Institute?
In the past, the institute has supported enrichments to May Term trips to Germany, a German film festival, learning materials for the faculty/staff heritage tour, and a subsidy for student travel to Germany for study abroad and internships (but not individuals for May Term travel).
Whenever students are surrounded by a different culture, language, and way of thinking, the new perspectives they develop are priceless — it is as if a whole new world is opened up to them!
Funded by the generous contributions of his former students, he Dr. Riep Stipend was implemented with this wonderful vision in mind: A vision of students being immersed in and passionate about the German language. His own passion and enthusiasm was nothing less than contagious, and he passed this on to his students.
Our [the donors] intention is to carry his passion forward to encourage students to strive for excellence, which would be unattainable without the immersion in the German language and culture made possible during the semester abroad.
This $1,550 stipend is available to students according to the following priorities:
- Semester abroad involved in language study
- May Term travel involved in language study
- Other activities that are related to German language study
The application should address the following questions:
- How will you use the awarded funds (include an itemized budget)?
- How will you meet Dr. Riep’s goal of striving for excellence through an immersion in the German language and culture?
- How does this support further your own academic and personal goals?
The deadline for this application is Oct. 31.
This stipend is funded by the children and grandchildren of Dr. Elmer and Suzanne Kretzschmar to honor their commitment to Wartburg College and its German heritage.
Annually $500 is available to students engaged in activities related to German and/or Germany.
The application should address the following questions:
- How will you use the awarded funds?. Include an itemized budget.
- How does this support enrich students’ experiences, your program, and/or the institution?
- How does it meet the goal of the German Institute?
The deadline for this application is Oct. 31.
The purpose of the Friends of the German Institute is to support financially the activities of the Wartburg College German Institute on an annual basis. With the generous support of our friends, the Institute has directly funded enrichments to students’ experiences on May Term trips to Germany in language, mathematics, and journalism/communication; materials for the faculty/staff heritage trip to Germany; a German film festival; and travel expenses for students studying in Germany.In gratitude and recognition of the support received, all friends are recognized here according to the amount they contributed and receive an annual report on how their contributions have impacted students, faculty, and staff at Wartburg College.
Supporting Gift Levels
Associate Level – Up to $999
- Kyle Barton
- Phyllis Biermann
- Gunda Brost
- Sarah J. den Harder
- Daniel Hanson
- Lori Koogler
- Peter and Beth Martin
- Ardith J. Meier
- Troy and Janet Meinhard
- Lance and Deborah Noe
- Laura Olson
- Edwin and Patricia Schmidt
- Bernd and Katherine M. Schoell
- Zachary Sommer
- Larry Trachte
- Daniel Walther
Member
- Karl Fink
- Kathlyn and Wilhelm Hofmann
Director Level – $2,500-4,999
- Frederick Elder
- HSBC – North America, Inc
- Edwin and Lorraine Scharlau
- Curtis Schneider
- Shelly Wright
Leadership Gift Levels
Silver Level – $5,000 – 9,999
- Gerald Kleinfeld
- Steven Miehe
- Kirk Vogel
Gold Level – $10,000 – $24,999
- Charles Birnstiel
Platinum Level – $25,000 and above