Professor
George F. Peters
Resident Director 2001-2002
Michigan State University
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George Peters is Professor
of German at Michigan State University and served as chair
of the department there from 1989 to 2000. He teaches at all
levels of the curriculum and particularly enjoys teaching
undergraduate language and culture courses. He specializes
in German literature and culture of the 19th Century and recently
published a book on the reception history of Heinrich Heine.
Currently he is working on a technology-based project aimed
at improving the presentation of contemporary Germany in American
German classes.
Professor Peters has two daughters,
both of whom have spent time in Freiburg. He recently became
a grandfather when his older daughter, Kathryn, gave birth
to a baby girl, Anna. His younger daughter, Allison, will
be a sophomore at the University of Oregon in Eugene next
year. She plans to double major in English and German.
In his free time Professor Peters
enjoys skiing, hiking, and classical music. He is a fan of
the SC Freiburg and hopes to assist the team in winning the
German championship in 2001-02 (from the sidelines, not on
the field).
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Dr. Sabine Habermalz
Assistant Director
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Sabine Habermalz
has been the program coordinator since AYF was established in
summer 1997. She holds daily office hours to answer questions
and help students to find their way around Freiburg and integrate
into their new environment. These visible aspects of her work,
however, are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of her time is
devoted to numerous invisible tasks to maintain the administrative,
academic and social infrastructure that keep the program going.
Students will benefit from tutorials and excursions or enjoy
Thanksgiving Dinners and Barbecues.
Sabine likes to read (current
favorites are Indian novels and Swedish mysteries), listening
to music (saxophone and vocal music preferred), flowers, gardening.
She lives with her cat Crazy at the foot of the Schauinsland
mountain. On weekends she often visits her little nephew
Leon so as not to miss his first words or his first steps.
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AYF Instructors
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Jürgen Brüstle
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Jürgen Brüstle,
M.A.
University of Freiburg
Jürgen studied history, political science
and English at the universities of Freiburg, Dresden and again
in Freiburg, where he earned his M.A. in history and political
science. In 1995 he worked as an intern at the German Historical
Institute, London, and at the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum, Washington, D.C. Currently he is working on his Dissertation
on „Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben“, a Prussian Officer who
became Inspector General of the Continental Army in 1778.
For more than five years Jürgen has worked as a tutor
with American study abroad programs and as a lecturer for
the Akademische Auslandsamt, University of Freiburg.
Jürgen likes hiking with his friends,
reading, going on one day trips to Basel, Straßburg
or other places with his students, travelling to Iceland.
During the winter semester 2001/02, Jürgen
will teach the history course AYF 331.
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Teaching Interns
Cate Brubaker
Michigan State University
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Currently a graduate student at Michigan State
University, I am originally from the beautiful state of Oregon.
Before moving to Michigan two years ago, I lived in Bloomington,
IN, as well as various cities in Germany. I enjoy long walks
and European cafes, but my passion is traveling. My
first experience in Germany was as a high school exchange
student (90-91), and I first visited Freiburg while I was
studying at the Universität Stuttgart (93-94).
I loved Freiburg so much that I spent a great amount of time
visiting friends there and subsequently got to know the city
and university quite well. I am excited to now have
the opportunity to spend a semester in Freiburg as a resident,
rather than just a visitor. I am equally excited to
meet, work with, and help the new AYF students in any way
I can!
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Mary O' Brien
University of Wisconsin
Madison
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Spending time in Germany is one of my favorite
pastimes, and although I have never been to Freiburg, I am very
much looking forward to spending the fall semester, 2001 there
as a TI. I am a Ph.D. candidate in German linguistics
at the University of Wisconsin, and I had my first exposure
to Germany as an exchange student when I was a junior in high
school. As an undergraduate, I spent a summer in Dresden
as an intern at a TV station and at a newspaper. Teaching
is my passion, and I feel honored to be a part of the AYF team.
When I am not studying or teaching, I enjoy spending time with
my husband Jamie, running, reading, and enjoying the outdoors. |
Michella Lang
University of Wisconsin
Madison
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Hi! My name is Kaela Lang and I'm a graduate
student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently,
I'm working towards my Ph.D. in German literature and I'm
what they call a.b.d.--all but dissertation! The 'all'
in official terms means that I've completed my course work
and passed my preliminary examination. However, unofficially
it also means that I've taught German for over 6 years, mentored
new teaching assistants in our department, presented my research
at conferences, and published in journals. It also means
that I've spent much time traveling and living abroad:
one year as an undergraduate studying in Salzburg, Austria;
one year as a Fulbright scholar teaching English at a high
school in Spittal an der Drau, Austria; and two years as a
graduate student studying here in beautiful Freiburg!
In my spare time, I am actively involved in community outreach
programs for the environment, children, and women. In
fact, I hold a leadership position in the Madison chapter
of the National Organization for Women--a nonprofit, grass
roots organization working for human equality. I love
to hike (Schwarzwald here I come!), eat desserts, shop for
antiques, and people watch at cafe's. Oh, and the 'dissertation'...well,
it has already been a year in the making and investigates
how artificial reproductive technologies (IVF, surrogacy,
cryopreservation of gametes, etc.) are used in German science
fiction novels, plays and films to redefine women's bodies
and their social role as mothers. Looking forward to
meeting, working and discovering with you all!
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Orientation Tutors
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Irina Korobko
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Irina Korobko:
I was born in Russia but I am currently a student at the University
of Freiburg, majoring in Sociology, Business Administration
and English. The academic year 2000-2001 I spent at Michigan
State University in East Lansing as an exchange student in
the AYF-Freiburg exchange program.
A year of studies in the USA
was a great learning experience for me, and a consequent
vacation on the West coast turned into an amazing experience
of exploring a magnificient landscape and nature of
the North America.
I love empirical research, Italian
opera, reading, gardening, hiking, jogging, socializing
with friends and visiting my parents in Russia.
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Kerstin Behnken
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Kerstin Behnken:
I am a 24 year old student of English, German and History
at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg. This fall
I'll start with my exams for graduation.
Unfortunately, I have not been to
the United States, yet, but I studied in Sweden for one
year. So I kind of know how it feels to go abroad without
being an expert in the native language ...
I am fond of doing all different
kinds of sports, preferably those which include a ball.
And if there is nothing better or more important to do you
usually find me sitting somewhere reading a book. Cooking
with friends is fun, too, I think.
I tutored a course in German
Literature for AYF last term, and I enjoyed it very much.
So I'm looking forward to helping you getting settled in
Freiburg - a wonderful town for students if you ask me!
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Student Help
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Thomas Leek
Office Help
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