PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ACADEMIA
& TEACHING
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW
since October 2021
As a postdoctoral researcher with the Martin Buber Society of Fellows in the Humanities and Social Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel I m working on my new project "Transcultural Notions of Sexuality in Performance in Community Activism with Refugees".
LECTURER
July 2021
I worked as a lecturer for the international, interdisciplinary summer school "Music as Heritage: From Tradition to Product" with the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.
COORDINATOR OF YOUNG RESEARCHERS
January 2021 - September 2021
I worked as the coordinator for young researchers in the doctoral program for education technology at the Technische Universität Dresden. My duties included the supervision of the weekly doctoral colloquium, interdisciplinary PhD mentoring, curriculum and program assessment and development of the doctoral program "Education and Technology", structuring digital learning resources, the project lead of the international summer school "Education and Technology in Hybrid Formats and Worlds", and concept development for virtual interactive academic poster presentations
- PhD mentorship scheme for Summer Schools (concept development)
- DFH applications
UNIVERSITY FELLOW, TU DRESDEN
October 2018 - July 2019
Fellow with the Institute for American Studies at TU Dresden. The position provides me possibilities to advance my dissertation research project, participate in international conferences and colloquia, and become part of an international academic network.
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSOCIATE, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
August 2014 - May 2018
I worked as an a primary instructor for German language teaching (levels 1-4), was provided extensive teacher training and comprehensive knowledge of second language acquisition. I served as a peer mentor and coordinator, designed semester curricula and lesson plans. I further developed technology-ehanced teaching methodologies and integrated current topics and issues into my teaching. Additionally, I served as a study abroad program resident director assistant and instructor for upper-level German minor students. I also completed two apprenticeships with Prof. Carmen Taleghani-Nikazm and Barbara Heck, M.A. For my teaching, I received the Graduate Associate Distinguished Teaching Award in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.
TRANSLATOR
2014 - present
I worked as a freelance translator for a range of institutions and individuals including the "Banda Internationale". I translated funding requests, applications, CVs, cover letters, court documents, family estate materials and fictional/non-fictional texts from German to English.
ESL INSTRUCTOR
2010 - 2014
I worked as a freelance ESL language instructor for Global Lt., Volkshochschule Dresden, Sprachstudio Dresden, Fremdsprachenschule Dresden and Schülerhilfe Dresden. I also completed various practicums at German Gymnasiums and American High Schools. I have taught for more than 1000 hours during these occupations.
EXPERIMENT FACILITATOR “FOREIGN LANGUAGE EFFECTS ON CREATIVITY, CHEATING, AND COOPERATION”
February - March 2017
I worked as an experiment facilitator for the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich. I was in charge of experiment set-up, participant recruitment, and data collection.
GALLERY ASSISTANT
September - December 2013
I worked as a gallery assistant at the Kent State University Galleries. I set up exhibitions, installations and performances, prepared exhibition spaces, and coordinated gallery openings.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH, CURATION & MANAGEMENT
CO-CURATOR, CULTURAL MANAGEMENT, AND SCIENTIFIC ADVISING
December 2020 - September 2021
As a co-curator, I supported Cologne-based alba-KULTUR in the planning and realization of the "Migrants Music Manifesto" festival/debate.
EXPERT CONSULTANT
June 2021 - August 2021
I acted as an expert consultant to Asterisk Research and Analysis for the study „Protection from Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial Discrimination and the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan“tendered by the European Parliament.
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
January 2021 - July 2021
I supported Hangvetö/FORUM in the preparation and management of the summer school "Music as Heritage: From Tradition to Product".
TRANSLATOR
since August 2018
I work as a German-English translator for the humanitarian storytelling project „Migrants of the Mediterranean“.
CULTURAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP
since August 2018
I worked as the head of cultural education for pedaogical concepts and opportunities for workshops with "Materialvermittlung" at Konglomerat e.V. in Dresden. I composed workshop concepts "Wir sind noch was wert. Geschichten aus der Tonne" and "Tiktoking the trash". I further composed the educational concept for the transmission of educational resources that help introduce used materials into different educational contexts via a digital platform. The concept was awarded the "eku Idee" by Saxony's Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment, and Agriculture (SMEKUL).
CULTURAL MANAGER
January 2019 - November 2019
I curated and managed the project "Seg-tabaa" with Burkinabé musicians Ezé Wendtoin and Aristide Nikiema that connected communities and arts-based youth empowerment in Columbus, Ohio and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
TRANSLATOR
since 2018
I work as a freelance translator for music projects to help write international project applications and website content.
CURATOR AND CULTURAL MANAGER
October 2017 - July 2018
I curated and managed the project "International Communication Through Music" with Burkinabé musician Ezé Wendtoin in Columbus, Ohio.
CURATOR, ARTIST, AND CULTURAL MANAGER
December 2015 - October 2016
I curated and managed the project "Across the Pond: Back and Over Again" with German artists Jean Kirsten and Christian Manss that connected communities and artists in Columbus, Ohio and Dresden, Germany.
EDUCATION
PH.D. GERMANIC STUDIES (MIGRATION STUDIES), OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
August 2016 - December 2020
My principal research interests lie in the identification and portrayal of migrant experiences through representations in audio-visual cultural production, performance art, music and literature. My dissertation project uses ethnographic methods to shed light on the implications of arts-based interventions for deconstructing borders and spaces of violence in German communities where the inclusion of migrants is heatedly debated. Specifically, my project seeks to understand the role of refugees and locals in negotiating spaces of security and insecurity in public assemblies, everyday life and artistic performances. My research seeks to answer how secure spaces for participation are generated and facilitated through music and art in activist settings.
M.A., GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Thesis: "Revisiting love, power and discourse in Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Angst Essen Seele Auf"
August 2014 - August 2016
M.A.ED., TEACHING ENGLISH AND ART EDUCATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DRESDEN, GERMANY
Thesis: "Semiotic analysis of William Kentridges animated drawings"
2012 - 2015
B.A.ED., TEACHING ENGLISH AND ART EDUCATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DRESDEN, GERMANY
Thesis: "dOCUMENTA (13) – transhuman perceptions"
2009 - 2013