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German Studies alumnus credits ������˾�� education to success in Vienna

Jeffrey Janus �15, who was a German Studies major and now lives, works, and studies in Vienna, Austria, began studying German at ������˾�� by chance. While registering for classes during Academic Registration and Creative Horizons (ARCH) prior to his first semester, Janus was trying to decide on a final class to sign up for.�� Professor and department chair of German Studies Beth Ann Muellner was his ARCH advisor and encouraged him to take Beginning German Level 1.��

�After completing my first semester of German with professor Mareike Herrmann, I fell in love with the program and declared my major in German Studies,� Janus said.����

After graduating from ������˾�� and briefly working in luxury retail, Janus moved to Austria to be a United States Teaching Assistant, a program facilitated by Fulbright Austria and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education. He taught at a technical college and high school for fashion and art. �I fell in love with Vienna, Austrian culture, and the European way of life,� Janus said. �I wasn�t ready for my chapter in Austria to end so I decided to apply to graduate school in Vienna.���

Janus is currently pursing a master�s degree in Gender Studies at the University of Vienna with the hopes of working in higher education diversity and inclusion, international education, or at a non-governmental organization. He enjoys the multi-disciplinary nature of his graduate school program and the chance to read literature in both German and English. He also tutors and teaches English on a freelance basis.����

In addition to studying German at ������˾��, Janus worked as a Global Envoy in the Off-Campus Studies office, lived in the German Suite in Luce Hall, and studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany. �Had I not gone to ������˾��, I would not be living in Vienna now,� Janus said. �My most important take-away from ������˾�� is that you can do anything you put your mind to. The fact that I could start German from scratch and write my senior independent study in German is incredible.���

Janus said that the smaller size of ������˾���s German department benefited him. �The attention and individualization I received throughout my studies undoubtedly helped me thrive academically,� he said. �I feel very fortunate to be using what I learned from my major in my daily personal, professional, and academic life.�

This story originally appeared in the Spring 2023 edition of ������˾�� Magazine.

Posted in Alumni on March 15, 2023.