Dr. Brooke Kreitinger (CSB/SJU '01), visiting assistant professor and director of undergraduate studies in German at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has been awarded the 2016 German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG).

Brooke Kreitinger poses with award plaque alongside Jan Eckendorf and Beth Gulewhich
From left to right: Jan Eckendorf of the German Embassy, Dr. Brooke Kreitinger and Beth Gulewich, Southeast regional representative for AATG and chair of the North Carolina AATG Awards Committee.

Kreitinger accepted the prestigious award on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the AATG Convention, held in conjunction with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Convention and World Expo, in Boston.
Kreitinger was one of three educators nationwide to receive the annual award, which recognizes excellence in teaching, creativity, dedication and enthusiasm for the German language. The prize includes a two-week professional development course in Germany.
“I am truly grateful and honored for this recognition, particularly as I think of all of the talented, creative and hard-working colleagues whom I have had the opportunity to learn from and work with,” Kreitinger said. “This award acknowledges and raises awareness of the important work we do in educating students to not only speak German, but to also develop essential skills in intercultural competence, writing and speaking.”
Kreitinger notes that her passion for teaching German stems from her own language-learning experience.
“By learning foreign languages and traveling and living abroad in Germany and Austria, I have learned to see the world ‘through the eyes’ of other cultures,” she said. “I believe this ability to critically engage with multiple cultures has made me a more empathetic and effective communicator and educator and has greatly enriched my life.”
Kreitinger earned her PhD in German studies from Georgetown University. Her research spans various disciplines by examining contemporary transnational literature and film through the lenses of globalization discourse, theories of cosmopolitanism and border studies.
Founded in 1926, AATG supports the teaching of the German language and German-speaking cultures in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education in the United States. The organization has more than 4,000 members in chapters across the country. For more information, visit aatg.org.