Michaela M. Grobbel

Dr. Michaela M. Grobbel is a Professor, Chair, and German Program Coordinator at Sonoma State University (SSU), where she has led the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures since her appointment. She specializes in German language and culture, teaching literature, film, and Afro-German history, while also mentoring the German Club 'Gemütlichkeit' and organizing cultural events like the German Film Series and 'Kaffeestunde.'

• Education:
  • M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • Studies in German and English Literature, Philosophy, and Education, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
  • Exchange year, Kalamazoo College, Michigan

Dr. Grobbel’s research focuses on twentieth-century women’s literature, feminist theory, cultural criticism, and ethnic minority studies, particularly German-speaking Romani autobiographies and theater. Her work explores intersections of memory, performance, and identity in literature.

• Scientific Awards and Fellowships:
  • Goldstein Award for Excellence in Scholarship
  • Excellence in Education Award
  • Student Ambassadors Academy Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Fulbright Fellowship
  • AATG Fellowship
  • DAAD Fellowship
  • NEH Fellowship

She has taught at the University of Zürich, Goethe-Institute in Brussels, and UC Davis prior to SSU. Dr. Grobbel also organizes events like literary readings, theater productions, and art exhibits, often collaborating with the Consulate General of Germany, the Goethe Institute, and cultural organizations.