Annemarie Toebosch

Annemarie Toebosch is a Teaching Professor and Director of Dutch Studies in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She also serves as affiliate faculty in Judaic Studies and the Michigan Community Scholars Program.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Linguistics, University of Michigan
• M.A. in English Literature and Linguistics, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
• M.A. in TESOL College Preparatory Education, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

As a Chomskyan linguist, Toebosch teaches and writes within a framework of political and academic activism that challenges colonial power structures in the Dutch-speaking world and beyond. Her work centers on developing decolonial approaches to language education, making the Dutch Studies program at the University of Michigan the first of its kind on campus and a model for other language programs. Her teaching focuses on comparative Holocaust studies and decoloniality, connecting linguistic analysis with critical examinations of historical and contemporary power structures. Toebosch's research bridges linguistic theory with social justice activism, examining how language programs can confront colonial legacies while preparing students for global citizenship.

Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with decolonial theory, postcolonial studies, and Holocaust education. Recent work includes critical analyses of Dutch colonial narratives, development of decolonial pedagogical approaches, and examinations of linguistic phenomena through critical theoretical lenses. She has produced significant scholarship on Dutch colonial history, multilingualism, and the intersection of language with power structures.

• Dutch Studies: A Decolonial Revision (2022) - an exhibit at the University of Michigan Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library
• Dutch King's Apology for Colonial Slavery Is an Erasure of History (2023)
• Yom HaShoah address on Holocaust education (2021)
• Translating Anti-Racism research working group (2019-2020)

Dr. Toebosch leads the 'Translating Anti-Racism' research working group through the Humanities Collaboratory at the University of Michigan, collaborating with interdisciplinary scholars to address issues of race and language. As Director of Dutch Studies, she has reimagined the program to center decolonial approaches, moving beyond traditional language instruction to engage critically with the historical and political contexts of the Dutch-speaking world. Her work bridges linguistics, cultural studies, and political activism, creating innovative approaches to language education that address historical injustices while preparing students to engage critically with contemporary global issues.