Bianca Potrykus

Bianca Potrykus is a Senior Lecturer of German at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), serving since 2019. She concurrently directs the Undergraduate Certificate in German for Engineering and coordinates the University of Kassel partnership. She is also a DAAD Associated Lecturer at UNC Charlotte, promoting DAAD scholarships and research grants. Her PhD candidacy in Language and Communication at the Hellenic American University (Greece) focuses on her research interests, which include Second Language Acquisition, Multilingualism, and Holocaust Studies.

Education:

• Ph.D. Candidate in Language and Communication, Hellenic American University, Greece (2020–present)
• M.A. in Applied Linguistics, University of Hamburg, Germany (2008)

Research Interests: Her scholarly work explores intersections of language, trauma, and identity, with a focus on multilingualism in engineering contexts and critical discourse analysis of historical narratives. She has taught German language and culture courses globally, including in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Professional Roles:

• Director of the German for Engineering Certificate program
• Faculty director of the Berlin study abroad program (since 2017)
• DAAD Language Assistant (UNC Charlotte, 2008–2009)
• DAAD Lecturer in Namibia (2012–2013)

Grants/Advising: Her global teaching engagements and DAAD collaborations highlight her expertise in international education and scholarship advocacy.