Devon Donohue-Bergeler
استاد آموزشی · Experiential Learning
University of Texas at San Antonioمعرفی
Dr. Devon Donohue-Bergeler serves as a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at The University of Texas at San Antonio within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. She joined UTSA in Fall 2018 as leader of the German program and director of the summer study abroad program in Dresden, teaching courses from beginner German (GER 1014-1024) through advanced levels (GER 3023) alongside specialized courses in German culture, film, and migration studies.
Her educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education, The University of Texas at Austin (2018)
- M.A. in German Studies, Culture and Communication, Technische Universität Dresden (2009)
- B.A., Boston University (2002)
Dr. Donohue-Bergeler's research pioneers drama-based pedagogy in foreign language education, focusing on experiential learning, study abroad outcomes, and graduate student teaching development. Her work examines how theatrical techniques enhance language acquisition, create inclusive classrooms for LGBTQ+ students, and develop intellectual dexterity among educators. She investigates barriers to pedagogical innovation and strategies for implementing drama-based methods across collegiate language curricula.
Her publications reveal consistent application of drama-based approaches to solve pedagogical challenges, from multimodal music video analysis to online improvisation techniques. Recent work emphasizes intersectional inclusion in beginner German courses and collaborative classroom research models that flatten hierarchical teaching structures. The scholarship demonstrates evolving adaptation of drama techniques from physical classrooms to digital environments.
No scientific awards are specified in available documentation, though her research appears in respected journals including Scenario Journal for Performative Teaching and Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German.
Dr. Donohue-Bergeler advises German program students and study abroad participants in Dresden, developing professional growth opportunities for graduate student instructors through classroom research partnerships. Her dissertation established a semester-long drama-based pedagogy program addressing implementation challenges for new teaching methods.
She leads UTSA's German program development and the Dresden study abroad initiative, collaborating with international partners at Technische Universität Dresden to create immersive language learning experiences that integrate cultural studies with location-based instruction.
