Susanne M. Wagner

Susanne M. Wagner is an Associate Professor of German at the University of St. Thomas, holding dual leadership roles as Director of the German Program and Director of the International Engineering Program within the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. With over 20 years of teaching experience across U.S. and international institutions including the University of Arkansas Little Rock and The Citadel, she has established herself as a prominent educator in German language and cultural studies.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in German Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• MA in Germanic Languages & Literatures, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• BA equivalent in History, Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg i. Br., Germany
• BA equivalent in Germanic Languages & Literatures, Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg i. Br., Germany

Dr. Wagner's research centers on 20th century German cultural history with specialized focus on National Socialism, memory culture, and resistance literature. She pioneers the integration of STE(A)M disciplines into language pedagogy through multimedia and online teaching technologies, while advancing intercultural competence frameworks. Her scholarly work consistently bridges historical literacy with contemporary educational methodologies, particularly through memorial site utilization in study abroad contexts.

Her publications reveal a cohesive trajectory examining how historical consciousness shapes language acquisition, with increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary curriculum design that connects engineering education with German cultural studies. This approach has positioned her at the forefront of innovative language pedagogy.

Prestigious recognitions include:

• Best Article in Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German (2021)
• Consecutive Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Campus Weeks Grants (2011-2021)
• Deutsche Welle German Teacher of the Month honors (2014, 2016)
• AATG/Goethe Institut Certificate of Merit (2012)
• University of St. Thomas Environmental Stewardship Curriculum Grants (2015, 2020)

Dr. Wagner actively mentors undergraduate researchers and advises multiple student organizations including the German Club, Ballroom Dance Club, and Delta Phi Alpha National German Honor Society. Her leadership extends to national professional organizations where she serves on the American Council of Teachers of German Executive Council and as a Goethe Institut Trainer, conducting professional development seminars for K-16 educators across the Midwest.

Current initiatives focus on expanding the International Engineering Program's global partnerships and developing new curricula that fuse engineering principles with German language acquisition, reflecting her commitment to transdisciplinary education.