Congratulations to all our GNS+ graduates!
GRADUATE
Melissa Azari
Hannah Brewer-Jensen
Victoria Buyanovskaya
Morgan Cacic
Colin Connors
Piotr Kawulok
Marsel Khamitov
Laura Little
Ian McQuistion
Nicholas Ott
Zachary Rewinski
Jared Schmidt
Thomas Tabatowski
Christine Widmayer
UNDERGRADUATE
Isa Barth
Nolan Bedwell
Anneliese Bleicher
Diane Camarda
Isabelle Cook
Bryce Couperus
Jenny Davis
Kurt Davis
Daria Deibele
Olivia Dunham
Joshua Faessler
Brett Fuglestad
Olivia Gerhards
William Grosspietsch
Lance Gunter
Frankie Harkavy
Eliza Hernandez
Benjamin Isaacs
Grace Johnson
Monika Juras
Cecelia Kaeder
Beck Keller
Benjamin Lang
William Langholz
Ella Larson
Olivia Larson
Evan Lee
Yuxin Liu
Isabella Lund
Taylor Madl
Thomas Mahieu
Jonathon Meyer
Nancy Miller
Cory Mooney
Alexander Muhl
Karissa Niederkorn
Brieanna Oremus
Annette Pabello
Varick Peak
Emma Plitzner
Milcah Puliyelil
Maya Reinfeldt
Jessica Rogoff
Madeline Romfoe
Allison Sniff
Isobela Solberg
Erin Springer
Lucas Stanley
Alexander Taylor
Anna Thompson
Claudia Torres Giraldo
Matthew Voss
Jessica Warner
Brady Wegner
Claire Wierschke
Taylor Wochenske
David Woodson
Mika Xu
Featured Student Profiles
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Josh Riebe
Cartography & GIS and Human Geography (Majors) | African Cultural Studies, Environmental Studies, and German (Certificates)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Tie between German 285: w/ Dr. Weijia Li and German 372: Austria w/ Dr. Monika Chavez.
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Linguistics 237: Language in Wisconsin and Geography 370: Intro to Cartography.
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned/found out how much I value education and learning.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
All my time in the Geography Club.
What are your future plans and dreams?
Attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for their Master’s of Urban Planning Program in the fall, hope to move to DC-Baltimore post-grad school and then Milwaukee long-term.
Any advice for incoming students?
If you have the time in your schedule, join at least a couple student orgs that you are interested in, but are different from each other.
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Jenny Davis
German (Major)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Either German 351: Introduction to German Linguistics or German 372: Briefe als Medium.
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Religious Studies 406: The Amish
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Spending time outside on the terrace or Lakeshore Path while drinking tea with friends.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I’m starting grad school for German Translation in the fall, and I hope to travel to Germany in the next few years!
Any advice for incoming students?
Take a wide range of classes to get more of a feel of what you like. And don’t be afraid to switch your major if you don’t like it, even if you feel like you have to or should stick with it.
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Ben(jamin) Isaacs
Scandinavian Studies, Cartography & GIS, and Geography (Majors) | Medieval Studies (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Scandinavian Studies 520: Scandinavian Film with Liina-Ly Roos.
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Geography 322: Polar Regions and Their Importance in the Global Environment
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
That I can learn any language I put my mind to, no matter how strange it sounds (looking at you, Danish!)
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Getting to eat Nete Schmidt’s homemade rugbrød in my morning Danish class.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I’m moving to the Twin Cities after graduation to pursue a career in Cartography and to be with my girlfriend while she finishes her art degree. I then want to get an MA from the University of Iceland in medieval Icelandic studies, and I would like to live there one day in a small house with a secluded hot spring nearby together with my girlfriend and our cat.
Any advice for incoming students?
Study whatever interests you! UW-Madison offers so many niche fields of study that it’s hard not to find interest in something. You’ll enjoy your time here a lot more if you like what you do. Also, keep your social/party life out of the classroom. Showing up to class hungover with visible bite marks on yourself is not a good look. Take it from me!
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Maya Reinfeldt
Russian Literature and International Studies (Majors)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Too many to count!
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Classics 370: Classical Mythology
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I’m much more adaptable than I ever thought I could be! I feel that with the experience my four years here have given me, I can thrive – and find something of interest – in any environment.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I hope to work in cross-cultural relations, using my Russian and (very new) Chinese skills to build bridges between communities all over the world.
Any advice for incoming students?
Find a way to challenge yourself while still leaving room for self-care and good mental health practices. I found myself at my best when my coursework and extracurriculars weren’t easy at all, yet with good time management and some hard work, they were entirely manageable.
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Jonathon Meyer
BS in German and BS in Neurobiology (Majors)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Deutsche Sci-Fi mit Sabine Mödersheim!
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Zoology 400: Neuronal Cell Body in Health and Disease
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned I actually like the hot soup from Kwik Trip… Who would have thought? It has saved me during many February walks across campus.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Thinking we were getting an extra week of Spring Break in 2020…
What are your future plans and dreams?
Healthcare sales.
Any advice for incoming students?
Keep an open mind and open heart. You never know what form that next amazing friendship or connection will come in.
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Daria Deibele
BS in German (Majors)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
My favorite class would be German 372. I have completed both the Deutsche Film/ Deutsche Kultur and Briefe als Medium. These were taught by Jeanne and Julie and they are amazing professors. The classes were engaging and I enjoyed attending the classes!
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Jewish Studies 231: Elementary Topics in Jewish History: The Holocaust. This class was taught by Amos Bitzan and I learned so much. I thought I knew about the Holocaust but there is so much more to the basics that you learn in high school.
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
It’s okay to put yourself first. You need to do what is best for you and give yourself a break sometimes. Take care of yourself and do what you want to do and what will make you happy!
What is your favorite memory from UW?
My favorite memory is making the light weight rowing team as a walk on. I made some of my closest friends there and have some great memories.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I am starting paramedic school in the fall. I want to work in EMS for a while and then when my body can’t handle that anymore, I would love to go back to school and advance my German. I think it would be cool to spend sometime in Germany and maybe teach German some day!
Any advice for incoming students?
Mental health is important too! Sometimes you need to put yourself first mentally and physically to be able to do well in school!
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Jacob Broehm
Political Science and German (Majors) | Public Policy and European Studies (Certificates)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
German 676: Advanced Seminar in German Studies
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Political Science 332: German Politics
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
During my time at UW-Madison, I learned to embrace change instead of resisting it. These four years challenged me with a new city environment, a world pandemic, and having to postpone my study-abroad program to my senior year. While some of these changes were predictable and others not, I learned to be adaptable and overcome the many obstacles that I encountered.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Seeing the completion of The Nicholas Recreation Center before leaving to study abroad.
What are your future plans and dreams?
Continue to live abroad in a German-speaking country and obtain a career that merges my political experience and German language skills with my interest in foreign affairs.
Any advice for incoming students?
Take the opportunity to study abroad! Spending a year in Freiburg, Germany allowed me to not only become more comfortable with my German language skills, but also gave me the chance to travel all around Europe and meet many like-minded people.
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Emma Plitzner
Fine Arts (Major) | Folklore (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Literature in Translation 329: The Vampire in Literature and Film
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Art 307: Making Comics
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I am the most productive when I have afternoon to evening classes, and a rigid schedule to keep me on task! I’m able to have mornings mostly to myself to prepare me for the day to come.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Going to the farmer’s market on the square at 7am every Saturday, before the rest of campus was truly awake.
What are your future plans and dreams?
While still looking, I hope to put my Art degree to good use in an Illustrator or Artist position for a larger studio! My dream is to combine my love for storytelling with my art practice in whatever way I can.
Any advice for incoming students?
Don’t be afraid you haven’t found your crowd! Focus on getting out and doing what you enjoy and the people will follow. Also, keep calendars and to-do lists handy! You’ll never have a missed assignment if you keep an eye on deadlines early.
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Yiping He
Math, Data Science, and Psychology (Majors) | Folklore, Computer Science, and Criminal Justice (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Folklore 103: Introduction to Music Cultures of the World
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Computer Science 435: Introduction to Cryptology
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Biking around Lake Monona in summer.
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Riley Hazelberg
Economics (Major) German (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
German 372:
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Economics 548:
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I learned how to be independent and prioritize the people and things that are most important to me.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Being able to go to the Rose Bowl at the beginning of 2020 before the pandemic started.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I’m moving to Chicago in June for work and hope to travel as much as possible!
Any advice for incoming students?
Get involved in anything that calls you! You’ll meet wonderful people and have incredible experiences.
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Jessica Rogoff
BA in Conservation Biology (Major) | Scandinavian Studies (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Scandinavian Studies 635: Survey of Scandinavian Literature: 1800-1890
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
American Indian Studies 490: American Indian History
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I made an effort to push myself out of my comfort zone and try new things which has made some really great memories!
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Late night campfires at picnic point with friends from Greenhouse learning community.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I am hoping to get a job with an environmental conservation organization that would allow me to do field work.
Any advice for incoming students?
Try some classes outside of your normal area of study – you might love them!
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Yuxin Liu
Sociology, Math, and Education Studies (Majors) | German and History (Certificates)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
German 650: History of the German Language
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Sociology 633: Sociology of Stratification
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
I love taking classes from a variety of disciplines so much.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
Talking with my professors.
What are your future plans and dreams?
Sociology PhD at Princeton.
Any advice for incoming students?
Take a German class every semester–you won’t regret it!
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Olivia Dunham
English – Creative Writing (Major) | Folklore (Certificate)
Favorite GNS+ Course?
Literature in Translation 345: The Nordic Storyteller
Favorite Course Outside of GNS+?
Any creative writing workshop.
What is something you learned about yourself in college?
Instead of learning that time waits for no woman, I learned that time is one of my most valuable resources because I get to choose what to do with it. As much as I’d like to work and challenge myself, I also want to enjoy how slowly time moves with the people I love.
What is your favorite memory from UW?
One of my favorite memories was moving into my freshman dorm. My parents had just left, and I took a moment to look up at trees, and in the place I would spend my next year. I shed a tear because I recognized how hard I had worked to get here. I didn’t really know what was to come, but it was so fulfilling.
What are your future plans and dreams?
I plan to go to Korea to be an English teacher. My dream is to be a published author, although ‘plan’ and ‘dream’ are interchangeable for this last sentence.
Any advice for incoming students?
You are paying to be here. Take full advantage of everything! And I mean everything from office hours, to career counseling, to therapy, to libraries, and more.