Carleton German program named German Center of Excellence by AATG
This designation is presented to well-established and growing German programs with demonstrated excellence in instruction and strong support from administration, professional colleagues, alumni, and students.
Carleton’s German program has been named a German Center of Excellence by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG).
This designation is presented to well-established and growing German programs with demonstrated excellence in instruction and strong support from administration, professional colleagues, alumni, and students. AATG recognizes German teachers and programs for their outstanding contributions to the teaching and learning of German in the U.S.
The German Section of the German and Russian Department at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, is a model of innovation, collaboration, and dedication in post-secondary German Studies. Over the past decade, faculty have rebuilt the program with thoughtful planning, creativity, and a strong commitment to students, designing a curriculum that fosters both high German proficiency and the development of critically engaged global citizens. Courses integrate social justice themes, project-based learning, and ongoing proficiency assessments, with signature projects like the trimester-long social justice city tour connecting first-semester students to real-world contexts. Enrollment has steadily grown, with students excelling on the Avant STAMP test and earning recognition through international fellowships and Carleton’s annual Honors Convocation, while outside the classroom they engage in conversation hours, research, and creative exhibitions in the German-Russian lounge. The faculty are equally active beyond Carleton, presenting at conferences, publishing in leading journals and online formats, and contributing research in areas ranging from environmental humanities to Disability Studies, with each professor earning the ACTFL German Special Interest Group Award for Outstanding German Program Development and Advocacy. Backed by strong institutional and community support, the Carleton German Section truly exemplifies the spirit of an AATG Center of Excellence and serves as an inspiring model for German programs nationwide.
Carleton’s three full-time German faculty members are Juliane Schicker, associate professor of German and department chair of German and Russian; Seth Peabody, assistant professor of German; and Kiley Kost, lecturer in German.
“With their dedication to excellence in German language and culture instruction, these award recipients promote the transatlantic friendship between the U.S. and German-speaking countries and foster the much-needed intercultural awareness so their students can lead successful lives in a globalized world,” said Angelika Becker, AATG president.
The Carleton German program will be honored during the virtual AATG Awards Presentation on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET. Honorees and their families, friends, and colleagues may register to attend the ceremony.