"Excellent. I received an excellent, broad education in linguistics, second language acquisition, and literature. I had many opportunities at UIUC to gain professional experience (teaching, administrative work, committee work), and was generously supported by the Department in attending conferences."

-- Suzanne K. Hilgendorf
Ph.D. 2001, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC
Ph.D. dissertation topic: Language Contact, Convergence, and Attitudes: The Case of English in Germany

"Working with a group of world-class scholars was, obviously, an honor and a most enjoyable and inspiring experience. Backed by a wonderful library and a wealth of cultural offerings on campus and in town, the U of I is indeed an ideal setting for intellectual and personal growth. I am particularly indebted to Professors Kalinke, Knust, Lorbe, McGlathery, and Mitchell. If I were an entering grad student of German today, my first choice would be definitely the U o I at Urbana. "

-- Istvan Gombocz

Ph.D. 1987, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC
Ph.D. dissertation topic: Johann Christoph Gottsched

"Wonderful education in Germanic Languages and Literature! I miss very much the discussions with fellow students in the Rathskeller room in the basement of the YMCA, across the street from Lincoln Hall. Also, the superb instruction from professors such as Ruth Lorbe and Henri Stegemeier."

-- Jay Staley
B.A. 1968, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC

"Positive overall. Professors are very knowledgeable and the deparment maintains a very student-friendly atmosphere."

-- Eric Lenz
B.A. 2005, Double Major (History and Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC)

"I'm very proud of the education I received from the German Dept at the University of Illinois and of having a PhD from Illinois. I had excellent teachers and mentors in the German Dept."

-- Janet Van Valkenburg
Ph.D. 1981, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC
Ph.D. dissertation topic: Karl Gutzkow's WALLY DIE ZWEIFLERIN: a Reevaluation

"I'm very proud of the work I did as a graduate student, and I do use a lot of what I studied in my high school classroom."

-- Kristen Westerhof
M .A. 1997, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures/UIUC
M.A. research: Schwarze Milch der Fruehe: Paul Celan's "Todesfuge" in the High School Classroom

"I LOVED it - the students, the profs, everyone there, and what I learned, of course."

-- Mary E. Mullarkey Neville
B.A. 1969, UIUC

"The Austria-Illinois Exchange Program was a profound experience that helped me grow as a person and a student of German. There is nothing that could compare to it."

-- Michael Bohlmann
B.A. 1997, UIUC

"I loved the variety of courses,and felt I had a very broad knowledge of German language and literature when I graduated."

-- Patricia Selin Gronlund
B.A. 1968, UIUC

"I had a positive experience.  The teachers/scholars were committed to their work and were also kind human beings. Students at some other institutions of higher education are not always so lucky."

--Christopher E. Koy
M.A. 1990, UIUC

"I have started an international fine arts gallery in California. We represent some wonderful German artists! www.worthingtongallerywest.com"

--Claudia W. Hess (Worthington)
1983, UIUC/Germanic Languages