Featured Alumna: Mari Arneson ’18
Mari Arneson graduated in 2018 with majors in German and Political Science. She first learned German in Germany through the Rotary International Youth Exchange and was inspired by that experience to continue learning German in college. Mari spent her junior year studying at the Universität Flensburg. When she returned, she embarked on a German Distinction project in which she elaborated on a research paper that she wrote for a political science course she took in Flensburg. For the project, Mari recounts, “I wrote and spoke about the U.S. and German judicial branches and their similarities and differences, and how culture impacted how the courts run and are viewed. This was especially apropos considering that the U.S. Supreme Court had recently gained a new Justice. … Through my German Distinction project I was able to really blend my interests and two majors.” Working toward departmental distinction was both intense and fun: “…one of my best friends and I did our German Distinction projects. We’d be up super late at night with papers all around us trying to figure out, ‘is it der, die, das, den, dem, des, denen, oder denim?!’ We may have been a bit sleep-deprived.”
Mari spent her first year after graduation in the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, joining the communications staff of Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, where she continues her career as communications manager. In her work with ILCM, her studies in the St. Olaf German program came in handy, though not in ways one might expect: “Sophomore year, Professor Randall had us create websites about German authors and this project gave me experience and knowledge in website creation and management that was and still is super helpful! German language didn’t play a huge role in my job, but I did get to translate an official letter for a client from German to English!” When asked what advice she would give to students considering a German major or German Studies Concentration, she says, “Germany has so many amazing contributions from science to the arts. There is bound to be a connection to another of your interests if you’re looking into double majoring/concentrating.” Curious to learn more about Mari’s experience? Reach out to her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mari-arneson-07a165bb.
Department Newsletter
You can read the current and previous editions of the St. Olaf Department newsletter here. If you would like to add an alumni news item to the next newsletter, please send your news to Prof. Amanda Randall (randal2@stolaf.edu). Be sure to update your contact information with the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations so that you can get the annual email newsletter delivery.
What have recent St. Olaf German graduates been doing?
Through the Piper Center for Vocation and Career, students can find more information about life after graduation from St. Olaf. The Piper Center has prepared resources profiling recent alumni from the German program, including representative First Destinations and alumni contact information for career networking. St. Olaf German alumni have found their career paths through…
Competitive Postgraduate Fellowships:
USTA Teaching Assistantship, Austria
Martin Luther Schule Guest Teaching Fellow, Rimbach, Germany
Fulbright teaching and research fellowships in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and beyond
International Parliamentary Scholarship, German Bundestag
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)
Graduate Studies:
Deutsche und Englische Linguistik, Leibniz Universität Hannover
Medicinal Chemistry, U. of Minnesota
Sacred Music, U. of Notre Dame
Physics, Michigan State
National and International Administration and Policy, Universität Potsdam
Medicine, Des Moines U.
German, U. of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill / Duke U., Georgetown U.
Law, U. of Minnesota
Political Science, Monterey Institute
Philosophy, U. Iowa
Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, U. of Kansas
Industry, Education and Nonprofit Careers:
Germanic-American Institute, St. Paul, MN
Guy Carpenter, Minneapolis, MN
EPIC, Madison, WI
Faith in Place, Chicago, IL
Immigrant Law Center of MN
Wisconsin Center for Education Research
Institute for Global Studies, U. Minnesota
New Prague High School, MN
Kalamazoo College, MI
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