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GASOP 2022-2025

148 Workshops, 73 Schulen, mehr als 3300 Schüler_innen

SOPHIA ELLERKMANN · MORITZBURG

My name is Sophia Ellerkmann, I am from Baltimore, Maryland, and I am currently serving as an English Teaching Assistant in Moritzburg, just outside of Dresden, at the Kurfürst-Moritz-Schule. I graduated from Denison University in 2024 with a dual degree in Global Health and Environmental Studies, along with a minor in German. I currently live in Dresden and have applied for a second year as an English Teaching Assistant in the region. I have long been passionate about international relations and global issues. Particularly the health and environmental injustices and inequalities that exist worldwide. As I continue to navigate my future career path, I remain open to learning, growing, and exploring opportunities in global and public health, environmental studies, and international relations.

GIGI GALANTHAY · LEIPZIG

Gigi is a second-semester Master’s student at Leipzig University studying Mathematics. She grew up in Ithaca, New York and graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from College of the Holy Cross in 2024. Last year, she worked at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, where she developed a game-theoretic model to explain misinformation. Gigi enjoys rock climbing, playing bridge, and spending time outdoors.

KIRA GRAVES · LEIPZIG

My name is Kira and I am currently a second year English Teaching Assistant at the Susanna Eger Berufschule and the Karl Heine Berufliches Gymnasium in Leipzig. I spent my first year at the Goethe Gymnasium in Reichenbach im Vogtland. I am from Arcadia, California and graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in German. After my second year as a teaching assistant, I hope to get a Master’s in International Relations in Germany. In my free time, I enjoy running around Leipzig to explore, and traveling to neighboring countries.

ROSS KILPATRICK · DRESDEN

Ross Kilpatrick is from Salt Lake City, Utah. He studied Philosophy and Math at Amherst College and is currently working as an English Teaching Assistant in Dresden.

SASHA USHER · LEIPZIG

Sasha is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College, where he studied German and music. His research focused on audience diversification across symphony orchestras in the United States, with an emphasis on community engagement and expanding access to the arts. He has worked as an educator in a variety of settings, including classroom instruction, tutoring, ski instructing, and teaching violin, experiences that have shaped his interest in creative and interdisciplinary learning. Currently based in Leipzig, Sasha plays violin with the Leipzig Musikverein and takes Polish courses at Leipzig University to further develop his German and Polish language skills. In his free time, he can often be found reading in Leipzig’s parks, running through the city, or sitting in on the occasional animal science class.

CHARLOTTE WALTERS · LEIPZIG

Charlotte Walters is a second year English Teaching Assistant from Charlottesville, Virginia. Currently, she is teaching at the BSZ für Agrarwirtschaft und Ernährung in Dresden. Before moving to Dresden this past September, Charlotte spent her Fulbright year working at an Oberschule in Mittweida, located outside of Chemnitz. Charlotte graduated from William & Mary in 2024 with a B.A in environmental policy and German studies. While at William & Mary, she led outdoor trips for the campus recreation program and had a radio show. In her free time, Charlotte loves hiking in the Sächsische Schweiz and exploring Dresden. She has really enjoyed her two years spent teaching across Saxony and is grateful for all of the cross-cultural opportunities it has presented.

RHIANNON WILKINSON · LEIPZIG

Rhiannon Wilkinson is a Fulbright ETA living and working in Leipzig in Saxony. She is originally from Charleston, South Carolina but grew up for eight years in Germany as a child. She recently graduated in 2025 from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in International Studies and German where her research focused on Cold War histories and contemporary national security issues. In her free time, Rhiannon has started a running group to discover the city with the non-profit organization "Leipzig helps Ukraine" which supports Ukrainians living in or moving to Leipzig. Aside from that, her interests lie in international wartime histories, supporting refugee and migrant populations, and now also learning French.

ARIANA YAMASAKI · DÖBELN

Ariana Yamasaki is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant working at Lessing-Gymnasium and Grundschule Döbeln-Ost. There, she organizes an after-school English club and a philosophy club. As an ETA, Ariana enjoys engaging students in discussions on complex topics ranging from American foreign policy and current events to identity and feminism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy and earned her Abitur from the German International School of Silicon Valley. Ariana was born and raised in California. Following her time as an ETA, she plans to pursue a master’s degree at Georgetown University. In her free time, Ariana enjoys participating in a local book club, playing soccer, and painting.

MCKENZIE NELSON · LICHTENTANNE

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Lichtentanne.

McKenzie Nelson grew up in Nebraska and now lives near Zwickau in Saxony. She graduated with a B.A. in German and global studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023, where her research focused on the field of linguistics. Currently, she is working as an English Teaching Assistant at a gymnasium in Rodewisch, Germany. Outside of the classroom, McKenzie is enjoying traveling more, getting to hike in the mountains, and trying pastries from the bakery right next to her apartment. 

SUKAINAH ABID-KONS · LEIPZIG

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Leipzig.

​​Sukainah Abid is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and works as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Leipzig. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from Agnes Scott College, where she also studied German and was an active member of the German Club. During college, Sukainah worked as an intern and freelance reporter for several newspapers as she pursued her interest in writing and journalism.

DECLAN SANDER · BRANDENBERG

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Brandenberg.

Hallo zusammen! I am Declan, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at OSZ Gebrüder Reichstein in Brandenburg an der Havel. I am from Western North Carolina, and graduated from Wake Forest University this past May with a B.A. in English and German. My interests jumped around in college, from creative writing, to 19th century German literature, and finally to Old English, but my fascination with reading in educational contexts has held strong throughout. As a School Outreach Fellow, I will investigate the spectrum of regulated literature in public education, from “required reading” to “banned books.” After another year (either here, as an English Teaching Assistant, or in the US as a legal assistant in discovery) I will pursue a PhD in Medieval Studies, focusing on the literature of early England. I spend my free time reading everything I possibly can, visiting the historical sites I’ve read too much about, biking when it’s flat, and hiking when it’s not.

JACOB CAMDEN · MAGDEBURG

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Magdeburg.

Jacob is an English Teaching Assistant working at Norbertusgymnasium in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt. He grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, and studied philosophy, literature, and languages at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. After his time in Europe he aims to return to the U.S. for a PhD in philosophy—career thereafter to be determined. He hopes in his GASOP workshops to explore with students the tension between majority rule and individual and minority rights and liberties, both in the American context and in democratic societies in general. He is grateful and excited to be able to work with eastern German students through GASOP.

ABBI LESNICK · FINSTERWALDE

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Finsterwalde.

Hi there! My name is Abbi Lesnick and I am from Des Moines, Iowa. I am currently working as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at the Sängerstadt Gymnasium in Finsterwalde as well as the Oberschule in Massen. I have a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in global studies with a concentration in geopolitics and global economies as well as minors in both German and political science. After I finish my year as a Fulbright ETA, I plan to return to the United States in order to pursue a career with the Department of State working in foreign policy. In my free time, I like going hiking with my friends and my dog, Bosco, as well as reading and quilt making! My favorite thing by far to do though is travel, so far I have visited 23 countries and can't wait to visit more. I am so excited for the opportunity to interact with more students and discuss topics that I am passionate about with them. 

KATE EISENHUTT · CHEMNITZ

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Chemnitz.

Kate is a Fulbright English Teaching assistant at the Förderzentrum "Georg Götz"-Schule mit dem Förderschwerpunkt Hören in Chemnitz. Growing up as the daughter of a piano teacher in Liberty, Missouri, she became fond of multiple genres spanning the musical sphere, including conscious wave rap, avant-garde art song, acid jazz, and indie folk. She received dual undergraduate degrees in German and music composition from Valparaiso University in December 2022, and hopes to use her degrees and experiences in the Fulbright program to start a nonprofit offering affordable music lessons to impoverished communities. She takes a keen interest in music writing, piano performance, hiking, cooking, and learning German sign language from the children that she helps to teach.

SHANNON SCOTT · LEIPZIG

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Leipzig.

My name is Shannon Scott, and I am a first-year teaching assistant at the Werner- Heisenberg-Gymnasium in Leipzig. I was born and raised in Lakeland, a city in Florida that’s close to Orlando, and attended the University of Florida. In 2023, I graduated with a degree in history, a double-minor in German and religion, and a certificate in Holocaust studies. My research at UF focused on Holocaust history and German queer history, and I intend to continue with both subjects as well as learn more about disability history as a PhD student at Ohio State University. In Germany, I’ve enjoyed traveling to as many cities as I can with the Deutschlandticket, playing Dungeons & Dragons, searching for the best Mexican restaurant (so far, it’s Moctezuma in Mainz), researching at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, and comparing life and culture in Germany and the U.S.

RICK SMALLSHAW · DRESDEN

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Dresden.

Rick Smallshaw is a recent graduate of the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia, holding a degree in European history with a concentration in English literary studies. While in college, Rick served as an academic writing tutor and taught beginner music lessons in violin and viola performance. He is currently conducting his Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship at the St.-Benno-Gymnasium in Dresden, Saxony. In the classroom, Rick enjoys engaging students with literary topics and discussing the impact of books and authors on society, particularly regionally specific or "homegrown" authors from both his native Virginia and from middle and eastern Germany. His goals in the classroom are to introduce students to the personal benefits of reading and to exemplify literature's impact on popular culture and its importance to cross-cultural competency.

ELEANOR THOMPSON · WITTENBERG

German-American School Outreach Fellow in Wittenberg.

Hallo! My name is Ellie Thompson, and I am currently living in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Sachsen-Anhalt where I work as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at the Luther-Melanchthon-Gymnasium. I was born and raised in Carmel, Indiana and moved to Florence, Alabama where I graduated in 2023 from the University of North Alabama with a B.S.Ed. in history education and a B.A. in German language and culture. In university, I became interested in the impact of language learning and began looking into ways to incorporate this learning about different languages and cultures into different classroom settings. I’m very excited to continue focusing on the impact of learning about different cultures and languages as a School Outreach Fellow! Outside of the classroom, I enjoy reading all kinds of books, watching movies, visiting museums, and exploring as much  of Germany and Europe as I can. After my Fulbright grant, I plan to return to the U.S. to teach both history and German as well as to pursue a master’s degree in English as a Second Language or German.