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About Dr. Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand

A researcher in medieval German literature and Arthurian legends, Dr. Alexandra Hellenbrand is professor of German and Global Studies at Appalachian State University.  She was the inaugural director of Appalachian’s global studies program from 2008-2017 and she teaches German language and culture in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Through the courses she teaches and the study abroad programs she leads, Hellenbrand is skilled in helping students develop intercultural competencies and the ability to find common ground amid various perspectives and experiences. She has taught abroad in Germany and in Austria.  In addition, Hellenbrand also has been instrumental in developing Appalachian’s Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) initiative that helps add a greater international dimension to courses campus wide. She is the author of the 2001 book “Topographies of Gender in Middle High German Arthurian Romance.” She has another manuscript under review, entitled “Medieval Literature on Display: Heritage and Culture in Modern Germany.”

Areas of Expertise
German language, literature and culture
Music and culture
Medieval culture
Study abroad as student and as teacher
Global studies and the value of knowing foreign language
Arthurian legends and popular culture
King Arthur in movies, art, literature and young adult literature
Grimms Fairy tales, their history and interpretation over time
Fairy tales and popular culture in the US and Europe
German, Austrian, and American cultures

Positions

Present Faculty Member, Appalachian State University Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
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Present Faculty Member, Appalachian State University College of Arts and Sciences
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Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Faculty Advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, Appalachian State University, 2014
  • Appalachian Global Leadership Award 2016

Courses

  • HON 3515 King Arthur
  • GER 3500 Green Germany
  • GLS 4100 Borders and Walls
  • GER 3021 Marchen
  • GER 1040 Intermediate German

Education

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M.A., University of Wisconsin - Madison ‐ German
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Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University ‐ German
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B.A., University of Rochester ‐ English
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Contact Information

hellenbranda@appstate.edu
828-262-7225


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Research Works (12)