Center for German and European Studies

20th Anniversary

Reflecting on the Past, Envisioning the Future: The Center for German & European Studies at Brandeis Turns 20

The Center for German and European Studies celebrated its 20th anniversary Oct. 6-7, 2018. The event included lively panel discussions with faculty experts and guests who explored challenges and changes in Germany, Europe and the United States.

Sabine von Mering standing in front of the CGES banner

Keynote Address

Emily Haber
German Ambassador to the United States

Program

Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018

5 p.m.

Welcoming Reception

5:30 p.m.

Emcee: Oliver Koch ’21

Welcome: CGES Director Sabine von Mering

6-9 p.m.

Festive Gala Dinner

Remarks: Brandeis University President Ronald D. Liebowitz

Keynote Address: German Ambassador Emily Haber

Followed by a Conversation with Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel

Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018

9-9:15 a.m.

A Hitchhiker’s Guide through two Decades [video presentation]

9:15-9:30 a.m.

Welcome: Brandeis Provost Lisa M. Lynch

9:30-10:45 a.m.

Panel I: Germany Today: Migration, Integration, Innovation
Germany is changing rapidly. As one of the most successful Western industrialized economies it is faced with demographic changes, aging, and the transformation of many sectors. What can we learn from this process? What are signs of successful transformation vs signs of distress? How does German culture evolve as a consequence of these rapid changes?

Panelists:

  • Jennifer Miller (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)
  • Deniz Göktürk (University of California, Berkeley)
  • Birgit Glorius (Technische Hochschule Chemnitz)
  • Cynthia Porter (Vanderbilt University)
  • Moderator: Diana Filar (Brandeis University)

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Panel II: Germany’s Role in the European Union and the Transatlantic Relationship: 1998 vs 2018 and Beyond
How has Germany’s role in Europe shifted between 1998 and 2018? What does it mean?What effects will Brexit and right-wing populism have? How is the EU currently dealing with these challenges and what will likely happen in the coming years?

Panelists:

  • Can Erbil (Boston College)
  • George Ross (University of Montreal, Brandeis University, and formerly Brandeis CGES)
  • Vivien Schmidt (Boston University)
  • Nils Ringe ’00 (University of Wisconsin, Madison)

Moderator:

  • Lucy Goodhart (Brandeis University)

1:45-3:15 p.m.

Panel III: The Future of Holocaust Education
As the 21st century advances, research shows that the memory of the Holocaust begins to fade. How can educational initiatives counter this “forgetting”? How can we teach the Holocaust and its lessons to diverse societies without the help of survivors’ eyewitness accounts?

Panelists:

  • Laura Jockusch (Brandeis University)
  • Andrea Löw (Holocaust Research Center, Munich)
  • Sultan Doughan (CGES Brandeis)
  • Lukas Welz (AMCHA Germany)

Moderator:

  • Jon Levisohn (Brandeis University)

3:30-4:45 p.m.

Panel IV: From Germany to CGES Brandeis to the World: Alumni Tackling the Challenges of the Future
From climate change to water security to financial crises - the current generation of students faces a future of immense challenges. How are young global leaders from among our CGES alumni taking them on? What work are they doing, how did they choose these particular paths, and what excites them about the future?

Panelists:

  • Henry Charrabe, MA’00, IBS MA’01 (Fluence Corporation)
  • Kai-Moritz Keller ’07 (World Economic Forum)
  • Ingrid Schulte ’13 (Climate Focus)
  • Arina Lô Chithavong-Lester, MA’15 (Community Preservation and Development)

Moderator:

  • Aneil Tripathy ’12, MA’15 (Brandeis University)

Event Photos

Musicians Annegret Klaua, MFA'09 on violin and Yun Lee on piano performing at the welcome reception.

Musicians Annegret Klaua, MFA'09 on violin and Yun Lee on piano

A group of 4 students and CGES alumni chatting during the reception. From left to right: Leonie Koch ’16, Jonathan Jackson '16, Emma Gutman '18 and Helena Voltmer ’18

Former CGES student staff assistants Leonie Koch ’16, Jonathan Jackson '16, Emma Gutman '18 and Helena Voltmer ’18

Panelist Kai Keller '07 and Sophie Keller talk with CGES Director Sabine von Mering at the welcome reception, all with big smiles.

Panelist Kai Keller '07, Sophie Keller and Sabine von Mering

Maurice Windley '19 and guest George King speaking at the reception

Maurice Windley '19 and George King

A group of guests engaging in conversation at the reception
President Ron Liebowitz, Theresa Weis '20, Angelika Weis-Amon and Johannes Weis at the reception, posing for a pciture

President Ron Liebowitz, Theresa Weis '20, Angelika Weis-Amon and Johannes Weis

Professor Detlev Suderow '70 of the International Business School speaks with guest Jonathan Joffe

Professor Detlev Suderow '70 of the International Business School speaks with guest Jonathan Joffe

CGES group photo

CGES group photo

Emily Haber, German Ambassador to the U.S., Sabine von Mering, CGES Director and Ron Leibowitz, Brandeis President posing in front of the CGES banner

Emily Haber, German Ambassador to the U.S., CGES Director Sabine von Mering and Brandeis President Ron Liebowitz

CGES student assistants Oliver Koch '20, Alexander Holtmann '21 and Paul Jiang '21 pose for a picture in front of the CGES banner

CGES student assistants Oliver Koch '20, Alexander Holtmann '21 and Paul Jiang '21

Ambassador Emily Haber speaking to a group of Brandeis students and alumni, including Margo Worman-Heller '20, Julia Karr '19, Priyanka Grover '18 and Tamar Forman-Gejrot ’16.

Ambassador Emily Haber speaking to Brandeis students and alumni

Panelists Nils Ringe ’01 and Henry J. Charrabé MA ’99, IBS MA’01 engaged in a conversation at the welcome reception.

Panelists Nils Ringe ’01 and Henry J. Charrabé MA ’99, IBS MA’01

Professor Lisa Fishbayn Joffe and Jonathan Joffe pose for the camera with radiant smiles.

Jonathan Joffe and Professor Lisa Fishbayn Joffe

CGES Director Sabine von Mering speaking at the podium

Sabine von Mering, CGES Director

Oliver Koch ’20, emcee, at the podium

Oliver Koch ’20, emcee

Sabine von Mering, Emily Haber and all the guests holding their glasses up for a toast

Sabine von Mering and Emily Haber

Emily Haber at the podium

German Ambassador Emily Haber

A long view of the festive gala dinner with people seated at banquet tables and Ambassador Haber speaking from the podium

Ambassador Haber delivering the keynote address during the festive gala dinner

Professor Nancy Scott and guest Martin Newhouse at the festive gala dinner

Professor Nancy Scott and Martin Newhouse

Physics Professor James Bensinger speaking with a guest at the festive gala dinner

Professor James Bensinger

Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel and Sabine von Mering in a conversation about antisemitism and right-wing populism.

Sonja Lahnstein-Kandel and Sabine von Mering

Guest Angelika Weis-Amon posing a question to the speakers

Guest Angelika Weis-Amon posing a question to the speakers

Professor Anjeana Hans and Provost Lisa Lynch in conversation with others at a banquet table.

Professor Anjeana Hans and Provost Lisa M. Lynch

A view of people seated at tables listening to the presentation
Provost Lisa Lynch speaking from the podium

Brandeis Provost Lisa M. Lynch

Jennifer Miller speaking at podium accompanied by slides during a panel discussion. Seated panelists to her left are Cynthia Porter and Diana Filar.

Left to right: Cynthia Porter, Diana Filar and Jennifer Miller

Audience seated at tables listening to the panel discussion, including Heidi McAllister, panelist Tamar Forman-Gejrot ’16 and Theresa Weis '20 on the right.

Heidi McAllister, panelist Tamar Forman-Gejrot ’16 and Theresa Weis '20 at the table in the foreground. Jonathan Jackson ’16 in the background.

Mennon Gordon '19 watching the panel discussion

Mennon Gordon '19

Panelist Cynthia Porter speaking from the podium

Cynthia Porter

A woman in the audience posing a question to the panel
Two women watching the presentation. The one on the right has a name tag that says Yael Melman.
Professor Lucy Goodhart speaking from the podium.

(Left to right): Panelists George Ross, Nils Ringe '01, Can Erbil, Vivien Schmidt and at the podium is Lucy Goodhart.

Panelist Nils Ringe '01 speaking during a panel discussion

Nils Ringe '01

Panelist Viven Schmidt speaking at a panel discussion

Vivien Schmidt

Professor Can Erbil speaking during a panel discussion

Prof. Can Erbil

A view of the festive gala dinner place settings with entree, dinner rolls and a dessert plate of chocolate and berries