Bounding back to Germany
Erin Billinger ’25 wins Fulbright to teach English
Erin Billinger ’25 has been thinking about this opportunity for a long time. In September, they will begin a 10-month position, teaching in Germany as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.
“I first heard about the Fulbright Program in one of my first German courses at Wheaton,” Billinger said. “It spoke to what I wanted to do after college as someone interested in cross-cultural education.”
The Topsham, Maine, native has been studying German since middle school and spent last spring studying abroad in Regensburg, Germany, the city to which they trace the roots of their father’s family. “I was initially drawn to the language as a way to connect with that part of my heritage,” they shared.
“Being abroad was incredible, meeting people from both Germany and all over the world, and fully immersing myself in a culture that I had studied and thought about for so long.”
Always passionate about education, Billinger has admired their mother’s work as a teacher and recognized the good fortune to have learned from excellent teachers. “They have encouraged me and helped me grow,” they said. “Their support showed me how impactful a dedicated educator can be in a student’s life. I’m really appreciative of that, and hope to take that with me to Germany.”
A double major in international relations and German studies, Billinger has gained much from the past four years at Wheaton. “I built a strong connection with my professors and appreciate Wheaton’s Compass Curriculum and being able to pursue my interests,” they said.
Billinger loved their Study Abroad experience in Germany, and looks forward to returning with the opportunity to create a welcoming atmosphere for English learners.
“I want to be mindful of creating a space where it’s okay to ask questions,” Billinger shared. “And that communication goes both ways. I enjoy sharing ideas and hearing from different perspectives.”
On campus, Billinger was a Study Abroad peer advisor, co-president of the club ice hockey team, house manager of Renaissance House [for femmes of color], and an Admissions tour guide. They also worked as a research assistant in the German Department, where they aimed to support students wanting to learn German with an emphasis on cultural context.
“Through that experience, I designed and built an interactive board game that simulated daily life in Germany,” they explained. “It included practical vocabulary around tasks like shopping or going to the doctors, and seeing how well that was perceived in a beginning German course was really rewarding.”
Recently, Billinger completed Wheaton’s Global Honors Program and was a co-recipient [with Davina Sienkiewicz ’25] of this year’s Hedda Korsch Prize in German Studies. Following completion of the Fulbright grant, they are leaning toward pursuing foreign service work or diplomacy.
“After having consistently great experiences with our Center for Global Education, I’ve also been considering careers in international education or cultural exchange programs,” Billinger said.
Wheaton’s Scholar Development Advisory Committee (SDAC) supports students and recent alumni in applying for a wide range of competitive fellowship opportunities. For more information, visit our Fellowship & Scholarship Development website or email SDAC Coordinator, Professor Winter Jade Werner.