Hoecherl-Alden Wins Brooks Award
Gisela Hoecherl-Alden, Assistant Dean and Director of Language Instruction, is the recipient of the Nelson Brooks Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Culture from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
The Nelson Brooks award recognizes individuals who have “contributed significantly to the teaching of culture in the foreign language classroom” whose impact has been “felt over an extended period of time” by “a large number of individuals.” The citation from the ACTFL prize selection committee describes Gisela as epitomizing the spirit of the award: “an outstanding teacher of culture and intercultural competence…a highly effective and caring mentor of students, and one who has inspired many to become language teachers themselves.”
In addition to her role as an assistant dean, Gisela is a Professor of the Practice in German, in the World Languages & Literatures Department (WLL) at BU. She was nominated for the award by her colleagues in the American Association of Teachers of German and then chosen as the winner at the national level on the strength of an extensive portfolio of letters of support and materials demonstrating the quality of her teaching, mentorship, and publications. The award was announced last Friday at the ACTFL national conference.
Gisela tells us, “I am very thankful that WLL and BU have supported me in so many ways and I know this has allowed me to make the kind of national impact this award recognizes.”