German as a foreign language is offered at nearly 4,000 educational institutions in the United States, making it one of the most widely taught languages. But how have demographic and political changes affected language learning in the US? Using a data-driven approach, Michael examines who is learning German, what motivates them, and, above all, the following question: Who wants to learn German but lacks access to it?

No registration is required for this free event. This presentation will be given in German.

Michael R. Shaughnessy, PhD, is a 2026—27 US Fulbright Specialist and the executive director of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), where he leads national efforts to expand and innovate multilingual and intercultural education across the United States. Combining more than two decades of higher education leadership, previously serving as professor of German, department chair, associate dean, and senior international officer, Michael has built an extensive track record in faculty-led international education, institutional strategy, and public scholarship. A two-time Fulbright fellow in Austria and France, he directs a digital humanities initiative documenting memorials to the victims of National Socialism through geospatial mapping and open-access data. He completed his doctorate in Germanic languages and literatures at the University of Cincinnati and executive leadership training at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, serving on numerous international boards dedicated to educational exchange, language policy, and transatlantic collaboration.