NU student alumni and their contact information are below!
Consul General Michael Ahrens
Michael Ahrens took up his position as Consul General of Germany in Chicago in August 2023. Before arriving in Chicago he served as Minister Counselor for Security and Defense Policy at the German Embassy in Washington, DC. Prior to that he was the Deputy Head of Division for Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin from 2015 to 2019.
Eva Bosbach, Executive Director at University of Cologne New York Office
Dr. Eva Bosbach is the Executive Director of the University of Cologne New York Office. Born in Prague, she received both her master’s and Ph.D. degree from the University of Cologne. Prior to coming to New York, she was Program Manager at the German Rectors’ Conference in Bonn, Germany, and is author of several comparative studies about doctoral education and the humanities in Germany and the U.S. Dr. Bosbach was awarded NYC Council and NY State Assembly Honorary Citations in 2017 and currently serves on the Boards of the German Centers for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York and San Francisco. In 2024 she received a special recognition certificate as a partner of the NRW-USA Year 2023/2024.
Laura Drost, Associate Director of Student Career Advising
As an Associate Director of Student Career Advising, Laura works with students in the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. Laura also serves on the International Student Committee. Laura joined NCA as a graduate intern in 2016 and started full-time in 2018. Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marquette University and her Master of Education in Counseling, with a concentration in College Student Development, from DePaul University. Additionally, Laura is a licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Prior starting a career in higher education, Laura worked in marketing and advertising for nearly 10 years.Lisa Browning, US Head of Human Resources, Building Maintenance, and IT Infrastructure, Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corp.
Lisa Browning is the US Head of Human Resources, Building Maintenance, and IT Infrastructure at Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation. An experienced leader, she specializes in driving initiatives that optimize the employee experience and enhance organizational development. For over eight years, Lisa has played a pivotal role in growing the company’s Apprenticeship Program, developed in partnership with the German American Chamber of Commerce. Modeled after Germany’s dual-education system, the program focuses on workforce development and cross-training opportunities. Lisa is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture, while optimizing facility and technology operations to maximize organizational performance.
Hanni Geist, DAAD San Fransisco
Hanni Geist is a professional in higher education, fostering exchange between the US and Germany. Originally from Berlin, Hanni now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and represents the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in the San Francisco office. Since 2013, Hanni supports students and researchers to study, intern, and research in Germany. Hanni is responsible for all activities in the Western region of the US. To increase Germany alumni engagement, Hanni created the podcast Coffee Connections to highlight the diverse experiences in and with Germany. Hanni has presented at NAFSA, the Forum on Education, and Diversity Abroad conference on study, intern, and research opportunities in Germany under the lens of DEI. As a professional in the field of International Education, Hanni focuses on topics related to mental health.Andreas Eckstein, Managing Director, Invest in Niedersachsen
Dr. Andreas Eckstein is the Managing Director of Invest in Niedersachsen, bringing in over 15 years of executive experience in international trade. A Ph.D. graduate in Business Administration from the University of Goettingen, Dr. Eckstein’s research focused on intra-industry trade between Germany and the United States, providing him with a deep understanding of transatlantic economic dynamics. In his role, Dr. Eckstein specializes in helping companies successfully expand internationally, with expertise in creating and implementing tailored internationalization strategies. He organizes business delegation trips for US and German companies, assisting them in identifying ideal locations for market entry and expansion. Dr. Eckstein is an author and speaker, contributing articles on innovation, internationalization, and trade, and frequently engaging with audiences on topics surrounding global trade and startup ecosystems.
Stephen Hill, Senior Associate Director for Operations, Office of Fellowships at Northwestern
Steve first came to Northwestern in 2001 for a three-year replacement position in the Bienen School of Music. He moved to the Office of Fellowships, in 2004, where he manages several fellowships competitions and gives grant-writing workshops to unsuspecting graduate students across the campus. He is a longtime fellow in ISRC, makes and plays open-back banjos, is still married to his sweetheart from Tanzania, and both their children are in graduate school.
Aimee (Hein) Goodman, Manager of Recruiting & Consulting Services at GACC Midwest
Aimee Goodman is a Manager of Recruiting & Consulting Services at GACC Midwest and has many years of experience in cross-cultural education and mediation, J-1 visa regulations, student services, and recruiting. Aimee is an alumna of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program and is passionate about promoting cross-cultural relations and understanding, especially between the US and Germany.
Johannes Mario Kahlert, US Executive Vice President Portfolio, Innovation and Sales Enablement at Siemens, Smart Infrastructure Buildings
Johannes Mario Kahlert is the US Head responsible for Portfolio and Sales Enablement of the newly formed Business Unit Smart Infrastructure Buildings. We deliver Solutions, Products, Services, Sustainability and Software to all Verticals in the Building space like Datacenters, Commercial Buildings, Universities, Government or Healthcare institutions. We are a world market leader for Smart Buildings. While Siemens is a German company, the Smart Infrastructure and Buildings HQ is based in Switzerland. The US Business has its Headquarter in Buffalo Grove in the Chicago area.
Mario has been with Siemens for 25 years. He started his career with IBM and Siemens Management Consulting for various Siemens Businesses. He held various roles in Sales, Operations, Strategy and Business Excellence for Digital Industries. In the last 10 years, he has focused on building spaces being globally responsible, especially for the Fire Safety business, and was the head of Building Products in the USA for the last 3 years.
Karin Karl, Senior Director of Education, Siemens Healthineers, Molecular Imaging
Originally from Nürnberg, Germany, Karin moved to the U.S. in 2014. Karin has 15 years’ experience spearheading professional medical development programs and leading corporate marketing and communications teams. Karin currently works for Siemens Healthineers, Molecular Imaging heading Global Education Services. Karin is a Technologist in Radiology, Radiation Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine holding a Master’s degree in Business Organization and an Executive MBA, specializing in General Management. In addition, she also serves as a board member at the German International School Chicago.
Amy Kehoe, Associate Director for Global Education, Office of Fellowships at Northwestern
Amy has worked in higher education, philanthropy, and global engagement for over twenty-five years, including positions with the Open Society Institute and the University of Michigan. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Michigan and an MA in International and Comparative Education from Columbia University. Amy has traveled to more than twenty countries and loves helping Northwestern students go abroad. In her role, Amy helps NU undergraduates, graduate students, and alums identify and apply for external sources of funding to support study, research, and internships.
Moritz Lohmann, Intern at the University of Cologne North America Office in New York
Moritz Lohmann is an intern at the University of Cologne North America Office in New York. At the University of Cologne, he is currently pursuing his graduate studies in Media Aesthetics of German Literature (M.A.). He is a scholarship holder of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and has focused his research on feminist and queer perspectives on German literature with further background in social sciences.
Janka Pieper, Senior Director, Communications and Intercultural Learning, Northwestern
Janka Pieper joined Northwestern in 2010, where she works in marketing and communications focusing on international programming and relations. Janka develops communication plans for global initiatives and internationalization efforts, and drafts executive communications and briefings for university leadership. Her writing portfolio includes coverage of academic programs and opportunities across Germany, France, Serbia, China, South Africa, Cuba, and Mexico. In 2020, Janka co-founded and became the co-director of Northwestern’s Intercultural Learning Initiative, where she facilitates workshops and designs programming on cultural competency and communication for staff, faculty, and students. Before joining Northwestern, Janka led PR and Communications at the German American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago (2006-2010). Born and raised in Germany, she now serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center in Chicago. Janka holds both a BA and MA in Communication from Illinois State University.Jacob Schoofs, Assistant Director for Program and Data Management, Global Learning Office, Northwestern
Jacob Schoofs (he/him) is the Assistant Director for Program & Data Management in Northwestern’s Global Learning office. His lifelong international journey began with a study abroad during high school through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program. This was the catalyst which sparked his deeply rooted passion for international study and exchange. He would later study abroad again by participating in the IES Abroad Language and Area Studies program in Berlin and a year-long professional internship in Hamburg, Germany. He holds a BA from Lake Forest College and a MA/MSc from the Europa-Universität Flensburg. Professionally, he focuses on creating comprehensive and student-focused advising and support, improving data and technology systems, and creating study abroad programming that is accessible and life-changing for all stakeholders.
Jessica Strattard Hamilton, MPPA, CFRE Vice President of Advancement, AFAvH
Jessica Strattard Hamilton serves on the senior leadership team at American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AFAvH), the U.S. partner to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH). In this role, she spearheads initiatives to strengthen academic and cultural ties between the U.S. and Germany and engages over 6,000 US alumni of the Humboldt Foundation. As an advocate for transatlantic collaboration, Jessica shapes strategies to expand the AvH’s US presence, and fosters a vibrant network of supporters and alumni. With her expertise in nonprofit management and fundraising, she cultivates relationships, enhances board engagement, and secures resources to advance the foundation’s mission of promoting international exchange, scientific cooperation, and active alumni involvement.Jessica has an MPPA from Northwestern University, an MA in journalism from Michigan State University, and a BA in political science from the University of Michigan.
Mark Tomkins, President & CEO of GACC Midwest
A Northwestern alumnus of the Minor in Business German, Mark Tomkins is currently the President & CEO of the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
Kate Wahl, Vice President of Account Management, Wagner Fire Safety
Kate Crawford Wahl is the Vice President of Account Management at Wagner Fire Safety in Buffalo Grove, IL. With almost 25 years of experience in the Fire Protection Market, gained during her tenure at Honeywell, Kate has worked with a diverse range of products and held multiple positions. Over the past 1 ½ years, she has been pivotal in spearheading Wagner Fire Safety’s entry of one of their product portfolios into the US market.Kate holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from St. Mary University-MN. She resides in Riverside, IL, with her husband and three children: Connor (16), Erin (14), and Brady (12).