Global Studies Major, Sarah Gerwens Defends Thesis, Wins Library Award

The Global Studies and Geography department is pleased to announce that on Thursday, May 18, 2017 Sarah Gerwens successfully defended her Honors Thesis: “Anglicism – Nein Danke? Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Occurrence and Usage of English Loanwords in Contemporary German(y),”  where she investigated the usage and perception of Anglicism in contemporary German(y).  In analyzing existing academic literature, popular publications about the German language, and the arguments of self-proclaimed German protectors, she came to the conclusion that German is not helplessly being overwhelmed by English-language influence and, thus, it does not need to be protected or purified.

Additionally, she was awarded the Hofstra Library Undergraduate Library Research Award which recognizes excellence in academic research by a graduating senior.  This is the third time in seven years that one of our graduates has received this distinguished honor.

While a student here at Hofstra, Sarah was actively involved, peer teaching in the department, serving as a global mentor and on the hiring committee for the new director of International Student Affairs.  She was President of Hofstra Model UN, Treasurer of Get Global, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Honors College and also worked as a student aide in the Philosophy/Religion department.

Sarah is interning for a German politician in the European Parliament this summer before heading to London in September where she will pursue an MSc in “Global Europe: Culture and Conflict” at the London School of Economics.

Congratulations Sarah!