McGlynn ’11 Awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany

Thomas McGlynn ’11, of Philadelphia, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany, where he will teach English to German high school students. He leaves for the country in early September.

A music and German double major, McGlynn is well acquainted with Germany and teaching English. He spent his junior year abroad at Otto-Friedrich University in Bamberg, where he taught English as a second language to 11th graders at the Dientzenhofer Gymnasium in Bamberg. He also provided editing and translational support to two German professors.

“During my study abroad experience, I fell in love with Germany and became passionate about German-American cultural exchange. Studying in Germany crystallized my career aspirations,” he said.

McGlynn’s career aspirations include working as a German professor and directing a study abroad office to help promote cultural immersion and discussion among American students.

At Holy Cross, McGlynn is chair of the music department’s Student Advisory Committee, the principal trumpet for the Holy Cross Chamber Orchestra, and an intramural soccer player. He also tutors African immigrants and refugees with the African Community Education Program through Holy Cross’ Student Programs for Urban Development, and is the co-founder of the Holy Cross chapter of Peace Around the World.

Each year approximately 1,000 college students are awarded grants through the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship program in international educational exchange. Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program’s inception in 1946, more than 250,000 participants — chosen for their leadership potential — have had the opportunity to observe each other’s political, economic and cultural institutions.

Read about this year's other Holy Cross Fulbright Grant recipients: Francesca Bruzzese ’11, Jennifer Caffrey '11, Kerry Drury ’11, Kristen Dunlap '08, Herma Gjinko '11, William Grebe ’11, Jamie McCarthy '11, Abigail Chorlton Riskind ’11 and Kathryn Simison '11.

By Rachel Salemme ’12