Tristen Wendling (BA German ’25) is the recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Germany for 2026–27.
Hometown: Riverside, Iowa
Could you give us a brief synopsis of what you plan do with your Fulbright?
From September 2026 to June 2027, I will teach English in Bavaria, Germany, while engaging with the local community and working on my supplementary project. My specific placement is still to be determined.
How do you envision this will influence your life and future career?
As simple as it sounds, my time with Fulbright will strengthen my German and help me become more comfortable with different dialects. This, in turn, will allow me to build more genuine connections and foster mutual understanding across cultures in Germany.
What advice do you have for students interested in applying for a Fulbright?
Be a moldable piece of clay—open to advice and criticism, no matter how attached you are to your ideas. The support at Iowa is there to help you grow into the strongest candidate possible, and that feedback comes from a place of genuine care and insight.
Were there experiences at the University of Iowa that inspired you to pursue a Fulbright?
Both the Leona Zaharis Scholarship and my participation in the Academic Year in Freiburg (AYF) program led me to pursue a Fulbright. The scholarship’s emphasis on exploring the world, combined with AYF’s focus on full cultural immersion in Germany, pushed me toward deeper personal and professional growth through daily life abroad. While in Freiburg, I also began teaching English, which strengthened my interest in teaching and solidified my path toward becoming a Fulbright applicant.
Are there individuals you’d like to thank for their investment in this process?
I would like to thank my three letter-of-recommendation writers—Dr. Elke Heckner, Dr. Glenn Ehrstine, and Emily Wolfe, assistant director of orientation services—for taking the time to support my application and for helping prepare me to serve as a thoughtful cultural ambassador and an engaging, approachable instructor. I would also like to thank Sylvia Dean and Karen Wachsmuth for their generous and insightful guidance throughout the application process.
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