About Hans-Peter
Principal Academic Advisor
From 1994 until 2022 he had been the Institute Director of the Junior Year in Munich subprogram at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität. In 1997 he was appointed Adj. Assoc. Prof. and in 2007 adj. Prof. in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Wayne State University (USA). Hans-Peter Söder is a member of the Bavarian America Academy; Consulting Editor of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas and a member of the Munich Harvard Club. An honorary member of the Norwegians in Bavaria, he has been chairman of the James Loeb Society since 2020. On the board of the Freunde der Buchdruckwerkstatt eV, he is also archivist of the Bavarian Canoe Association. Hans-Peter Söder lives in Munich and, time permitting, in Sweden on Söderholm.
Bernd Mayer
Bernd´s favorite quote:
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Prof. Hans-Peter Söder, Ph.D. Picture by Polly Werner
About Bernd
Marketing & Outreach
To develop visionary innovations and spaces of opportunity, and to convincingly accompany bold projects from conception to operational implementation and drive them forward is what he works for every day with a lot of verve. Creating sustainable experiences with impact in a fast-moving world of dramatic digital and cultural changes. He believes, that ethical and cultural values, as beauty, behavior, responsibility and creating shared value are important KPI´s for every project if we talk about strategy, communication, product and design.
Today he is greatful having been able to make once-in-a lifetime experiences during the last years. He started with fulfilling a dream as passionate sailor. As participant of the ARC bluewater yacht race he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, stayed, living and working at Southern Antilles, and Morocco, consulting of NGO´s & social entrepreneurs in Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Afghanistan and Marrakesh.
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What can students expect?Meet and work with inspiring, like-minded people from all over the world. Learn the German language and getting insights into German culture. Acquire a sound knowledge of the grand societal and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Gain insights into the work of coaches, entrepreneurs, and local craftsmen, who will share their personal stories with you. Project work - Develop your own sustainable vision in small teams guided by highly dedicated academics, makers, and coaches. Enjoy an extraordinary time in the unique ambiance of the Abbey Ettal and its stunning natural surroundings of the Bavarian Alps. Explore hidden places, nature, and people, climbing, hiking expeditions into nature and culture. Establishing a pioneer collective. Connect and interact with students from all over the world and take part in a rich cultural exchange.
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What we expect from you?The Alpine Summer Academy School is more intellectually demanding than most ordinary study abroad programs. It requires above all a future sighted mindset, a motivation to pursue sustainable ideas with impact and questioning the status quo.
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Who can participate?A certain maturity is required to live abroad. Hence applications will be accepted only from those students who: Will have completed at least one year of university or college before the date the EAA course begins Are in good academic and disciplinary standing Students should have an interest in learning the German language and culture Students with previous German language training are especially encouraged to apply
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How can students apply?First Step: Apply online. To complete your application, you will also need to send us the following: Unofficial transcripts of your current institution. A letter of recommendation by someone familiar with your work and interests. Brief personal statement (1 page about yourself and why you are interested in studying abroad). A 200.00€ non-refundable application fee, All documents should be e-mailed to info@eaa-ettal.com. Please note that your application will not be official until we will have received all required documentation and fees. The 200.00 € non-refundable application should be wired and made out to “James Loeb Gesellschaft”: James Loeb Gesellschaft VR-Bank i.L.K. GAP IBAN: DE 157039 0000 0001 8268 83 BIC: GENODEF1GAP
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What fees can be expected?Please note that all fees are calculated in euros (€). The estimated fees below are for students who intend to apply to EAA independently. EAA Summer School total fee is 6,200 € (from June 13 - July 11, 2025) This includes the 200 € admission deposit, tuition, housing in Munich, Ettal, Murnau and mountain cabins (incl. breakfast, lunch & dinner), all local transportation, the activity fee (all entrance fees, equipment rental & materials.) Travel Health Insurance is mandatory (not included) Travel costs to Munich not included. Optional EAA Deep Dive Week total fee is 1,600 € (from July 12 – July 30, 2025) This includes tuition, housing (including breakfast, lunch & dinner), local transportation (bicycle rental, including all ferries), all museums and all activities. Travel health insurance is mandatory (not included) Limited financial support & stipends are available. Travel costs to Munich not included.
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What about scholarships?We will offer a limited number of scholarships. More details are coming soon. Louis N. Kurs Scholarship “He was not a traveller, but he liked to have travelled.” Louis N. Kurs was a tutor at St. John`s College, Annapolis (USA). The scholarship is funded by an anonymous former student of St. John`s College. Alfred L. Cobbs Scholarship “He transcended racial barriers by being an outstanding teacher of German.” Dr. Alfred L. Cobbs is Associate Professor of German Emeritus at Wayne State University. The scholarship is being funded by Carl-Gustav Söder.
About Nina
Architect
Nina Cackovic is a Chicago-trained architect, currently based in Munich, Germany. In over 10 years of experience, Nina has worked on a number of educational, residential, and commercial projects in the United States and Germany. Notably, in 2019, Nina won a public competition for a city master plan in her home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nina believes in architecture that serves individual human experience and emotional spectrums and in her daily practice, tries to shift the narrative away from development-based architecture and towards slower and more sensible building culture. In this sense, sustainability for Nina is not just a discourse of how we should treat our environment and reduce our impact - for Nina, the sustainable future lies in changing our pedagogies in elementary, higher, and daily education. Relationship with our environment forms at an early age and grows throughout our life. Thus, working towards instilling a deeper sensibility and knowledge of our surroundings, naturally reflects the way we see our world and ultimately how we choose to build in it.
Nina Cackovic
Alexander Trommler
About Alexander
Artist
As his German father once excitedly and not incorrectly translated to an American friend, Alex is in Glass. An unbroken development since 2000, Alex is as familiar with the glass workshop, as with developing and fabricating architectural scale projects. In this relationship, he is particularly interested in exploring light, color, shadow, and the sculptural contexts within unique architecture, and environments. Alex studied Studio Arts at Alfred University (BFA and BA 2006) and Southern Illinois University (MFA 2012), focusing on hot and cold glass techniques and sculpture. Participating in a semester exchange program at JYM in 2005, he was introduced to the Munich-based international public art fabricator for an internship, a company he would join as a project manager in 2018.
About Jake
Alpine Tour Guide
Grüß Gott and greetings from beautiful Bavaria. Following my Junior Year in Munich and undergraduate studies, I found myself just south of the Bavarian capital in scenic Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s here where I started Bavaria & Beyond Tours along with a fellow Michigander living abroad. Several years and one pandemic later, we still specialize in group tours and custom itineraries to Bavaria… and beyond. When I’m not in the office or out on tour, I enjoy a range of mountain sports, skating with a local ice hockey club, and most of all, spending time with my beautiful wife and our two children ages 2 & 5. https://bavariaandbeyond.com/
Nina Cackovic
Jake Krengel
About Lina
Lina Maier
Coach
Her passion for books led her to study German Studies in 2015, which she completed with a Bachelor's degree in German Linguistics and Literature and Ancient Near Eastern Studies. In addition, Lina Maier worked as a trainer and coach in Freiburg for four years. In addition to designing and conducting seminars and workshops, she also held many, including moving, one-on-one coaching sessions
About Armin
Student Political Science
Servus, my name is Armin and I live in Munich. There I study political science and history at the LMU. I love the mountains of course because of the nature, but also to find peace and freedom there. The Alps are the perfect place for me to relax and do sports. Besides, there is nothing better than the first sip of wheat beer when you arrive exhausted at the top of the hut!
Armin Söder
About Renee
Teacher
Renee is a Junior Year in Munich alumna who teaches English at a language school in Munich. Her interests include languages and linguistics (in particular German and Finnish), reading and inline skating. She has been living in Germany for 14 years.
Renee Remy
About Elisabeth
Psychologist, Ph.D.
Elisabeth Punzi is a licensed psychologist, specialized in clinical psychology and in neuropsychology, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology and is an associate professor in humanistic psychology. She is a lecturer at the Department of social work, University of Gothenburg, where she also is the director of doctoral studies. She directs the work with cultural heritage and wellbeing at the Center for Critical Heritage Studies (CCHS), a center devoted to interdisciplinary studies concerning material and immaterial heritage, established in collaboration between University of Gothenburg and University College London.
Before entering academia, Elisabeth was a rock musician, and she finds immense pleasure in various forms of rock and folk music as well as in her cocker spaniel Penny.
Armin Söder
Elisabeth Punzi
Lina Maier
Dr. med. Frank Werner
Foto: Polly Werner
About Frank
Coach
Dr. med. Frank Werner is a passionate hiker and mountain climber. When he is not seen near a peak, he sings in one of Munich`s choirs. It has also happened that he has been heard singing in his practice early in the morning.
About Jonas
Language lecturer & curator
Jonas Bokelmann studied Comparative Literature, Scandinavian Studies, and Modern and Contemporary History and is currently completing his dissertation on "Icelandic Exile and Resistance in the Late Works of Albert Daudistel" at the Universities of Munich and Reykjavík. His main areas of interest are exile literature, utopia and science fiction, working-class literature, and everyday and popular culture theory. He currently works as a language lecturer in Icelandic and as a curator and presenter of the reading series "Werk[statt] Literatur". He also writes poetry and occasional reviews.
Jonas Bokelmann
Bridget Gallagher
About Bridget
Assistant
She is an alumna of Junior Year in Munich and has recently received her degree in International Studies and German. Having spent the past four years in Washington D.C, she is excited to come back and photograph all the beauty the Alps have to offer. In her free time, Bridget likes to hike, play guitar, and explore surrounding areas. A sunrise hike in the Berchtesgadener Alps inspired her to find a way to pursue her passions of photography and cultural exchange. Looking forward to our adventure this summer!