DrMonica Tempian

Associate Professor Monica Tempian has taught German language, literature and culture since 1996, first as a PhD trainee and assistant of Professor Hans-Jürgen Schrader at Geneva University, and since 2006 at Victoria University of Wellington.

Monica’s research focuses on the inter-related areas of Diaspora and Exile Studies, Memory Studies, Multicultural Literatures and German-Hebrew Studies. The international reach and interdisciplinary orientation of her work is suggested by her book publications, which include an 865-page annotated complete edition of poetry by award-winning author Manfred Winkler (2017); a co-edited volume of scholarly essays on the war-time experiences of children in Nazi-occupied Europe, and the forced displacement of child refugees (2016); an authored book on art in exile (2015); an authored book on German dream literature (2005); as well as many journal articles and book chapters. All these publications aim to spur continued engagement with forced migration crises, the destructive impact of political extremism, and human rights debates. The international standing and impact of Monica’s work is reflected in the uptake of her research in the 2017 German school curriculum; international awards and grants, including a 2016 Research Fellowship at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, a 2016 Research Grant for University Academics and Scientists awarded by the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD), several book subsidies and book translation grants.

Monica has supervised MA and PhD theses on topics including German memory culture, multilingual theatre and the modern German novel.