Luisa Turczynski
Luisa Turczynski (Photo: Thomas Müller)
Luisa Turczynski holds a doctorate in literature and cultural studies.
After completing her teacher training in German and English (first state examination), she worked for six years as a research assistant at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. Luisa’s research in the field of American Studies has focused on the conception of nature and nation in the US-American collective imaginary. In her work, she has examined traditional literary images, national narratives and myths about the ›extraordinary‹ American landscape through the lens of queer-feminist and postcolonial theories.
During her practical qualification at the non-profit Walden Woods Project, Luisa co-designed and supported a virtual professional development program for teachers in 2021. The program aims to integrate holistic approaches to environmental and democracy education into curricula and school systems. In this field, Luisa was able to organize the conference »Place-Based Education and Environmental Care« with international educational actors as part of her postdoctoral funding, which took place in spring 2023 at the Graduiertenkolleg Modell Romantik.
In addition to her enthusiasm for innovative educational concepts, Luisa is passionate about approaches to intersectional equality work. She already assisted at the FSU Jena’s Gender Equality Office as a student and moderated a lecture series on the (lack of) gender equality in academia as a doctoral student. In June 2023, Luisa ventured out of the academic ›bubble‹ and has since headed the Gemeinsam MUTig project of DaMigra e.V. in Thuringia. Her work for the umbrella organization of migrant women’s organizations aims to strengthen the participation of women with refugee and migration experience in society as a whole.
Since beginning her studies, Luisa Turczynski has worked as a language coach and learning facilitator in various institutions and initiatives for refugees and immigrants. Most recently, she helped shape the migration-sensitive family seminar Sprachstube of Kindersprachbrücke Jena e.V. as a lecturer for several years.
Luisa feels at home in Jena, where she lives with her binational family and enjoys walks in the forest with her dog as well as going to concerts and the theater. As a trainer at the EJBW, Luisa wants to create participatory and low-threshold educational formats that give participants a personal, self-reflective and empowering approach to the topics of identity & intersectionality – feminism & diversity – discrimination & allyship.
Luisa offers her workshops in German and English.