UofL’s Lucian Rothe Receives National Award for Outstanding German Program Development and Advocacy

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages is proud to announce that Associate Professor of German Lucian Rothe has been selected as the recipient of the Award for Outstanding German Program Development and Advocacy by the German Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). 

ACTFL is one of the largest world languages organizations in the United States, with more than 10,000 educators and administrators across K–16 and government contexts. Each year, the German SIG honors a member whose work exemplifies innovative program development and effective advocacy for undergraduate German study. 

Rothe’s recognition reflects his transformative leadership in revitalizing UofL’s German program since his arrival in 2020. Guided by his expertise in applied linguistics and commitment to collaboration, Rothe spearheaded curriculum updates that highlight the diverse lived experiences of German speakers, embedded career-related skills into coursework, and removed barriers that often prevent students from persisting in language study. 

Beyond the classroom, Rothe and his colleagues, Jordan Gabbard, Ingrid Tower-Pohl, and Maggie Kloentrup, have fostered a vibrant community for German students. They revived the German Club, launched extracurricular events, and have brought in guest speakers and international partners, connecting students’ language learning with real-world professional opportunities. These efforts have strengthened student belonging and visibility of the program both on campus and in the Louisville community. 

The work of Rothe and his colleagues has had a measurable impact: enrollment and retention in the German program have increased, students have expressed strong enthusiasm for the program’s direction, and in 2025, the UofL Student Government Association passed a resolution praising the German faculty’s “dedication to each student in their program to succeed, feel safe, and—above all else—experience genuine care from faculty both inside and outside the classroom.” 

As Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Regina Roebuck noted in her nomination letter, “For a small undergraduate German program, these efforts have been transformative. Rothe’s classes function as inclusive learning communities that foster belonging, critical thinking, and real-world relevance. The growth in enrollment in the German minor is particularly promising as the department advances work on a proposed World Languages major that will, for the first time in nearly 30 years, allow students to pursue a major in German.” 

Reflecting on the recognition, Rothe expressed gratitude to his colleagues in Classical and Modern Languages: 

“I’m very grateful for having such wonderful colleagues who have supported me and my family in many different ways over the past five years! I’m hopeful that we can build an even stronger CML for our students and instructors together.” 

As part of the award, Rothe will receive an honorarium and lead a webinar for German SIG members, sharing his approaches to program management and advocacy. 

Congratulations to Rothe on this well-deserved national recognition, which highlights not only his dedication to German language and culture but also his commitment to student success and innovative program-building at UofL.