Dr. Joann Halpern is the director of the German Center for Research and Innovation in New York City. Her primary responsibilities include program development, strategic planning, and strategic outreach. Prior to joining GCRI, Joann was the director of academic affairs and senior studies and professor of international education at Global College of Long Island University, where she spearheaded the campus internationalization process, taught undergraduates, and revised the Global College curriculum.
From 1996-2001 Joann was the director of international programs at Harz University of Applied Sciences in Wernigerode, Germany where she taught undergraduates, created university exchange programs for students and professors, and developed dual degree programs in business administration and tourism management. She also co-founded Knowledge Transfer Beyond Boundaries, an NGO with projects in Cameroon, Nigeria, Yemen, and Antigua.
Joann received her B.A. from Dartmouth College, her M.A. from Harvard University, and her Ph.D. from New York University. She has taught courses in global studies, intercultural communication, business English, ESL, German, and English at universities in the United States (Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Long Island University) and in Germany (University of Magdeburg and Harz University). She is a recipient of the Harvard University Award for Distinction in Teaching as well as scholarships and fellowships from the Fulbright Commission, German Academic Exchange Service, Robert Bosch Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Andrea Deierlein is the communications officer at the German Center for Research and Innovation. Her duties include editorial work for E-NNOVATION GERMANY, the GCRI's monthly newsletter, and managing the GCRI's web presence. Andrea brings vast public relations and protocol experience in working with the German community. Prior to joining the GCRI, she was on staff at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York, where she maintained the website www.GermanyinNYC.org, wrote and edited articles for the Consulate’s web presence as well as revised speech drafts for the Consul General. She also helped organize German politicians’ and officials’ visits to New York and events hosted at the Consulate.
Prior to moving to New York in 2003, Andrea lived in Munich, Germany, where she wrote articles, lifestyle ads and brochures, promotions and advertorial company profiles for the Munich daily newspaper “Die Abendzeitung” and Swiss promotion publications, such as “BeautyLife.”
Andrea studied political science, American cultural studies, and intercultural communication at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. In New York, she regularly participates in writing and social media workshops at The New School and Mediabistro.

Stephanie Shoemaker is the program officer at the German Center for Research and Innovation. In this capacity, her duties include program planning and coordination, overseeing event logistics, and office administration. Stephanie is also a licensed NYC tour guide.
Prior to joining the GCRI, she worked at the New York office of Schlaich Bergermann and Partner LP, a German structural engineering consulting firm based in Stuttgart, which specializes in solar energy and lightweight, innovative design. For two years prior, Stephanie worked at the American Council on Germany as a Program Assistant, where she coordinated events, conferences, and study tours focused on German-American relations in New York, Berlin, and at the ACG’s 19 Warburg Chapters throughout the United States.
Before moving to New York, Stephanie worked at the Studentenwerk in Greifswald, Germany as a Robert Bosch Foundation/CDS International Fellow with the Studentenservice International Program, specializing in international student programming. She spent a semester abroad at the Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen in 2004. Stephanie graduated from  the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in English and German, presented with distinction and honors in 2005.

Cordula Schaefer is the media and operations intern at the German Center for Research and Innovation. Her duties include maintaining the GCRI website and Twitter profile, as well as researching topics for the monthly newsletter E-NNOVATION GERMANY.
Before joining the GCRI, Cordula worked as a student assistant for the corporate communications department at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Bremen, Germany, where she assisted in press relations and event organization.
Prior to enrolling in university, Cordula was a media design apprentice at renowned Bremen marketing agency red pepper, a role which provided her with a sound understanding of conception and strategic planning. This enabled her to work as a freelance designer and to serve local as well as international clients.
Cordula studied history and media science in Oldenburg, Germany, and will graduate from Carl von Ossietzky University by the end of this year.