Last spring, Boston College's German studies department asserted its preeminence not only in its tight niche on campus but also around the world when it was revealed that 13 BC students from the German major alone had received the coveted Fulbright Scholarship. It has been noted that this is the largest number of students from one major in any American university to win simultaneously in the history of the Fulbright program's 62-year history. This year, five more BC German studies graduates will be joining the ranks of over 72 German studies majors in the last 20 years to receive the Fulbright award.
So what it is about this tiny department that has led to this much success? If you ask anyone over there, they will most likely give the same answer: Michael Resler.
"Professor Resler is an amazing friend, teacher, advisor, and confidant all rolled into one," says Paul Astuto, A&S '08, and one of this year's Fulbright recipients.
The current chairperson of the German studies department, Resler has been working tirelessly for over 25 years to help his students prepare for the daunting task of applying for a Fulbright. Understanding the great opportunity the typically year-long abroad program provides, Resler is invested in introducing his students to this opportunity and encourages them to prepare to apply as early as freshman year.
"BC students at this point in the history of this place are so good," Resler says. "The potential is there, and we just have to make sure they're not just vaguely aware of it [the Fulbright program], but that it's a goal."
Astuto is thankful for the assistance Resler has given him throughout his undergraduate career, not just as a professor, but as a mentor and a friend.
"At the same time as he encourages students to study abroad in Germany and apply for Fulbrights, Resler's No. 1 one priority is always his students' best interests. He listens to them, he respects them, and he does all that he can for them," Astuto said in an e-mail.
Resler attributes the success his students have found with the Fulbright program to both the small size of the German studies department and the dedication of his colleagues. With one of the smallest enrollments at BC, Resler sees his department as more of a close family than a group of college students. He annually invites not just every student in the major, but every student enrolled in a German studies class that semester, to a Christmas party at his house in Newton and a ski and snowboarding trip at his house in New Hampshire.
"We work together, we play together. It's about building a sense of community," Resler says.
"Professor Resler really is the hub of the German department wheel. He brings everyone closer, turning a small group of German students into real friends," Astuto says.
Spring Break
