Dr Michael Harms is Deputy Secretary General of the DAAD and oversees the DAAD's Berlin Office, to which Germany Close Up belongs. Prior to taking up the position of Deputy Secretary General in January 2022, Dr Harms held various management positions within the DAAD, most recently Director of Communications (2015-2021), Director of the Program Department South (2014), and Director of the Regional Office Cairo (2010-2014). From 2006 to 2008, he was Head of the Department for International Cooperation of the German Rectors' Conference. Dr Harms also spent several years teaching at universities in Germany (Ruhr University Bochum, 1997-1998) and the UK (University of East Anglia, Norwich, 1993-1997). Dr Harms received his doctorate in language learning research from the Ruhr University Bochum in 2003. He studied History, English language and literature, and German linguistics at the CAU Kiel.
Kathleen Gransow has been program director of Germany Close Up since March 2021. Prior to this, she was program coordinator for over ten years since 2010. She began working for Germany Close Up as a guide in 2009. She holds a Master’s degree in Film Studies and English Language and Literature from the Freie Universität, Berlin and also studied at UCL, London.
Ulrike Koppermann has been working as a Germany Close Up program coordinator since April 2023. Prior to that she was a research associate at the department of history at the Justus-Liebig University Gießen (2019-2022). Ulrike studied in Potsdam, Manchester and Frankfurt/Oder and holds an MA in literary studies.
Carla Bieg joined the Germany Close Up team in May 2024. Previously, she worked in communications at Atlantik-Brücke, a non-profit focused on transatlantic relations, and as a research assistant at the Weizenbaum Institute. Carla holds a master’s degree in American Studies and studied at Freie Universität Berlin, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Sydney. In her free time, she enjoys movies, hiking, and trying new bars.
Elzbieta Winter has been working as a Germany Close Up program coordinator since May 2023. She holds a Master’s degree in German Studies, Sociology, and Eastern European Studies with focus on culture and economy from Freie Universität Berlin. She has worked with institutions such as the Goethe Institute, the Press, and the International Office of Freie Universität Berlin for more than 20 years. During that time, she was responsible for monitoring international projects as well as looking after international guests, scholars, and students around the world. Additionally, she has been working for 15 years for an American student exchange program as Student Affairs Coordinator, Housing Manager, and Fieldtrip Manager at IES Abroad.