About the Expert
Silvia Rode is a Professor of German at USI. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in Germanic languages, all from the University of California, Los Angeles. Rode joined the USI faculty in 2007 as an associate professor and chair of world languages and cultures after serving in academic positions at other institutions. She was promoted to full professor in 2017 and named assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and director of the Center for Communal Studies in 2021.
Rode believes that “studying languages and cultures are powerful means to develop critical thinking, improve writing, shape quality arguments and gain survival skills in an ever-changing world where unpredictability is the norm.” This philosophy guides her both in the classroom, where she teaches courses in the German studies major, communal studies minor and graduate programs, and outside the classroom, where Rode lends her mentorship and expertise to both students and community language teachers seeking resources and professional development.
As department chair, Rode spearheaded the creation of a master’s degree in second language acquisition, policy and culture, two professional certification programs and served on many University committees and advisory boards. Her commitment to international education and expertise in foreign educational systems have contributed to USI’s continued growth and success in exchange programs, and she has held positions in Austria, China, Germany, Mexico and The Netherlands.
Rode has published two books and is currently working on a third covering the cultural and social experiences of German prisoners-of-war at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky during the Second World War. She has received awards and recognition from the USI College of Liberal Arts, Rapp Granary-Owen Foundation and Washington University. Rode was named to the Phenomenal Women of USI, the Community Class of 2021 and was the 2020 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award.
