Management
The International Centre for Professionalization in Elementary Education is headed by Ass. Prof. Dr. Eva Pölzl-Stefanec and Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Catherine Walter-Laager. Josepha Barbarics, Dr. Jasmin Bempreiksz-Luthardt and Sophie Westphal are the site managers in Berlin. The team works together in a network on content and projects and is divided between the two locations Berlin (Germany) and Graz (Austria).
Catherine Walter-Laager
Head of the International Center PEP | Berlin, Graz
- Degree in education, special education and psychology, doctorate and habilitation in education/elementary education
- Qualified kindergarten teacher, 12 years experience in kindergarten and crèche
- Interested in: Didactics in elementary education and interaction quality
- When I was young, I knitted, sewed, wove and spun wool
Eva Pölzl-Stefanec
Deputy Head | Graz
- Degree in social pedagogy, doctorate in educational science, specializing in elementary education
- Almost 7 years of professional experience as a kindergarten teacher in crèches and kindergartens + management experience
- Interested in: Professionalization of specialists, quality development & digital knowledge transfer
- I love traveling with a trekking backpack and train
Josepha Barbarics
Site manager | Berlin
- Degree in education (specializing in elementary education, further education, practical research)
- Professional experience in the following areas: pedagogical specialist, education officer, research assistant and head of finance
- Interested in: Knowledge transfer, salutogenesis and sense of coherence, quality of interaction, facts and figures, finance/economics, art, nature and music
- "He who is not curious learns nothing." (Goethe) I apply this to all areas of life
Jasmin Bempreiksz-Luthardt
Site Manager | Berlin
- Degree in pedagogy and educational science and doctorate in educational science
- Worked for a year as an educator at a daycare center in Berlin
- Interested in science communication and everything to do with children growing up safely and healthily
- Loves children's books, rose lemonade, her family including her dog Filonki and trying new things!
jasmin.luthardt(at)uni-graz.at
Sophie Westphal
Site Manager | Berlin
- Studies in educational science
- Interested in: Digital learning and adult education
- I love traveling to Southeast Asia and know every comic from Asterix
Henrike Aden
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in childhood education & educational science
- Professional experience in the following areas: pedagogical specialist in crèche & daycare center, early help, research assistant
- Interested in: Interaction quality, participation and attachment theory
- Relaxes to music by The Burning Hell, D&D, while cooking or in a downward-facing dog
henrike.aden@uni-graz.at
Sara Awischus
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational sciences and social sciences
- Is a state-approved educator with 3.5 years of professional experience in daycare centers, child and youth welfare and worked as an additional specialist "Sprach-Kitas" in a Berlin daycare center
- Interested in: Equal opportunities, participation, media education/training and resilience
- "Don't believe everything you think" (Byron Katie) is my absolute favorite quote
Christina Bachner
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in social pedagogy with a focus on elementary education
- Has professional experience as a kindergarten teacher and lecturer in adult education
- Interested in: Organizational structures and quality development in elementary educational institutions
- In my free time, I like to do handicrafts and follow the DIY trend
Mailina Barta
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in pedagogy and social pedagogy, specializing in elementary education
- Doctorate in educational science
- 2 years of professional experience in kindergarten
- Interested in: Interaction quality in child education and care facilities, digitalization
- Whether standard, salsa or Latin, I have to be on the move
Annika Bauer
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in Childhood Education and Educational Science
- Is a state-approved childhood educator with one year of professional experience in the embassy daycare center in Ankara and worked as an additional specialist "Sprach-Kitas" in a Berlin daycare center
- Interested in: Equal opportunities, quality development and practice transfer
- Is fascinated by flow - personally especially when climbing
Carmen Deffner
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science and curative education
- Has 15 years of experience in adult education and educational research
- Interested in: Neuroscience and its importance for successful learning in young and old people
- No dream of my mind will ever extinguish a dream of my heart! (Author unknown)
Dennis Epping
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in early childhood education and childhood and social sciences, specializing in child protection and diagnostics
- Part-time doctoral studies at the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg
- State-approved educator and social pedagogue with 15 years of management experience, adult educator and parent mentor
- My motto: "How did you know you could do it?" "I didn't know. I just got started!"
Sarah Feierabend
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in pedagogy and social pedagogy, specializing in elementary education
- Currently studying for an interdisciplinary doctorate in educational science at the University of Graz
- Has professional experience as an elementary educator in crèche and kindergarten
- Interested in: Gender and STEM, online training and further education for educational professionals
- I like my bike, music, sunrises, pasta and have a soft spot for plants
Manja Flöter
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in psychology
- Is a state-approved educator with 7 years of professional experience in daycare centers
- Interested in: Interaction quality and the design of research designs
- "You can also build something beautiful from stones that are put in our way." (Goethe) Maybe that's why I like collecting stones on the beach - after all, fate put them all there for me
Claudia Geißler
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in pedagogy and social pedagogy
- Has professional experience as a kindergarten teacher and in the further education and training of elementary school teachers
- Interested in: Interaction quality, peer interactions, participation, professionalization in elementary education, team development
- Is a family person and loves being outdoors
Sylvia Gölles
Office and Finance Assistant | Graz
- Decades of experience in office and finance in non-profit organizations.
- In my free time I like to work in my garden, and if there's still time, I can also relax by reading.
sylvia.goelles@uni-graz.at
Lena Gruber
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science, early childhood education and international development
- Has professional experience in daycare centers, as a manager and in supporting people with disabilities and in political work on educational justice and education for sustainable development
- Interested in: diversity-conscious, discrimination-sensitive pedagogy and intersectional feminism
- Likes to collect beautiful things and can be found in nature or at flea markets and bookshops in her free time
Andrea Hanisch
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science, sociology and psychology
- Has professional experience, including as an editor for the children's channel (KiKA), as a daycare center manager and as a teacher in the training of educational professionals
- Interested in: Child protection and quality of interaction
- Enjoys traveling the world and loves being by the sea
Valerie Hoffmann
Research assistant | Graz
- Study of education and training in childhood
- State-approved educator with several years of professional experience in kindergarten and family centers
- Interested in: Quality development, equal opportunities and digitalization
- Likes handicrafts, winter sports and is always on the lookout for exciting experiences and new challenges
Karla Imkampe
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in Social Pedagogy & Management
- is a state-approved educator with several years of professional experience in bilingual daycare facilities (elementary, crèche and as a manager)
- is interested in: Diversity issues, multilingualism and educational partnerships
- enjoys spending time with her family and friends, she also likes to be on the move and loves discovering the world
Selina Kias
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science, politics & administration and educational science
- Is a state-recognized educator with 2 years of professional experience
- Interested in: Quality development and adult education
- I love being in nature: hiking, surfing, camping
Nadin Klüber
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in childhood education and educational science
- Is a state-approved childhood educator with 5 years of professional experience in daycare centers
- Interested in: Interaction quality and equal opportunities
- As a passionate hobby ornithologist, I enjoy spending my free time observing birds and studying their fascinating behaviors
Jessica Krisper
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in pedagogy and social pedagogy, specializing in elementary education
- Several years of professional experience as a kindergarten teacher and deputy head, division head of institutional child education and care facilities
- Interested in: Quality development, professionalization and job satisfaction of pedagogical professionals
- Likes reading, music, traveling and cats
Juri Kroma
Administrator | Berlin
- Studies history and English language and literature with an option to become a teacher, with a special interest in modern history and the historicity of literature
- I like spending time with music & curiosities
Andrea Lasson
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science, sociology and psychology
- Is a trained graphic designer and art therapist
- Interested in: Art in daycare centers and interaction quality
- "Colors are nature's smile" (Leigh Hunt)
Anna Libiseller
Research assistant | Graz
- Teacher training in primary education, degree in educational science and social pedagogy with a focus on elementary education
- Currently studying for an interdisciplinary doctorate in educational science at the University of Graz
- Has professional experience as an elementary educator in crèche and kindergarten and as a primary school teacher
- Interested in: Interaction quality (especially from a child's perspective), quality development and knowledge transfer
- Loves traveling to new places & being in nature
Madeline Meyer
Student assistant | Berlin
- Study to become a teacher at vocational schools for social pedagogy and German
- Experience in adult and early childhood education, as well as voluntary educational work
- Interested in: Education policy and elementary education work
- Love drinking coffee in the sun and exploring new places
Lea Mittischek
Research assistant | Graz
- Studied social pedagogy with a specialization module in elementary pedagogy; graduated from the College of Social Pedagogy
- Professional experience as an employee and project manager in open child and youth work, management of children's courses "learning German through play" for pre-school children
- Several years of professional experience in teaching and research at university and teacher training college; teaching in the training of childminders and childminders
- Interested in: Accompanying peer interactions in daycare, professionalization and diversity
- I enjoy being creative and have a soft spot for children's books
Verena Nowak
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in pedagogy and educational science
- Professional experience in elementary education practice, university teaching & further education
- Interested in: good interaction, quality development & (digital) further education
- I am also involved in animal welfare and am always happy to talk about rabbits
Katharina Reisinger
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in social management in elementary education and social pedagogy with a specialization module in elementary education
- Over 14 years of professional experience as a kindergarten teacher and manager in crèches and kindergartens, lecturer in adult education
- Interested in: Quality development, transition processes, interaction quality, adult education
- Enjoys reading and being outdoors in nature
Niko Ripka
UX and graphic design | Berlin
- Degree in Interface design
- Interested in education, environmental topics and design
- Is a big Harry Potter fan
Luise Röhmel
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science
- Educator in the U3 area, area manager, adult educator
- Interested in: Child protection and participation
- "The task of the environment is not to mold the child, but to allow him to reveal himself." Maria Montessori-already 100 years ago and still so true
Stella-Louise Rosière
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in Childhood Education and Educational Science
- State-recognized childhood educator
- Interested in: Quality development, interaction quality and salutogenesis
Lisa Teke
Research assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational sciences and social sciences
- Is a state-approved educator with 6.5 years of professional experience in daycare centers
- Interested in: Knowledge transfer, adult education and media education/training
- I love traveling and discovering the world
Elisabeth Wohofsky
Research assistant | Graz
- Degree in pedagogy and social pedagogy with a focus on elementary education
- Worked in the field of family support
- Interested in: children's play, inclusion and language
- Is a family person, loves to read with her children
Djana Tobolt
Student assistant | Berlin
- Degree in educational science and German studies
- Studying for a Master's degree in Educational Science
- Experience in networking and voluntary educational work
- Interested in: Participation, reading and language promotion in elementary and primary school education
- Loves to be creative, to browse through books and to deal with education-related topics in her private life
