Matthew Cowin
Staff Writer
From a language school in Berlin to the second floor of Gailor Hall, Associate German Professor Dr. Richard Apgar exemplifies the qualities that make Sewanee’s language departments so engaging for students: cultural immersion and mutual exchange.
At Sewanee, Apgar focuses on a broad swath of German culture. “Primarily, I hold various courses on the literature of fairy tales, children’s literature, and the realms of fantasy and imagination,” he said. “I hope to show the relevance of these works for students in the 21st century. I intend to bring my whole-self to the classroom. When students are asked to share their opinions and thoughts, I share my own in return to facilitate a genuine exchange.”
The classroom isn’t the only place where he offers opportunities to practice language skills. In addition to his work in Gailor, Apgar leads a summer abroad program in Berlin to share his passion for German studies. For Apgar, the global connections students make at Deutsch in Deutschland, a language school in Berlin, are pivotal to their experience. “Primarily, we focus on a divided post-war Berlin, memorialization of past German history and Germany’s modern relations with the EU,” he said.
Apgar’s language interests began in high school. “I remember enjoying Latin in high school. I considered studying modern language in college.” When he arrived at Davidson College, he first learned German. “I only started in college. After my early exposure to intensive German history and literature during my junior year study abroad, I realized my interest may lead to something.”
For Apgar, his time abroad was not his first; he has deep family roots in German and traveled there at an early age. “Around age 12, we took a trip to visit my stepfather’s family in Germany, Austria, Holland. My sister took German, so that was also an influence.” These early experiences motivated him to pursue his interests in 18th-century Germany’s global exchanges in graduate school.
While pursuing his Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Apgar devoted his research to the work of writer and linguist Joachim Heinrich Campe. “My research primarily focuses on his role in German global perceptions and ideas of power, hierarchy and racism embedded in texts. I’m really interested in how Campe’s translations shape the world for German readers.”
According to Apgar, these studies demonstrate the role of 18th-century print culture. “In the final decades of the century, an explosion of print materials became a vital tool for accessing and documenting the world.” These written texts play a large role in how he plans his lessons at Sewanee. He clarified his courses do not focus on his individual research, but Apgar still appreciates how his topics can connect to classroom discussions.
Out of all the opportunities he has had to teach German and German culture, Apgar said the intellectual engagement and potential of his students are his favorite parts. “I’m always pleasantly surprised by the students and how they respond to challenges. Their energy and efforts deeply wow me.” On the Domain and across the Atlantic, this mutual delight for learning between Dr. Apgar and his students illustrate the beauties of education and community that show what Sewanee liberal arts is all about.