Niamh Gunning
German Studies
Bronx, N.Y.
Why did you choose Cornell?
When I was applying to college, I was absolutely set on being a film studies major. When it came time for me to make the difficult decision between Princeton and Cornell, it was the interdisciplinarity of Cornell's Performing and Media Arts (PMA) major that ultimately drew me to Cornell.
As I explored my interests further I felt reassured, on the one hand, by my positive experiences in PMA classes that performance, in addition to engaging with the arts, was for me. On the other hand, I realized that I really enjoyed literature, philosophy and history. Thankfully, since the interdisciplinarity doesn't just stop at the PMA major but actually extends through all of A&S, I was able to find a major where I could combine all of my interests: German studies.
From the many creative and thought-provoking events hosted by the department every semester to the high-level German literature and thought classes like GERST 4100: Manifestos, where we read "The Communist Manifesto" in its original language, the German studies department had everything I wanted and needed to grow in an all-around sense. It all stems from the extraordinary faculty who truly embody Ezra's welcoming words: Any person, any study.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?
I am really proud of the research I conducted for my honors thesis. It centers around the work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a pioneer of early 20th century sexology, the study of human sex and sexuality. I explored his unique application of the photographic and painted image in a medical context, how his captions and paratextual claims influenced the way subjects and their bodies were read, and how this all worked toward his homosexual emancipatory aim of abolishing §175, Germany‘s law penalizing same-sex relations between men.
This work opened up my eyes to a wealth of future research topics in proximity to the homosexual, transvestite and women‘s emancipatory projects in Germany at this time. It also instilled a confidence in me when carrying out such work that I’ll take with me to grad school and beyond.
Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?
The nature around campus has had a great influence on my education. It has continuously provided me motivation to stop and take a rest, to recharge. Whether it‘s been a stressful day when I needed some respite from my deadlines or a day of celebration, Ithaca‘s beautiful gorges and trees have been there for me.
If you were to offer advice to an incoming first-year student, what would you say?
Education is not a race but a marathon, so you have to set your own pace. I took a year off from Cornell to work full-time at a local pizza shop and Best Buy in Ithaca. This provided me a priceless opportunity to gain a more secure and necessary financial footing, to take a step back from things and to gain some perspective on why I was even studying in the first place.
Sometimes people need breaks and sometimes a step back is necessary to see the fuller picture. This is nothing to be ashamed of and may even be the reason why I have had such success in my studies.
What are your plans for next year?
In August, I will begin a doctoral course of study in Germanic languages and literatures at the University of Michigan. I am incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement provided to me throughout my time here by the director of undergraduate studies, Gunhild Lischke, and my thesis advisor, Prof. Mari Jarris.
Through the ups and downs of my college career, I always felt welcome in the department and confident knowing I had their support. I cannot thank these influential figures enough for showing me what a life in academia can look like and for helping me realize that a Ph.D. was a viable next step in my life.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.
More News from A&S
Faculty excellence in teaching and advising honored with 2026 awards
Teaching awards
