Bio


Paul grew up in a German-heritage family outside of Madison,Wisconsin. He attended UW-Madison for his undergraduate studies and did his doctoral work at the Pennsylvania State University. He has spent extensive time, studying, researching, working, and engaging professionally, across the span of the German-speaking world.

In the Fall of 2005, Paul came to Stanford as a Lecturer, teaching both Spanish and German for numerous years. Since 2009 he has additionally served as the German Language Coordinator.

Dr. Nissler completed ACTFL OPI training in both Spanish and German and has been certified as an oral and written proficiency tester in German since 2010.

He is also active in the local Bay area German community. He has engaged with local German-schools and previously served as the AATG Testing Chair and President of the Northern California Chapter of the AATG.

Paul publishes and presents at academic conferences, both nationally and internationally. He is very enthusiastic about teaching and language learning.

Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Gerlang Coordinator, Stanford Language Center (2009 - Present)
  • Pre-Major Advisor, PMA/Stanford (2011 - Present)
  • German Summer Program Director, University of Pennsylvania - Lauder Instittute (2014 - 2015)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • President, AATG Chapter of Northern California (2016 - 2018)
  • Vice-President, AATG Chapter of Northern California (2014 - 2016)
  • Testing Chair, AATG Chapter of Northern California (2012 - 2016)
  • Member, AATG (2006 - Present)
  • Member, ACTFL (2007 - Present)

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, German (2006)
  • B.S., The University of Wisconsin - Madison, German Culture, Economics (2000)

All Publications


  • An Integrated Curriculum in Collegiate-Level German Studies with Accompanying Proficiency Ratings UNTERRICHTSPRAXIS-TEACHING GERMAN Bernhardt, E., Nissler, P., Leffell, C. 2020; 53 (1): 23–34

    View details for DOI 10.1111/tger.12116

    View details for Web of Science ID 000530547300003

  • Transforming Postsecondary Teaching in the United States (Book Review) UNTERRICHTSPRAXIS-TEACHING GERMAN Book Review Authored by: Nissler, P. 2017; 50 (1): 104–6
  • Interaktiver, dynamischer und personalisierter Lernraum. Nissler, P. 2016
  • Developing Proficiency with Presentational Language in Second-Year German and Spanish” Journal of Language Teaching and Research Nissler, P. 2014
  • A short survey of the creation and development of common German-Spanish American space: Humboldt and beyond. German Literature as World Literature Nissler, P. 2014
  • Everything is interconnected: Humboldt in Quechua, Spanish and German, from ayni and pacha to Kehlmann Cumaná 1799. Travels between Europe and the Americas Nissler, P. 2012
  • Exploring the ‘Foreign’ in Literary Spaces of German and Spanish Literature during the Spanish Civil War Finding the Foreign Nissler, P. 2007
  • Reflections on Walter Ruttmann’s Die Simphonie einer Grossstadt Selbst Reflexionen: von der Leinwand bis zum Interface Nissler, P. 2004
  • Die Symphonie dieser Stadt Adlershof Aktuell Nissler, P., Grovner, E. 2001