W&L’s Lily George ’25 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria George will teach English in Austria before attending medical school.

By Emily Innes
May 15, 2025

Washington and Lee University senior Lily George ’25 has been awarded a U.S. Teaching Assistantship (USTA) to teach English in Austria. At W&L, George is double majoring in cognitive and behavioral science (CBSC) and German. George is a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and graduated from the Linsly School.

The USTA Program is administered by Fulbright Austria on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Teaching assistants are placed in secondary schools throughout Austria to teach English language and linguistic skills, serve as informal cultural ambassadors, and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Austria.

“I hope to help others by becoming a physician one day, and the skill set that I develop through USTA will dramatically shape my abilities as a lifelong student and teacher,” George said. “While developing my German language proficiency and enhancing my professional skills, I will gain the necessary confidence and communication tools that will enhance my interactions with patients and fellow physicians throughout my career.”

For George, receiving the USTA is the culmination of years of German language learning and a treasured connection to her first German teacher, a native Austrian who she says “inspired my passion for the language, teaching and determination to give my Austrian students a transformative experience learning English.”

George first knew she wanted to live and teach in German-speaking Europe after completing a summer research internship in 2024 through DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) in Mannheim, Germany. During her three months abroad, she investigated the implementation of hyper-spectral imaging in urological surgery and appreciated the insight into the German medical field, as well as the exposure to different professional norms and balance of work and social life. George felt prepared for her internship thanks to her experience working in W&L’s Sleep Lab, directed by Ryan Brindle, associate professor of cognitive and behavioral science, which taught her valuable critical thinking and research skills, and her involvement with the Department of German and the German Club.

“Even before returning to the U.S. after my internship, I knew I wanted to return to Germany and Austria because I developed my independence while embracing cultural differences, a new lifestyle and the nuances of speaking a different language,” she said.

George is also grateful for the support of her faculty mentors who have encouraged her to seek opportunities and build her confidence, helping her become the student and person she is today, including Paul Youngman, associate provost and Redenbaugh Professor of German; Jaime Roots, visiting assistant professor of German; Erich Uffelman, Bentley Professor of Chemistry; and Brindle.

“I am so delighted to hear that Lily is a USTA recipient,” said Uffelman. “She has a fine intellect, is a dedicated worker and is always engaged and vivacious. But what I really appreciate about Lily is that she is positive in the face of stress and adversity, and she always makes everyone’s day better, whether she is having a good day or not. She is going to become an amazing doctor, and I look forward to hearing about all of her exploits with the Fulbright and beyond.”

On campus, George has been involved in undergraduate research and held leadership positions in the German Club and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She served as the student liaison for W&L’s Institutional Review Board for Research with Human Participants and volunteered at Kendal at Lexington through the brain exercise initiative.

With the USTA, George will depart in September 2025 for her nine-month program. Upon completion of the program, George plans to attend medical school and will be preparing her applications while in Austria.

If you know a W&L student who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.