Eric Brandt

BIOGRAPHY

A California native, Eric Brandt grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has always maintained strong Midwest roots, however, as both sides of his family hail from Minnesota and Iowa. Eric attended Macalester College in St. Paul and has lived and studied in Berlin during 2003, as well as traveled extensively throughout Europe. After graduating from Macalester in 2005 with a BA in history, Eric lived in San Francisco. He returned to St. Paul in 2006 and joined TRACES in July. He has always had a strong interest in WWII and German history, so was excited to explore those further as a member of the TRACES team for almost two years, until going to Southeast Asia in January 2008 to pursue photography and other projects. He since has returned to California.

RESUME

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in History, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN: May 2005.
• Students for International Training, Berlin, Germany, Fall 2003: courses included Nationalism, Culture, and Ethnicity in Central Europe, contemporary German history, an independent study research project, and intensive German language training.                                                                               
   
  Specific Academic Highlights
• Independent Study Project in Berlin and Spreewald region on the history and problems facing the Sorb/Wend minority group. Conducted interviews, research, and fieldwork to produce in-depth academic paper and presentation (Fall 2003).
•  Senior Seminar History Project analyzing the development and danger of Holocaust Denial in the United States. Culminated in presentation of findings and scholarly debate. 
• Attended travel writing course at Stanford University.

  Selected Previous Experience

• 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance (San Francisco, CA), October 2005-April 2006
  Member of the curriculum committee for Earthquake Centennial Alliance nonprofit. Researched and organized online and written resources for the San Francisco Unified School District for use in its earthquake-awareness curriculum.
• Volunteers for Peace International Workcamps (Weimar, Germany), Summer 2000
  Participated in historic preservation and reconstruction of Buchenwald Memorial concentration camp buildings, excavated camp grounds for historic artifacts to be displayed in camp museum. Researched, produced and narrated documentary on the history of the camp.
• Assistant, United States Military History Institute (Carlisle, PA), Summer 1999
  Assistant to the Head Librarian, assisted in personnel research and responded to reference requests from historians, officers, and government officials.

Other Skills

• Proficient with internet and library research and Microsoft Office environment.
• Avid photographer and travel writer
• Conversant/literate in German