Dagmar Möbius

Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling wrote her doctoral thesis at TU Dresden under extraordinary circumstances. And "extraordinary" is how we could describe her entire career, which includes several degree programs at renowned universities. Today, the political scientist is the Executive Director of the German American Business Association (GABA) in California.

Finding a date for an interview with her was a challenge. We were able to meet Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling on President's Day. “I’m still working today anyway,” she says cheerfully, before adding, “And pretty much everyone else is too.” The banks are closed, but otherwise shopping is popular on the American holiday.

From high school to the Land of the Free – with an added surprise

Right after graduating from high school in 1985, Kiessling, who is from Heidelberg originally, went to the United States. “It was unusual back then, but I really wanted to do it and I saved up every summer for it,” remembers Jeannet-Susann Kiessling. “When my parents realized I was serious about it, they let me fly over to some distant acquaintances. I was there for a few weeks while I looked for a job as an au pair.” She liked the USA and decided to stay and look for a place at university. “In my youthful naivety, I hadn't realized that you have to pay for universities in America,” she laughs. So, she needed to work for another year and a half. “I did all kinds of jobs to be able to afford my studies.” She was able to afford a place at Temple University in Philadelphia. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling enrolled for a Bachelor's in Political Science and Journalism. Looking back, she thinks this is in no way comparable to a German Bachelor's degree, and is more like a part of a high school diploma.

Own radio show during as an undergrad

Temple University had one of the most renowned journalism schools in the United States. “At the Annenberg School of Journalism, you could do everything right away: start your own radio station, work in television, make films, write for a magazine or your very own newspaper,” she enthuses. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling opted for radio. To do so, she had to lose her German accent. Justification: “If you want to get into people's living rooms, you have to sound like the people who are listening.” She succeeded and got her own show. In 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, she was in Germany and reported by phone to Philadelphia.

Washington, Bologna, Oxford

From 1990 to 1992, Jeannet-Susann Kiessling completed her Master's in International Relations and Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University. “The Paul Nitze School of International Studies produces the diplomats for the USA,” she explains. “The Austrian Foreign Office also sends its personnel there for training.” She spent one of her two years of study in Italy. Many of her former classmates now hold top international positions.

It was only much later in our conversation that she remarked in passing that she had received an Eisenhower Fellowship – a prestigious honor awarded to only one person per country each year. In 1999, she was also awarded the British government's Chevening Scholarship for her studies at St. Anthony's College at the University of Oxford.

Diverse positions in Germany

After returning to Germany, Jeannet-Susann Kiessling planned on obtaining a doctorate. “But I kept getting drawn into exciting jobs and the plan kept getting postponed,” she smiles. She was Political Advisor to Defense Minister Volker Rühe, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Bertelsmann, Head of the Foreign and Security Policy Department at the CDU's Federal Headquarters, and worked as a freelance marketing consultant. Some things cannot be easily condensed into a specific timeframe, and the same applies to her dissertation. In a Ministry of Defense study group called “Nuclear History Program” led by TUD professor Reiner Pommerin (who died in 2024), Pommerin encouraged Jeannet-Susann Kiessling to embark on her doctoral thesis. As a historian, he was unable to supervise her himself, but he put her in touch with Professor Monika Medick-Krakau (who died in 2011), who would later become her doctoral supervisor. The first concepts date back to the late 1990s, when Jeannet-Susann Kiessling was attending lectures at TUD.

Family, a dissertation written remotely, and a contemporary issue

By the time she started writing in 2008, Jeannet-Susann Kiessling had three children. Time and again, she wondered, “Should I keep doing this or not?” In the end, she hired childcare services and sat at her desk every day from 8:00 am until noon to work on her dissertation. “My doctoral supervisor looked after me very well and motivated me. We had a joint mission, even if we didn't agree on everything. And I miss that sometimes: That you have different opinions but can still work respectfully with someone. Prof. Medick-Krakau was a very tolerant and farsighted woman. Without their support and constructive encouragement, I might not have seen it through,” she admits. Unfortunately, her doctoral supervisor died before the defense. What now?

The Chair recommended Professor Uwe Backes. Fortunately, he took over the supervision of the half-finished dissertation. Kiessling was able to defend her dissertation in 2012. Her topic, which was not necessarily a major topic at the time, is highly relevant today. “It was about Germany's integration into European and American military security structures,” summarizes the author.

Heart association

In 2010, Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling lived with her family in Vienna. She became aware of the kleine herzen charity through a television report. The association helps street children, for example in Ukraine. “At the time, many people were still unaware of Ukraine. This country is so beautiful, but it has suffered terribly throughout history. I wanted to get involved there,” she explains. And as it turned out, she became much much more involved: She joined the association's board, and founded kleine herzen e.V. Germany after returning to Germany and is still its chairwoman today. With the aid of donations, they were able to build a house where orphans can grow up in a familial environment.

GABA and still a lot more to come

The family moved back to the US in 2016, settling in Palo Alto (Silicon Valley). Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling volunteered in support of the city partnership with Heidelberg for several years, in addition to her family commitments. She held her current position as Executive Director of the German American Business Association (GABA) in high esteem. “I was asked by my predecessor, who retired, if I would like to take over and I said no at first,” she explains. But three quarters of a year later, at a new meeting, she realized: “This would be perfect for me. It’s a fantastic job and just my kind of thing. It’s a huge network. We bring people together. We set up networks between everyone who wants to do business in Silicon Valley. We also have a Chapter in Los Angeles. German companies have a need to network and discuss their interests. We help to set up these contacts and break into this market.”

Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling would love to hear from alumni. She says: “Anyone can feel to contact me, and anyone who wants to establish business relationships here is always welcome in Silicon Valley.”

Contact:

Dr. Jeannet-Susann Kiessling

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