Graduate Profile: Kelly Dachtler
Kelly O'Connor Dachtler was drawn to the German major because of her experiences traveling abroad.
“The individual attention shown to each student by the German department was truly remarkable,” the 2005 graduate says. “I believe this helped me learn and grow much more quickly than would be possible at a larger school.”
A double major in English and German, Dachtler was able to study abroad for a semester in Germany as part of her major.
Kelly Dachtler
“Besides helping develop my language skills tremendously, this immersion into another culture opened my eyes to the world around me,” she says.
Those language skills serve her well, as she is married to a native German. She uses her knowledge of the language to converse with his family and friends back in Germany.
Coming from a small town, Dachtler was attracted to Alma by its campus and size.
“The close-knit campus community meant I would be more than just a number, and that I would have the opportunity to work closely with my professors,” she says. “The liberal arts approach was important in helping me find my way, in choosing a major that fit my interests and goals.”
Dachtler is a field trainer with Bankers Life and Casualty in Traverse City. She played volleyball and worked in the Public Relations department while at Alma.
