Hans-Wilhelm Kelling

Biography

Dr. Kelling was born and raised in Germany. When he was 21 he came to the US to continue his education, but was called to serve as a missionary in the Eastern States first. After completing his time as a missionary, he came to BYU, received his BA, and then went to Stanford on a scholarship where he received his MA in German and went on to receive his Ph.D. For a year he studied at the University of Göttingen and completed his research for his doctoral dissertation. His specialization is German classical literature (Goethe, Schiller, Romanticism), and German cultural history. He also teaches medieval and modern literature and has taught business courses for the MBA program. Dr. Kelling has directed six Study Abroad Programs in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria and in Berlin, Germany. He was chair of the German department and director of the European Studies program. He has served in many administrative and teaching positions at BYU and in the Church. From 1973 to 1976 he served as President of the Germany Munich Mission. For the past almost twenty years he has been director of the Foreign Language Housing program. He has four children and twelve grandchildren. His beloved wife, Joyce, suddenly and unexpectedly died three years ago.