Alena Schmidt-Weihrich studied British and American Studies and Economics at the University of Konstanz and the University of British Columbia in Canada. She then did her PhD in the department of Literature, Art and Media Studies at the University of Konstanz. Along the way she worked as a student assistant, research assistant, teaching assistant and lecturer at the University of Konstanz. Meanwhile, she also worked for the Emerging Scholars Forum of the Gesellschaft für Kanada-Studien. Since November 2023, she has worked in the student administration of the department of media studies, supporting students, the secretary’s office, and professors in their daily business.