| 1973 | born in Münster (Westphalia) |
| 1980-1993 | Primary and secondary schooling in Hamm, finished at Gymnasium Hammonense |
| 1994-2000 | Politics, sociology and media science studies in Marburg and York (UK), degree: MA equivalent (Diplom-Politologe) |
| 1996-2003 | Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) scholarship |
| 1999 | Intern with the State office for civic education, Düsseldorf |
| 2000-2003 | Graduate course European Studies in Aachen, Master of European Studies (M.E.S.) |
| 2002 | Intern with the Party of European Socialists (PES), Brussels |
| 2003-2005 | Research Associate at the RWTH Aachen Politics Department |
| 2007-2009 | Research Associate at the Institute for German and European Political Pary Law and Research, Düsseldorf |
| 2009 | Online Journalism Course, Mibeg-Institut Medien, Cologne |
