AFS Returnee Honored with Germany's Order of
Merit Award

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Grabbe, Director of the Center for United States Studies and Professor of British and American Studies at Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg was recognized with the prestigious Order of Merit officially known as Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland on April 16, 2008. The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only honor that may be awarded in all fields of endeavor and is the highest tribute paid to individuals for services to the nation. Dr. Grabbe is an AFS Returnee who was hosted in Park Ridge, Illinois in 1965-66.

Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhmer presented the Order of Merit to Dr. Grabbe on behalf of the President of Germany during a ceremony at the State Chancellery in Magdeburg. The President of Germany, Dr. Horst Köhler bestowed the Order of Merit in February of 2008. Dr. Köhler’s award statement recognizes Dr. Grabbe’s committment and his contributions “to the promotion of scholarly cooperation at the national and European levels, the advancement of German-American relations and for the establishment of the Center for United States Studies”.

Dr. Grabbe is an officer of the European Association of American Studies and served for many years as President and Executive Director of the German Association for American Studies. He is co-editor of the American Studies Journal and of the quarterly Amerikastudien/American Studies and edits the monograph series USA-Studien. His research focuses on the history of transatlantic migration and on German-American relations.

AFS Returnee Honored with Germany's Order of Merit Award

AFS Returnee Honored with Germany's Order of
Merit Award