History of the HCA

2002 – A group of professors and administrators initiate the founding of an interdisciplinary center for the study of the United States of America at Heidelberg University
WS 2002-03 – Lecture series “Typically American“ commences (through WS 2008-09)
May 2003 – Manfred Lautenschläger provides an office for the HCA in Heidelberg‘s Weststadt
April 2004 – Spring Academy commences
20. Oktober 2004 – The HCA is officially inaugurated as a central teaching and research institution at Heidelberg University; Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Detlef Junker is its Founding Director
WS 2004-05 – First class of the Master in American Studies enrolls
January 2005 – Inaugural meeting of the HCA of Directors
May 2006 – Dedication of the Curt-und Heidemarie-Engelhorn-Palais
June 2006 – Inaugural meeting of the HCA Board of Trustees
WS 2006-07 – First class of the PhD in American Studies enrolls
2007 – Start of the Fellow-in-Residence program (through 2014)
WS 2007-08 – Start of the Baden-Württemberg Seminar
Oktober 2009 – Dedication of the modern annex
2011 – State of Baden-Wuerttemberg approves two new professorships to be shared with the Department of Geography and the Faculty of Theology, respectively.
2011 – Inauguration of James W.C. Pennington Award
2012 – Founding of the Jonathan Edwards Center Germany (in cooperation with the Faculty of Theology, Heidelberg University and Yale Divinity School)
WS 2012-13 – First class of the Bachelor in American Studies enrolls
2015 – Start of the cooperation with the University of Notre Dame
WS 2017-18 – German Research Foundation approves the first funding period of the research training group „Authority and Trust“ (GKAT)
February 2018 – Prof. Dr. Welf Werner becomes new director of the HCA
October 2018 – Start of the HCA Graduate Blog
April 2020 – Start of the HCA Podcast “Quo Vadis USA?” as “Corona in den USA”
WS 2020-21 – University-wide lecture series “Quo Vadis USA?“
WS 2021-22 – German Research Foundation approves second funding period of the research training group „Authority and Trust“ (GKAT)