Theodor Heuss and Hans Speier Visiting Professorships

Hans Speier was one of the original 12 members of the University in Exile, founded in 1933 at The New School to provide refuge for persecuted scholars from Europe.

Born in Germany in 1905, Speier studied sociology at the University of Heidelberg, where he was Karl Mannheim’s first PhD student. When the Nazis came to power, his wife, Luise, lost her job as a doctor because she was Jewish. That year, the family emigrated to the United States. Speier served as a professor of sociology at The New School in 1933–1942 and 1947–1948; he also worked for the U.S. government.

In 1948, Speier joined the new RAND Corporation, taking part in a new practice of bridging academic and government work. He served as head of the social services division until 1960, then worked at the Council of Foreign Relations and finally as a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts until his death in 1973.

Founded in 1996, the Hans Speier Professorship brings scholars to the Department of Sociology at The New School for Social Research.

Past and Current Hans Speier Professors:

2023 (spring): Maristella Svampa
2021 (fall): Nicola Marcucci
2018–2019: Nicolas Lynch
2013–2014: Pierre Rosanvallon
2012–2013 (spring): Claus Offe
2011–2012 (spring): Luc Boltanski    
2010–2011: Yoav Peled
2009–2010 (fall): Daniel Dayan
2009–2010 (spring): Roman Bertrand
2008–2009 (spring): Pierre Rosanvallon
2007–2008 (fall): Daniel Dayan
2007–2008 (spring): Nilüfer Göle
2006–2007 (fall): Julian Casanova
2005–2006: János Kis           
2004–2005 (fall): Julian Casanova
2004–2005 (spring): János Kis
2003–2004 (fall): Willfried Spohn
2003–2004 (spring): Gáspár Tamas
2002–2003 (spring): Alain Touraine
2002–2003 (spring): Simonetta Tabboni
2001–2002 (fall): Hubertus Buchstein
1999–2000 (fall): Victor Pérez-Díaz
1999–2000 (fall): Löic Wacquant
1998–1999: Gianfranco Poggi           
1997–1998 (fall): Ulrich Preuss
1996–1997 (spring): György Csepeli

In 1962, the German Federal Government established the Heuss Professorship in recognition of and gratitude for the refuge The New School provided for nearly 200 persecuted scholars from Europe during the Nazi era in its groundbreaking University in Exile. Each year, a leading German sociologist, historian, economist, political scientist, philosopher, social anthropologist, or psychologist assumes the role of Heuss Professor at The New School for Social Research. 

The first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss was also a distinguished journalist, university professor, and public servant. Like many other University in Exile professors, he was dismissed from his teaching post and driven from the government by the Nazis in the early 1930s. After World War II, he emerged as a leader of the Free Democratic Party and served as president from 1949 until 1959. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from The New School when he visited the United States in 1958. That year, he recommended the endowment of a German chair at the institution. The German government sponsored the project, with the Volkswagen Foundation providing additional annual grants.

At a conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Heuss Professorship, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft President Peter Strohschneider called the New School a “mythical place” for those interested in the history of German universities during the 20th century and honored its efforts to promote an “institutionalized transatlantic conversation.” 

Past and Current Heuss Professors

2022-2023: Katharina Schramm, Universität Bayreuth, Anthropology/Professor
2021-2022: Till van Treeck, Institut für Sozioökonomie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Economics/Professor
2019–2020: Jens Beckert, Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung, Sociology/Professor
2019 (spring): Tobias Mueller, Universität Greifswald, Politics/Lecturer
2018 (fall): Trimcev Eno, Universität Greifswald, Politics/Lecturer
2018–2019: Hubertus Buchstein, Universität Greifswald, Politics/Professor
2017 (fall): Caterina Suitner, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Psychology/Lecturer
2017-2018: Anne Maas, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Psychology/Professor
2017 (spring): Sebastian Conrad, Freie Universität Berlin, History/Professor
2016 (fall): Richard Hölzl, Georg August Universität Göttingen, History/Lecturer
2016 (fall): Rebekka Habermas, Georg August Universität Göttingen, History/Professor
2016 (spring): Daniel Loick, Humboldt University, Berlin, Philosophy/Lecturer
2015 (fall): Eva von Redecker, Humboldt University, Berlin, Philosophy/Lecturer
2015-2016: Rahel Jaeggi, Humboldt University, Berlin, Philosophy/Professor
2014–2015: Richard Rottenburg, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg, Anthropology/Professor
2014 (spring): Tobias ten Brink, Politics/Lecturer 
2013–2014: Wolfgang Streeck, Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung and Universität zu Köln, Politics/
Professor 
2013 (spring): Stephan Klasen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Economics/Professor
2013 (spring): Isabel Günther, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Economics/Lecturer 
2012 (fall): Stefan Mittnik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Economics/Professor
2012 (fall): Niyazi Serkan Yener, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Economics/Lecturer
2011–2012: Tilmann Habermas, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Psychology/Professor  
2011 (fall): Nadine Teuber, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Psychology/Lecturer 
2011 (spring): Tim Schanetzky, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, History/Lecturer 
2010 (fall): Tobias Freimüller, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, History/Lecturer
2010–2011: Norbert Frei, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, History/Professor
2009–2010: Thore Prien, Universität Flensburg, Sociology/Assistant Professor and Lecturer
2009–2010: Regina Kreide, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Sociology/Assistant Professor and Lecturer
2009–2010: Hauke Brunkhorst, Universität Flensburg, Sociology/Professor
2009 (spring): Thomas Khurana, Universität Potsdam, Philosophy/Lecturer 
2008–2009: Christoph Menke, Universität Potsdam, Philosophy/Professor 
2008 (fall): Juliane Rebentisch, Universität Potsdam, Philosophy/Lecturer 
2008 (spring): Larissa Förster, Universität zu Köln, Anthropology/Lecturer
2007–2008: Thomas Bierschenk, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Anthropology/Professor
2007 (fall): Nassirou Bako-Arifari, Universität zu Köln, Anthropology/Lecturer 
2007 (spring): Malcolm Dunn, Universität Potsdam, Economics/Professor
2007 (spring): Joseph Ganahl, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Economics/Lecturer 
2006 (fall): Pu Chen, Universität Bielefeld, Economics/Lecturer
2006 (fall): Klaus Peter Flaschel, Universität Bielefeld, Economics/Professor
2006 (spring): Martin Saar, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Political Science/Lecturer
2005–2006: Rainer Forst, Freie Universität Berlin, Political Science/Professor
2005 (fall): Mattias Iser, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Political Science/Lecturer 
2004 (fall): Klaus Fiedler, Universität Heidelberg, Psychology/Professor
2004 (fall): Henning Plessner, Universität Heidelberg, Psychology/Lecturer
2003–2004: Sigrid Meuschel, Universität Leipzig, Sociology/Professor 
2003 (spring): Dieter Haller, La Universidad de Granada, Anthropology/Lecturer 
2002–2003: Thomas Hauschild, Universität Hamburg, Anthropology/Professor 
2002 (fall): Sebastian Rödl, Freie Universität Berlin, Philosophy/Lecturer
2002 (fall): Pirmin Stekeler Weithofer, Universität Leipzig, Philosophy/Professor 
2001–2002: Karl-Heinz Kohl, Freie Universität Berlin, Anthropology/Professor
2001–2002: Holger Jebens, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Anthropology/Lecturer  
2000–2001 (spring): Ulrich Herbert, Freie Universität Berlin, History/Professor
1999–2000: Harald Hagemann, Universität Hohenheim Stuttgart, Economics/Professor
1999–2000: Stephan Seiter, Universität Hohenheim Stuttgart, Economics/Lecturer 
1999 (spring): Peter Kraus, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Political Science/Lecturer
1999 (spring): Claus Offe, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Political Science/Professor
1998 (fall): Manfred Frank, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Philosophy/Professor 
1997–1998: Jens Förster, Universität Würzburg Psychology/Lecturer
1997–1998: Fritz Strack, Universität Würzburg Psychology/Professor
1997 (spring): Wolfgang Knöbl, Freie Universität Berlin, Sociology/Lecturer 
1995–1996: Rainer Forst, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Philosophy/Lecturer
1995–1996: Axel Honneth, Freie Universität Berlin, Philosophy/Professor 
1995 (spring): Johannes Fabian, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Anthropology/Professor 
1994 (fall): Iris Kowalewitsch, Lecturer
1994 (fall): Brigitta Hauser-Schäublin, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Anthropology/Professor
1992–1993: Volker Rittberger, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Political Science/Professor
1992–1993: Beate Jahn, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Political Science/Lecturer 
1991–1992: Karl Dieter-Opp, Universität Hamburg, Sociology/Professor
1990–1991: Heinz Kurz, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Economics/Professor
1990–1991: Christian Gehrke, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Economics/Lecturer
1990 (spring): Gerhard Lehmbruch, Universität Konstanz, Political Science/Professor
1988–1989: Dieter Frey, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Psychology/Professor
1988 (spring): Rainer Lepsius, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Sociology/Professor
1986–1987: Rüdiger Bubner, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Philosophy/Professor  
1985–1986: Martin Seel, Universität Konstanz, Philosophy/Lecturer
1985 (fall): Albrecht Wellmer, Freie Universität Berlin/Universität Konstanz, Philosophy/ Professor
1984–1985: Godehard Czernick, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Sociology/Lecturer
1984–1985: Gerhard Grohs, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Anthropology and Sociology/Professor
1984 (spring): Volker Caspari, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Economics/Lecturer 
1984 (spring): Bertram Schefold, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Economics/Professor Chronology of the Heuss Chair at the New School for Social Research
1982–1983: Tilla Siegel, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Political Science/Lecturer 
1982–1983: Theodor Pirker, Freie Universität Berlin, Political Science/Professor 
1982–1983: Gundolf Otto, Political Science/Lecturer 
1981–1982: Wolfgang Schluchter, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Sociology/Professor
1981–1982: Ottmar Olhausen, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Sociology/Lecturer 
1980–1981: Robert Pettit, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Philosophy/Lecturer
1980–1981: Manfred Riedel, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Philosophy/Professor 
1980 (spring): Hans Hörmann, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Psychology/Professor 
1979 (fall): Rudolf Cohen, Universität Konstanz, Psychology/Professor 
1979 (fall): Fred Rist, Universität Konstanz, Psychology/Lecturer
1979 (spring): Reinhard Kreckel, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Sociology/Professor 
1977–1978: Wilhelm Hennis, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Political Science/Professor
1977–1978: Georg Thurn, Harvard University, Political Science/Lecturer
1977 (spring): Gerhard Funke, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Philosophy/Professor
1977 (spring): Friedrich Pfurtscheller, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Philosophy/Lecturer 
1976 (fall): Wolfgang Kuhlmann, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Philosophy/Lecturer 
1976 (fall): Karl-Otto Apel, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Philosophy/Professor 
1976 (spring): Ernst Vollrath, Universität zu Köln, Philosophy/Professor
1975 (fall): Niklas Luhmann, Universität Bielefeld, Sociology/Professor 
1974–1975: Peter C. Ludz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Political Science/Professor 
1973–1974: Carl F. Graumann, Universität Heidelberg, Psychology/Professor 
1972–1973: Friedrich H. Tenbruck, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Sociology/Professor
1971–1972: Heinrich Popitz, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Sociology/Professor 
1970–1971: Urs Jaeggi, Freie Universität Berlin/Institut für Soziologie der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Sociology/Professor 
1969–1970: Martin Irle, Universität Mannheim, Psychology/Professor 
1968–1969: Iring Fetscher, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Sociology/Professor 
1968 (spring): Renate Mayntz, Universität zu Köln, Sociology/Professor
1967 (fall): Jürgen Habermas, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Sociology/Professor 
1966–1967: Otto von der Gablentz, Freie Universität Berlin, Political Science/Professor 
1962–1963: Helmuth Plessner, Universität Göttingen, Sociology/Scholar