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