About
Ian W. Wilson is the H. W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of German at Centre College, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He has been a member of the faculty since 2003 and is affiliated with the German Studies, Film Studies, and African & African American Studies programs.
His education includes a BA in Comparative Literature and German from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an MA and PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Wilson's research centers on the intersections of literature, politics, and space in contemporary Europe. His work explores German literature, film, Holocaust memory, and cosmopolitanism. He has published on authors such as W.G. Sebald, Elfriede Jelinek, and Barbara Honigmann, and examines how literature interacts with photography, film, and public memory.
His recent publications reflect a strong focus on European identity, political discourse, and cultural memory, particularly in post-war and contemporary contexts. Themes of displacement, intercultural dialogue, and memorialization recur across his scholarship.
- Fulbright Scholar (2000-01)
- Fulbright Award (2012)
- Centre Rookie of the Year (2004)
- Kirk Award for Excellence in Teaching (2005)
- Centre Scholar (2009, 2015)
Wilson has been actively involved in student mentorship through teaching, study abroad programs in Strasbourg and Central Europe, and interdisciplinary course development. He directed the Centre-in-Strasbourg program twice and regularly leads CentreTerm trips focusing on World War II memory, German Romanticism, and intercultural studies. While specific graduate students are not listed, his role as a professor and mentor is evident through his teaching excellence and academic leadership. He has secured competitive grants including two Fulbrights to support his research.
He is engaged in academic leadership as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and previously served as Assistant Dean of General Education. His work bridges scholarship, pedagogy, and institutional service.
