Heike Paul

Prof. Dr. Heike Paul is a leading scholar in American Studies at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), specializing in U.S. literature, culture, and political narratives. Her work bridges disciplines like Global Sentimentality, American Myths, and Mobility Studies, with a focus on Gender and Postcolonial Perspectives.

• Chair of American Studies, FAU (2004–present)
• Director, Bavarian American Academy (2017–present)

Research Interests include:

• Transnational American Myths (e.g., Columbus, Pocahontas)
• Sentimentality and Extraction (analyzing U.S. cultural and environmental dynamics)
• Reeducation after 1945 (German-American cultural/political dialogues)
• Black Atlantic and Mobility (African American/Afro-Canadian narratives)

Her recent publications explore Global Melodrama, Tacit Knowledge, and Populism, reflecting interdisciplinary trends in affect theory and cultural analysis. Scientific accolades highlight her impact:

• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2018)
• Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst (2021)
• Member, Bavarian Academy of Sciences (2019)
• Thomas Mann House Fellowship (2020–2021)

Paul mentors young scholars and collaborates with international institutions, emphasizing public scholarship through media, museums, and political education programs.