Welcome to the Obama Institute
for Transnational American Studies!

The Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offers a dynamic and wide-ranging program in both research and teaching for all students interested in topics related to the Americas in a global context.

With a special focus on interculturality, transnationalism, and interdisciplinarity, our expertise lies in the fields of Early American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Life Writing/Life Sciences, Political & Intellectual History, Film & Media Studies, Religion and American Culture, and Materiality.

Contact

Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies
University of Mainz
Jakob-Welder-Weg 20
55128 Mainz
Germany
+49 6131 39-22357
+49 6131 39-29097
Email

November 2025: Lectures and Talks by Obama Fellows and Guests 🗓

The Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies regularly welcomes internationally renowned scholars who contribute to our courses and research program.We invite you to join us in exploring current research trends and to meet leading people in American Studies...

Dec 2 – Guest Lecture CRC 1482: The Commercial Fan Magazine Between Fandom and Brandom 🗓

Guest Lecture by Dr. Matt Hills (University of Bristol) “This is Very Much Not On-Message for DWM”: The Commercial Fan Magazine Between Fandom and Brandom — Doctor Who Magazine in the Disney/“RTD2” Era December 2, 2025, 6-8pm, P 6 (Philosophicum) This talk will build...

Direct Exchange – Info Sessions 2025 for Programs in 2026/27 🗓

On Nov 13 the Obama Institute will hold an info session on its Direct Exchange programs. Please join us in room P 2 (Philosophicum) for more information about the exciting exchange opportunities! Nov 13, 18:00-19:30P 2 (Philosophicum) Please find all details about the...

Nov 25 – Guest Lecture: Childrearing Discourses, Early U.S. Periodicals, and the THE MISSIONARY HERALD, 1810s 🗓

Guest Lecture by Layla Koch (University of Heidelberg) "O that our Children": Childrearing Discourses, Early U.S. Periodicals, and the The Missionary Herald, 1810s November 25, 2025, 6-8pm, P 6 (Philosophicum) The Panoplist, later renamed to The Missionary Herald, was...

Nov 11 – Autorenlesung: Drew Hayden Taylor liest aus COLD 🗓

Autorenlesung Alles beginnt mit einem Flugzeugabsturz... 11. November 2025, 13:30, N.106, Campus Germersheim Drew Hayden Taylor liest aus seinem Roman COLD. Aus dem Englischen von Leo Strohmca. 445 SeitenErscheinungstermin: 30. Oktober 2025 Alles beginnt mit einem...

Nov 11 – Guest Lecture: Introducing Scottish Magazine Culture, from BLACKWOOD’S to RADICAL SCOTLAND 🗓

Guest Lecture by Scott Hames (University of Stirling, Scotland, UK) Introducing Scottish Magazine Culture, from Blackwood's to Radical Scotland November 11, 2025, 6-8pm, P 6 (Philosophicum) Periodicals have been unusually central to Scottish literary culture, and have...