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

Direct Exchange – Info Sessions 2026 for Programs in 2027/28 🗓

On Nov 10 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 10, 18:00-19:30P 2 (Philosophicum) Please find all details about the...

Oct 12 – A Conversation With: Josephine Links – Director and Author of WE ALL BLEED RED 🗓

A Conversation With: Josephine Links – Director and Author of We All Bleed Red (2024) Oct 12, 2026, 2 pm, room 00.212 (Philo II, Jakob-Welder-Weg 20) In her documentary We All Bleed Red (2024), Josephine Links takes us behind the work of photographer Martin Schoeller,...

July 16 – Workshop: Supreme Court Amendments and Evangelicals 🗓

Workshop Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies Supreme Court Amendments and Evangelicals July 16, 2026 2-4 p.m. Obama Institute conference room (02.102) Philo II, Jakob-Welder-Weg 20 Please join us for our Workshop on Supreme Court Amendments and...

July 13 – Guest Lecture: The Political Economy of Black Masculinity and Fatherlessness: The Obama Biographies 🗓

Guest Lecture by Cliff "Ubba" Kodero (Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA) The Political Economy of Black Masculinity and Fatherlessness: The Obama Biographies July 13, 2026, 5 pm, room P 7 (Philosophicum) In this developing project, Kodero utilizes life...

July 14 – Guest Lecture: Racialization as Script: Narrative Permission and Differential Racial Time in INTERIOR CHINATOWN 🗓

Guest Lecture by Ren Haiyan (Hunan Normal University, China) Racialization as Script:Narrative Permission and Differential Racial Time in Interior Chinatown July 14, 2026, 5 pm, room P 7 (Philosophicum) In Interior Chinatown, Charles Yu uses the screenplay form, role...

July 8 – Die bipolare Nation: Fourth-of-July Event 2026 🗓

Fourth-of-July Event 2026 presented by the Obama Institute and the Leibniz Institute of European History July 8, 2025, 6 p.m.Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte, Alte Universitätsstraße 19, 55116 Mainz Die bipolare Nation. Was Amerika der Welt gegeben hat. Im...