Mourning for Professor Hans-Wolfgang Schaller

Hans-Wolfgang Schaller studied English, History and German Studies at the Universities of Göttingen, Vienna and Colorado, USA. He began his teaching career in 1968 at King's College, University of London, and was then a research assistant, Academic Councillor and Senior Councillor at the Department of English Philology in Göttingen. From 1992, he was Professor of English and American Studies at the Erfurt University of Education (PH) and was also its Rector from 1996 to 2000. With his professorship, which became part of the Faculty of Philosophy after the integration of the PH, he also stood for the new beginning of today's University of Erfurt as an academic himself. His research focussed on the American novel, in particular historical novels and those of the 20th century, the work of William Faulkner and the cultural and intellectual history of the USA against the background of its European roots.

The President of the University of Erfurt, Professor Walter Bauer-Wabnegg, paid tribute to Schaller's commitment as a lecturer and his special services to the integration of the University of Education into the new University of Erfurt. "Professor Schaller took up a difficult position as the last rector of the PH in 1996. His term of office ended with the successful integration, of which Professor Schaller is one of the fathers. We are very grateful to him for this. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. We will not forget him."