PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Professional Service – University of Fribourg

  • Co-organizer, with Prof. Julia Straub, of a CUSO Workshop, “Mothers and Their Others in Literary and Cultural Studies,” Fribourg, February 22, 2025.
  • Institutional Sponsor for Lina Serir (Tlemcen University, Algeria, PhD 2025) for a one-year Swiss Excellency Fellowship, AY 2024-2025.
  • Organizer, two panels of the Robert Lowell Society at the ALA Conference, Chicago, May 22-25, 2024.
  • MOVETIA visit to Boğaziçi University (Istanbul) for eight hours teaching on (1) Modernist American Poetry and (2) Toni Morrison’s A Mercy, April 22-26, 2023.
  • Host and moderator, Book discussion group sponsored by the U.S. Embassy Bern on the occasion of Women’s History Month, of Chemistry Lessons by Bonnie Garmus, March 15, 2023.
  • Director, Biennial Conference of the Swiss Association of North American Studies.  Fribourg, November 18-19, 2022.  Keynote speakers: Prof. Jim Phelan (The Ohio State University) and Prof. Natasha Trethewey (Northwestern University). https://events.unifr.ch/sanas22/en/
  • [with Aurélie Zurbrügg] Organizer, CUSO Doctoral Conference, “New Perspectives on Rhetoric, Authorship, and Narrative.”  Fribourg, November 17, 2022.  Invited Speakers:  Prof. Jim Phelan (The Ohio State University) and Prof. Ingo Berensmeyer (University of Munich)
  • Treasurer, Swiss Association for North American Studies (SANAS), January 2022 –
  • Member, Search committee for Professor of Modern English Literature, U. of Fribourg, Fall 2021 / Spring 2022
  • Discussion evening with Fribourg students about the American elections, organized and invited by the English Fachschaft, TEAMS, December 7, 2020
  • Four live interview segments (total 22 minutes) on RadioFreiburg on the U.S. Presidential Elections, November 4, 2020
  • Online visit to Gaetan Maret’s high school class on Career Day, October 1, 2020
  • Reader / Evaluator for Amerikastudien / American Studies, 2020, 2021, 2022
  • Outside evaluator of doctoral thesis on Gjertrud Schnackenberg, by Alexandra Kraeva, U. of Mulhouse. February 3, 2020
  • Co-organizer for swissuniversities-sponsored one-day workshop entitled “Transnational Conversations”. Multilingual Writing and Cultural Exchange in Europe and the Americas. Guest: Dr. Jennifer Reimer, U. of Graz. December 6, 2019
  • “Expert” and “Examiner” on Federal Matura Exams in English conducted by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. Beginning Fall 2019, ongoing.
  • Served on Habilitation Committee for Dr. Sonja Klimek, Department of German, Fall 2019
  • Served on Dissertation Committee for Sebastian Imoberdorf, Identidades múltiples — Hibridismo cultural y social en la narrativa hispanounidense de los siglos XX y XXI, November 2019
  • Organizer, Swiss European Mobility Exchange visit by Dr. Snezana Vuletic, LMU München, for multiple guest lectures. “Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun” and “An Introduction to Postcolonial Criticism.” November 11-15, 2019
  • Radio Interview conducted by Valentin Brügger of Radio Freiburg with Prof. Austenfeld, on the occasion of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s visit to the University, November 14, 2019
  • Organizer, Guest Lecture by Zoe Boekbinder, New Orleans, “The Folsom Prison Project,” October 29, 2019
  • Member, Search committee for Full Professor of English Literature, U. of Fribourg, Fall 2019
  • Organizer, Guest Lecture by Dr. Sascha Pöhlmann, U. of Konstanz, “Walt Whitman and Future-Founding Poetry,” October 22, 2019
  • Member, Search committee for Full Professor of Spanish Literature, U. of Fribourg, Fall 2019
  • Co-organizer, with Patrizia Zanella, of CUSO Workshop, Literary Texts and Legal Epistemologies in North American Indigenous Studies.  Guest: Prof. Jill Doerfler, Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies, University of Minnesota-Duluth.
  • Radio interview on “Echo der Zeit” (SRF) on the death of Toni Morrison. Tuesday, August 6, 2019, 18:00h.
  • Served as Secretary-General and Treasurer to IAUPE, The International Association of University Professors of English, from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2019
  • Discussant, International Whitman Week, Liberal Studies, New York University, May 27-June 1, 2019. Organized by Prof. Karen Karbiener.
  • Hosted Mariam Taha, Cairo University, for a 6-month dissertation research stay.
  • Organizer, Guest lectures by Prof. Frank Mehring, Radboud University, Nijmegen.  “Confessin’ the Blues: Sonic Life Writing” and “The Weary Blues: Remediating the Literary Harlem Renaissance in Visual Culture.” May 6 and 7, 2019.
  • Head, Department of English, University of Fribourg.  Elected for term from January 2019 to July 2021.
  • Organizer, CUSO Workshop for Doctoral Candidates. “American Literature and the Archive.” Guest: Prof. Randall Fuller, Herman Melville Distinguished Chair of 19th Century Literature, University of Kansas.  Fribourg, April 12-13, 2018.
  • Senior Editor (Southern Literature), Editorial Board, Oxford Research Encyclopedia Literature, 2015-2019. http://oxfordre.com/literature/page/editorial/editorial-board
  • Spring 2018, External Member of a Promotion Commission, University of Basel
  • Organizer, “The Sacred Word,” Poetry event with Don Paterson and Marie-Elsa Bragg. Fribourg, March 15, 2018.
  • Convener and Director, “Beyond the Alps: Robert Lowell in Europe. The Centennial Conference.”  March 30 – April 2, 2017. Supporting Grants received from the Forschungspool der Universität Freiburg, the Schweizerische Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, and the Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation SBFI.
  • Coordinator, weekend seminar visit by Prof. Mathilde Roza, Radboud University Nijmegen, November 2016. “Teaching The Orenda.”
  • 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018: Commentator on American Presidential and Midterm Elections, Radio Fribourg (francophone).
  • Coordinator, Fulbright Senior Scholar Visitor Prof. Richard Kopley, Pennsylvania State University emeritus, guest lecturer and researcher in Fribourg September 25-October 13, 2016.
  • Chair, Struktur- und Berufungskommission “Islamische Studien” in der Philosophischen Fakultät und dem Schweizerischen Zentrum für Islam und Gesellschaft, Fribourg, March-December, 2016.
  • Coordinator, guest lecture by Prof. Mita Banerjee, Mainz University, December 2015. “Naturalism and Naturalization.”
  • Host and organizer (with Patrizia Zanella) of SANAS Mini-Conference, “American Earth: Ecocriticism and American Studies,” November 2015, Fribourg. Keynote speakers: Prof. Scott Slovic, University of Idaho and Prof. Alexa Weik von Mossner, University of Klagenfurt.
  • President of the Department of Languages and Literature, July 2015 – June 2017.
  • Sponsor, Three-months’ research visit by Ieva Stoncikaite, doctoral student from the Universitat de Lleida, fall 2015. “Erica Jong and Aging.”
  • Coordinator, guest lecture by Prof. Jiri Flajsar, Palacky University, Olomouc, May 2015. “Suburbia from Novel to Film.”
  • Coordinator, weekend seminar visit by Prof. Hans Bak, Radboud University Nijmegen, April 2015. “Malcolm Cowley’s Exile’s Return.”
  • Sponsor, Three-months’ research visit to the English department by Dr. Federico Bellini, Università Cattolica, Milano, spring 2015. “Melville’s Novels.”
  • Coordinator, guest lecture by Prof. Larry Howe, Roosevelt University Chicago and Distinguished Fulbright Scholar at Syddansk U., Denmark, March 3, 2015. “Power and Primitivism in Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones.“
  • Participant, SSASA Symposium 2014, “New Writing, New Voice, New Directions.” Salzburg, Schloss Leopoldskron, September 27-October 1, 2014.
  • Delegate of the Humanities Faculty to the Professorial Plenary of the University of Fribourg, August 2014-June, 2016
  • “Rapporteur,” Subcommittee of Horizon 2020, tasked with reimagining Faculty Governance, 2014-2015
  • President, “Kommission Katholische Seelsorge,” August 2013- June 2016
  • Member, search committee for Professor of Modern History (francophone), spring 2014
  • Member, search committee for Professor of German Literature, 2013-2014
  • Taught “American Short Stories” as part of a Continuing Education event, February 12, 2014
  • “Responsable du domaine Anglais”/ Head of English Department, July 2013-June 2015
  • Coordinator, guest lecture by Prof. Kathy Lou Schultz, University of Memphis, October 8, 2013. “The Harlem Renaissance.”
  • October 2013, Member of an invited vice-rectoral commission to evaluate the work of the Faculty of Letters, University of Lausanne
  • Coordinator, Visit by American poet Dana Gioia to the University of Fribourg, April 27-30, 2013. Funding for this visit provided in part by the Fondation Jan Michalski, Montricher, Switzerland.
  • Host Mentor for a SCIEX project on writer Gary Shteyngart, conducted by Dr. Enikö Maior (Partium University, Oradea, Romania) at the University of Fribourg, January 15-July 15, 2013.
  • Coordinator, Guest lecture by Prof. Peter Barry, Aberystwyth University. “Poems in Chains: Conversations Among American Poems.” Fribourg, September 25, 2012.
  • Conference Director, Narrenschiff / Ship of Fools: A Transatlantic Encounter, Fribourg and Basel, May 10-12, 2012. Financial support granted by the Schweizer Staatssekretariat für Bildung und Forschung.
  • Coordinator, Guest lecture by His Excellency, the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, Donald S. Beyer, Jr. “American elections and the role of the media.” May 3, 2012.
  • Co-organizer (with Boris Vejdovsky, Lausanne) of the CUSO seminar, “Aesthetics and Politics; Or, What’s Entitled to be Beautiful Today?”, March 22-23, 2012, Crêt-Bérard.
  • Organizer (with Brigitte Zaugg, Metz) of the EAAS workshop # 14, “Physical Hygiene, Mental Health, and the Growth of a Nation: Literature in the Service of Advancing America,” Izmir, March 30-April 2, 2012.
  • Coordinator, Guest lecture by Prof. Meg Tyler, Boston University. “The State of the American Lyric in the 21st Century.” Cosponsored by the Fulbright Commission. March 15, 2012.
  • Dean, Faculty of Humanities (Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines / Philosophische Fakultät), the largest academic division within the University of Fribourg, comprising areas of study in Languages and Literatures (French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, Latin and Greek, Multilingualism), Ancient / Medieval / Modern / Contemporary History, European Studies, Archaeology, Art History, Musicology, Philosophy, Social Sciences and Social Work, Education, Special Education and Speech Therapy, Psychology), elected to a two-year term from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011, with all duties thereunto appertaining: Lead six faculty meetings (a body composed of about 140 elected members representing approx. 80 professors, 250 scientific collaborators, 4000+ students) per academic year in German; lead biweekly deans’ council meetings in French; lead regular sessions of the council of department presidents; develop and oversee administrative policies for the faculty and implement them within the University; plan and coordinate educational and fiscal policy of the dean’s office and represent the faculty vis-à-vis the Rectorate and the administrative arm of the University; organize structural and search committees for new and vacant posts; chair all German-speaking search committees (French-speaking committees are chaired by appropriate francophone vice-deans); chair dissertation defenses and “Habilitation” presentations in German or English; bestow doctoral degrees and titles of “Privatdozent”; approve and sign by hand all diplomas, awards, and admission letters sent out by the Faculty; lead multilingual diploma and graduation ceremonies three times per year; welcome conferences across the disciplines within the Faculty; assure continuous functioning of the faculty during intersemesters. <http://lettres.unifr.ch/fr/faculte/decanat.html>
  • Spring 2011, External Member of a Promotion Commission, University of Lausanne
  • Coordinator, Fulbright Senior Scholar Visitor Prof. Eric Carl Link, University of Memphis, guest lecturer and researcher in Fribourg April 3 – May 13, 2011.
  • Co-organizer (with Prof. Jens Herlth and Prof. Dimiter Daphinoff) of the international conference “Terrorism through the Lens of Literary Epistemology: Historical Imagination and Narrative Practice,” Fribourg, December 2-4, 2010, co-sponsored by the SNF, the Staatssekretariat für Bildung und Forschung, and the Rectorate of the University of Fribourg.
  • Coordinator, Guest Lecture by visiting scholar, Prof. Diederik Oostdijk, Free University Amsterdam, November 10, 2010, with a presentation on “American Poetry of the Vietnam War.”
  • Invited Panelist, CRUS Conference, “Qualität der Forschung in den Geisteswissenschaften,” Zürich, October 27-28, 2010.
  • Participant, Salzburg Global Seminar (SSASAA), “To Honor Emory Elliott: American Literary History in a New Key,” September 24-27, 2010, Schloss Leopoldskron Salzburg.
  • (Ongoing): serve as manuscript reader for Great Plains Quarterly, Mosaic, PMLA, L’Analisi linguistica e letteraria (Milano), and the University of Alabama Press.
  • Coordinator, Guest Lecture by visiting scholar, Prof. Jewel Spears Brooker, Eckerd College, May 25-27, 2010, with a presentation on the early work of T.S. Eliot. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Bern.
  • Participant, Salzburg Global Seminar (SSASAA), “Globalization and American Popular Culture,” September 25-28, 2009, Schloss Leopoldskron Salzburg.
  • Coordinator, Guest Lecture by visiting scholar, Prof. Sandra Spanier, Pennsylvania State University, on September 15, 2009. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Bern.
  • Coordinator, Guest Lecture by visiting poet and publisher, Paul Tayyar, on March 17, 2009. Sponsored by SANAS.Coordinator, Guest Lecture by Visiting Fulbright Professor of American Studies, Michael A. Rozendal, on February 17, 2009. Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, Bern.
  • Participant, Salzburg Global Seminar (SSASAA), “Transnationalism and Immigration Shock in American Society and Literature,” October 30-November 2, 2008, Schloss Leopoldskron Salzburg.
  • Member, Commission “30+” for examination and admission of students without High School “maturité” exam.
  • Co-organizer (with Agnieszka Soltysik and Patrick Vincent) of the SANAS Conference 2008, “Writing American Women: Text, Gender, Performance” and the Troisième Cycle Colloquium, “Disciplinary Formations” at Crêt-Bérard, November 13-15, 2008.
  • Member, Commission de structure et d’appel, Sciences de l’Antiquité, Fall 2008.
  • Member, Academic Board of the American College Program, Fribourg (ongoing).
  • Awarded € 1400 in print subvention support by the “Commission des Publications, Conseil de l’Université Fribourg,” May 2008, for Kay Boyle for the Twenty-First Century.
  • Member, Strukturkommission Germanistik, Summer/Fall 2008.
  • Member, Groupe Pilotage, “Restructuration de la Faculté des Lettres,” 2008-2009.
  • Visit to the University of Mississippi for the purpose of negotiating an exchange agreement, April 2008.
  • Panel moderator, “Master Evening,” February 28, 2008.
  • Session Organizer, Kay Boyle Society, American Literature Association, San Francisco, May 2008.
  • Member, “Commission des Règlements,” 2007-2008
  • Member, Commission on “Leitbild / Charte” of the Faculty of Philosophy, 2007-2008.
  • Convener, Kay Boyle Business Meeting, ALA Boston May 2007, ALA San Francisco May 2008.
  • Chaired Western American Literature Association meeting, “Things That Go Boom: Sites of Trauma in the American West,” at ALA, Boston, May 2007.
  • Negotiated exchange agreement between University of Fribourg and North Georgia College & State University, May 2007.
  • Outside specialist, Matura Exams Collège Gambach, June 2007, June 2008.
  • Chair, Western Literature Association Panel at the ALA Boston, May 2007.
  • Host and organizer of SANAS “Reading Group” (Will Kaufmann) in Fribourg, April 27, 2007.
  • Examiner and “Assesseur” on oral exams, Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Spring 2008.
  • Occasional Organist, University Chapel, 2006-2007.
  • Hosted Thanksgiving dinner for exchange students, November 2006.
  • Exchange Program Coordinator (assisted by Dr. Alexa Weik v. Mossner, 2009-2012) for Fribourg-Arizona, Fribourg-Mississippi, Fribourg-Omaha student exchanges.