LOS ANGELES The Republic of Austria recently honored an associate professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs for his role in promoting the country’s culture and his scholarly works.
Martin Weiss, Austrian Consul General for the Western United States, presented Robert von Dassanowsky, associate professor, Languages and Cultures, with the Decoration of Honor in Silver during a Nov. 21 ceremony at Weiss’ Los Angeles residence. The award was recommended by Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel. Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer issued a decree earlier this year, bestowing upon von Dassanowsky the Decoration of Honor in Silver.
Von Dassanowsky was recognized for his scholarly work in Austrian literary, cultural, and film studies, and for his role in founding organizations such as the Austrian Film Association. Von Dassanowsky recently published “Austrian Cinema: A History” which is considered the first comprehensive English-language survey of Austrian film development.
“I am deeply grateful to the Austrian government for bestowing this honor upon me and for recognizing the quality of the scholarship at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs,” von Dassanowsky said. “I also wish to personally thank President Fischer, Consul General Weiss and the Austrian ambassador in Washington D.C., Dr. Eva Nowotny” von Dassanowsky said.
A member of the university faculty since 1993, von Dassanowsky currently serves as chair of the university’s Languages and Cultures Department and directs the Film Studies program. His areas of expertise include German and Austrian literature and culture, international cinema history and film theory, and popular culture. He earned bachelor’s, master’s and a PhD. in Germanic languages from the University of California, Los Angeles.
For more information about Austria, visit http://www.bmaa.gv.at/view.php3?r_id=2063&LNG=en&version=
UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,800 students annually.