Harmut Heep, associate professor of German and comparative literature at Penn State Schuylkill, was selected as a 2015 recipient of the David M. Sokol Area Chairs Award.
Heep received the award at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) National Conference in New Orleans on April 1 to 4. The mission of the PCA/ACA is to promote the study of popular culture throughout the world through the establishment and promotion of conferences, publications and discussion.
Heep has participated in this organization and presented scholarly papers on men/men’s studies since 1994. He became the Men/Men’s Studies Area Chair for the national convention in 2003 and has increased visibility of the discipline over the last 10 years, also gradually increasing the number of presenters in the area.
“The field of women’s studies is well established," said Heep. "With this award, I hope to broaden the gender studies discussion by including all aspects of masculinity. Men's studies is an essential part of initiating meaningful change.”