The endowment for the Distinguished Austrian Chair Professorship was established in 1977. This year the Forum is pleased to welcome Astrid Fellner (English and American Studies, University of Vienna) as the 2008-2009 Distinguished Austrian Chair. Professor Fellner will teach in the Department of Comparative Literature during the Winter and Spring quarters of 2009. She is preceeded by former Distinguished Austrian Chairs Andreas Wiebe (Law, 2007-2008), and Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl(Music, 2006-2007).