Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Toronto
Faculty member Markus Stock, a professor in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, the Centre for Medieval Studies, and Principal of University College, was recently awarded the Hermann Boeschenstein Medal by German Studies Canada.
Named after a former University of Toronto and University College professor, the medal is the highest honour awarded by the association and is only conferred on occasion to someone who has made substantial contributions to the field in a humanitarian spirit.
“Markus has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the discipline and its allied fields in Canada and internationally, including stewarding its future,” said former association president and principal award facilitator Dr. Carrie Smith at the award ceremony last Thursday. “He was deeply involved in the collaborative work to expand our organization’s scope while his presidency coincided with substantial legal work and achieving consensus among members.”
First awarded in 1987 and named after one of Canada’s most distinguished and beloved scholars of German, the decision to confer the award is made at the discretion of a selection committee, which last issued the award in 2021.
“This is the honour of a lifetime,” said Stock, “I have found such a strong community and lifelong collegial friendships in German Studies Canada. It’s wonderful to be nominated by colleagues and students in this way.”
Stock was recognized for his administrative, research, and teaching excellence upon review of over fifteen letters of support from more than ten institutions globally, including substantial student feedback. Nominators highlighted his collaborative approach in addition to his “encouraging, friendly, and supportive leadership style.”
“Without his continuous dedication, the ties between German Studies in Germany and German Studies in Canada would be far weaker than they are today,” said one of Stock’s former students. Another student described him as a “relentless and passionate champion” of undergraduate research and education.
His research was also praised by his nominators, having “spanned all of what [German Studies] has to offer” through its traditional and emerging approaches, in addition to his stewardship as a “scientific and cultural mediator between Canada and Europe, and a transcultural mediator for not only German Studies, but the state of research in general.”
“While the Boeschenstein Medal doesn’t necessarily single out academic administrative leadership and excellence, I would argue that it is here where Markus’s quieter — but likely most transformative — efforts are situated and will make an impact on how universities view the role of the humanities,” concluded Smith. She also noted Stock’s commitment to a more equitable university, and by extension, the evolution of equity in Canadian society, through his efforts which established an MA in Yiddish when he was Chair of the German Department, and the Certificate in Black Canadian Studies as principal of University College.
While the medal doesn’t necessarily single out academic administrative leadership and excellence, I would argue that it is here where Markus’s quieter efforts will make an impact on how universities view the role of the humanities. While I know he is looking at me now and thinking, ‘but it wasn’t just me, there were many who ensured this and other interventions happened,’ — it is because of him that these types of transformations even seemed possible.
Carrie Smith, Vice Provost, Access, Community and Belonging, University of Alberta
“His forward-looking vision in the journal Seminar, and especially the issue on Indigenous Studies and German Studies, was repeatedly named as a deeply important, ‘groundbreaking,’ and an ethical contribution to the field,” Smith acknowledged during her remarks. “While I know he is looking at me now and thinking, ‘but it wasn’t just me, there were many who ensured this and other interventions happened,’ — it is because of him that these types of transformations even seemed possible.
“Indeed, I recall Markus approaching me during Congress at the University of Calgary and asking whether I’d be willing to stand as co-editor with him. I remember thinking ‘oh please, no — I can’t take this on right now’, just as quickly followed by: ‘I would never want to do this with anyone else.’”
Congratulations to Professor Stock on this well-deserved award!
