Donald Hancock

Professor Emeritus

Vanderbilt lured Don Hancock from The University of Texas in 1979. He had already made a name for himself for starting a Center for European Studies at UT. In 1981, Hancock founded a Center of European Studies at Vanderbilt, where he served as the founding director until 2000. The center became an important resource on campus and a national and international distinction for our university. From 2000 to 2002, he was the Chair of the Political Science department.

Hancock's warm and generous personality combined with his love for European Politics made him a favorite teacher. His classes were highly sought after by students. In his long and rich career, he wrote or edited nine major books and many important articles that made a strong impact on his area of expertise. Hancock was recognized as Professor Emeritus in 2009, but he continued his work afterward, remaining close with the Center for European Studies.

Professor Hancock passed away in 2019.

Grants and Awards

Recipient of the Ernst A. Jones Arts and Science Adviser Award, 1999

Co-recipient, Pan-European Research Planning Group Award, Council for European Studies, 1994-1996

Invited observer by the German government of the 1983, 1990, and 1994 national German elections

Co-recipient, Research Planning Group award, Council for European Studies, 1987-1989

Vanderbilt University Research Council summer research grants, 1980, 1988, 1993