Peter L. Hahn, a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of History, has been named a 2025 Distinguished University Professor, the highest faculty honor at The Ohio State University. Senior leadership notified Hahn of his selection during a surprise classroom visit on April 17.
“Professor Hahn’s contributions to our understanding of history and U.S. foreign policy have been extraordinary across the arc of his career,” said Ravi V. Bellamkonda, executive vice president and provost. “I am proud that he has devoted more than three decades to pursuing excellence at Ohio State and to sharing his expertise through his commitment to teaching and mentorship.”
Hahn is a prominent scholar, recognized for his extensive contributions to the field of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East. His work has significantly shaped the understanding of U.S. diplomatic history and international relations, earning him recognition as a leading expert in his field.
He has authored eight books, co-edited a collection of articles and published nearly 100 scholarly reviews, essays and commentaries. His research has been supported by prestigious fellowships, including from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Scholar Program and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In recognition of his research achievements, Hahn received the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations’ Distinguished Service Award in 2017 and the Stuart L. Bernath Lecture Prize in 1998.
In addition to his research, during his more than 30-year tenure at Ohio State, Hahn has exemplified excellence in teaching and mentorship. He has developed and taught courses on U.S. foreign policy and modern U.S. history, including a study abroad program focusing on World War II in Europe. Hahn has mentored nearly 40 PhD students and 34 master’s students, many of whom have gone on to prestigious careers. He provided 15 years of combined leadership to the College of Arts and Sciences as dean of Arts and Humanities and chair of the Department of History, and he also served as executive director of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations for 13 years.
Hahn served by invitation on an American Council of Learned Societies national committee of deans focused on maintaining excellence in the humanities and has lectured worldwide, including at the National Institute for Defense Studies in Japan and the Munk School of Global Affairs in Toronto. He is frequently sought by media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR and Politico.
Distinguished University Professor is a permanent, honorific title awarded annually to up to six tenure-track professors who have been at Ohio State for at least five years and have demonstrated truly exceptional records in teaching, research, scholarly or creative work and in service. Distinguished University Professors automatically become members of the President's and Provost's Advisory Committee. In addition, recipients are awarded a $30,000 one-time grant to support their academic work. The honorees each received a surprise classroom visit from university leadership announcing the award.