New director of SINAS

Adam Hjorthén has been appointed director of the Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS), succeeding Dag Blanck. He assumed the role on January 1, 2026.

Hjorthén is associate professor of history and has been senior lecturer in North American Studies since 2020. "It is with both great excitement and humility that I enter this role as director of the institute," he says. "SINAS is a special place in the Swedish academic landscape, being the only center in Sweden for interdisciplinary American studies. It has an important function in fostering research and education on North America and the United States. I look forward to continuing the work of developing SINAS together with colleagues at Uppsala University and beyond."

SINAS was founded in 1985 as an independent center, and in 2003 became part of the Department of English. It was previously led by Arne Axelsson (acting director 1985–1987), Erik Åsard (1987–2012) and Dag Blanck (2012–2025). Hjorthén is the fourth director in SINAS's history.