Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Executive Director of the Austrian-American Educational Commission (the Fulbright Commission in Austria), has received the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art First Class from Dr. Karlheinz Töchterle, the Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research, for deepening ties between Austria and the United States. The honor was awarded to Dr. Johnson on June 21, 2011 as part of an award ceremony for those receiving high honors of the Republic of Austria at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research in Vienna.

Dr. Töchterle congratulated the awardees not only on their “extraordinary achievements in their respective fields, but also on the impressive careers of these outstanding personalities.” Their professional contributions have also especially strengthened Austria as a science and research location, he added.

“After his studies in Austria and the U.S., Johnson’s academic career began as Associate Director at the Institute for European Studies. From 1991 to 1994, he was Associate Director for Program Development at the Institute for Human Sciences (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen). He was then employed at the Austrian Academic Exchange Service (Österreichischen Akademischen Austauschdienst), where his last position was as Director of the Office of International Relations. Since 1997, Johnson has led the oldest and largest academic exchange program between Austria and the United States. His books on Austria, including Introducing Austria: A Short History, Vienna: The Past and the Present as well as Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors, Friends, are also used as textbooks at U.S. universities.”