Stephen Casmier

Stephen Casmier is a Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Louis University, holding the Georgia K. Johnston endowed chair. His research focuses on 20th-21st century African American literature, particularly the Black Arts Movement, media's impact on consciousness, and postcolonial/diaspora literatures. He authored African American Literature of the 21st Century and the Black Arts: The Case of John Edgar Wideman (2021), analyzing Wideman’s work within the Black Aesthetic tradition. His scholarship spans journals like Black Camera, MELUS, and Teaching Comedy, addressing themes from Afrofuturism to olfactory symbolism in literature.

Dr. Casmier’s research also intersects with media studies, exploring topics like scientific racism’s olfactory legacies and historical memory in films like I Am Not Your Negro. His writing appears in outlets such as NPR’s Code Switch and Medium.com. He has produced documentaries, including a French-subtitled work on African independence movements. His academic contributions reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary analysis of race, culture, and aesthetics in both canonical and contemporary texts.

While no specific grants or student advising details are listed, his work emphasizes transnational Black cultural production and the evolution of literary forms. He currently holds office at Adorjan Hall and maintains an active presence in both academic and public intellectual spaces.