Steven Shoemaker

Steven Shoemaker is a Lecturer in English at Yale University, with over 30 years of experience teaching writing and literature at institutions including Harvard University and the University of Virginia. He has served as Director of College Writing and the Roth Writing Center at Connecticut College. His research focuses on intersections of cognitive science, neuroscience, and literary studies, particularly exploring embodied mind theory in works by authors like Hemingway. He is the editor of Thinking Poetics: Essays on George Oppen (2009) and is currently working on The Poetics of Embodied Mind.

Education:

• B.S., University of Maryland, 1986
• Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1996

Research Interests: Shoemaker investigates how cognitive science and neuroscience inform teaching practices and literary analysis. He emphasizes embodied mind theory in analyzing modernist literature, with recent work examining Hemingway’s exploration of gender identity and metafiction. His pedagogical approaches integrate neuroplasticity and mindfulness to foster creativity and critical thinking in students.

Presentations: Recent talks include discussions on Thoreau, Walcott, and neuroscientific approaches to writing instruction at conferences like the Modern Language Association and the Thoreau Society.

Grants & Labs: No specific grants or lab affiliations listed, though his work emphasizes innovative teaching methodologies and interdisciplinary research collaborations.