Steven Wagschal

Steven Wagschal is a Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University Bloomington and Director of the Hispanic Literature Program. His work bridges early modern Spanish literature with cognitive science and animal studies.

• Education: Ph.D., Columbia University (1999); M.A., Columbia University (1992); B.A., Concordia University (1991)
• Affiliations: Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Cognitive Science Program, Renaissance Studies Program

Wagschal’s research explores textual expressions of mental phenomena, including emotions (disgust, jealousy), sensory perception, and non-human animal cognition. He examines works by Cervantes, Calderón, De Zayas, Garcilaso, and visual artists like Velázquez.

His recent publications focus on cognitive approaches to literature and sensory experiences in Iberian cultures. Awards include the IDAH Faculty Fellowship (2021), MIND Award for Teaching (2020), and multiple grants for interdisciplinary projects.

• Key Research Themes:
  • Intersections of literary studies, cognitive science, and animal studies
  • Emotion theory in Golden Age prose and theater
  • Sensory perception in early modern Iberian literature

He has taught graduate seminars on Cervantes, madness, and cognitive theory, alongside undergraduate courses on Don Quixote and Hispanic literature.