Stuart Patterson

Stuart Patterson serves as Professor at North Central College's Shimer Great Books School, teaching core curriculum courses and electives since joining the institution in 2017 (with prior Shimer affiliation since 2004). His role encompasses diverse instruction in economic thought, metaphor theory, African American literature, and emerging Chinese literary studies.

• B.A., St. John's College, 1992
• Ph.D. in American Studies, Emory University, 2006 (dissertation: race relations and collective memory in 20th century)

His research traverses Liberal Arts Education, History of Reading, American Cultural History, Metaphor theory, Contemporary Art, Museology, African American Literature, and Classic Chinese Literature. Recent scholarly focus examines museum studies through community memory frameworks and intensive analysis of Cao Xueqin's The Story of the Stone, informed by multiple research trips to China.

Publications reveal interdisciplinary rigor connecting historical analysis with sociological inquiry, particularly regarding New Deal social programs, poverty discourse through biblical interpretation, and museum-based historical construction. This work consistently bridges academic theory with public engagement, as evidenced by contributions to Liberal Education and JSTOR Daily.

Teaching innovations include courses like Why - and What - Should We Read?, Theories of Metaphor, and The Black Chicago Renaissance, reflecting commitment to evolving the Great Books canon toward greater inclusivity while maintaining foundational pedagogical principles.