Werner Stavenhagen

Werner Stavenhagen is a Lecturer in the Writing Program at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). He holds a Ph.D. in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric from Syracuse University (2016), an MA in English from La Sierra University (1997), and a BA in Theology from Pacific Union College (1990). His work bridges environmental advocacy, contemplative practices, and pedagogical innovation.

Stavenhagen’s research focuses on intersections between gratitude, meditation, and planetary health. He explores how nature-based contemplation and AI tools enhance writing and environmental awareness. Key areas include ecological rhetoric, experiential learning, and mindfulness in education. His book The Chase (2022) reinterprets biblical texts through an ecocritical lens.

His recent presentations address AI literacy in classrooms (2023), transformative pedagogy (2022), and Zoom pedagogy (2021). He teaches courses like Environmental Writing and Science/Environmental Professional Writing (EWP 407).

Stavenhagen’s writings emphasize co-creative relationships between humans and nature, advocating for kinship-based education and ethical communication practices.