Steven P. Schneider

Steven P. Schneider is an American poet, critic, and professor of English at the University of Texas-Pan American, where he serves as director of new programs and special projects in the College of Arts and Humanities. He is the author of three books of poetry, Borderlines: Drawing Border Lives (Wings Press), a collaborative effort with his wife, Reefka Schneider, Unexpected Guests (Blue Light Press), and Prairie Air Show (Hurakan Publications and Sandhills Press). He is the author and editor of several scholarly books, including The Contemporary Narrative Poem: Critical Crosscurrents (University of Iowa Press), a collection of ten essays from poet-critics on the contemporary American narrative poem.

Education

Schneider earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, graduating cum laude at Syracuse University in 1973. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing at the University of Iowa four years later. In 1986, he earned a doctorate in English and American literature at the University of Iowa.

Non-fiction essays and articles “The U.S. / Mexico Border: Beyond Fear,” The Iowa Source, July 2010.

“Books, Art and Culture Come to Life along the Border,” Hispanic Outlook, August 11, 2008.

“Teaching Culturally Relevant Literature,” Hispanic Outlook, April 10, 2006.

“Crossing Borders with Poetry and Art,” Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 24, 2006.

“Running for the Long Haul,” View, July / August, 1991.

“Pumping Iron: Aerobic Exercise Finds a Partner,” View, September / October, 1991.

“Sephardic Seattle,” Seattle Weekly, August 23, 1989.

“Flex Your Eyes,” The Washington Post Magazine, September 18, 1983.

“What You See Is What You Hit,” The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, August 14, 1983.

“Swept Away,” The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, July 25, 1982.

Career in education

Current position

In his current position as director of new programs and special projects for the College of Arts and Humanities (COAH) at the University of Texas-Pan American(UTPA), Dr. Schneider coordinates the development of new, academic, interdisciplinary programs as well as several community outreach programs. Since 2007 he has worked closely with the dean of COAH on program development for FESTIBA, the annual Festival of Books and Arts at UTPA. FESTIBA is a week-long program each spring that celebrates the Arts and Humanities. It brings to campus prominent artists, writers, musicians, and scholars for a week of performances, exhibits, readings, and lectures on a single theme.