Dr. Francis X. Altomare is an Assistant Professor with a multifaceted background that encompasses both the sciences, and the humanities. His research focuses on the intersections of cognitive sciences and anthropology with literatures ranging from medieval to postmodern across various cultural and linguistic traditions.
After earning a B.S. in neuroscience and chemistry, along with a B.A. in medieval literature and theology from the University of Miami, Dr. Altomare continued his studies at the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Science at Florida Atlantic University. There, he earned a master’s en passant in psychology before obtaining his M.A. in English. While also working on a master’s in Cultural Anthropology at FAU, Dr. Altomare completed his Ph.D. in Literature and Criticism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Cognitive Poetics and Semiotics. His dissertation focused on representations of consciousness in 20th-century fiction.
Dr. Altomare’s scholarly work often combines literature and cognitive science, and he has delivered lectures across the United States and internationally. His writings include academic articles on authors like John Milton, Robert Frost, John Updike, James Joyce, and Kurt Vonnegut, as well as book chapters, a Catholic spiritual warfare monograph, and contributions to a cocktail compendium for the IBA. He currently has two books in press: one exploring literary representations of consciousness in 20th-century novels and another on cultural anthropology’s influence on the work of Kurt Vonnegut.
Throughout his career, Dr. Altomare has held various academic positions, serving as a lecturer and adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami, as well as a senior lecturer at Palm Beach International Academy.
In his teaching, Dr. Altomare emphasizes the importance of literary study in university education, aiming to equip students to discern truths in a world filled with diverse narratives. His approach blends traditional mentorship with innovative research methods, emphasizing the preservation of humanity’s pre-digital cultural heritages of literature and the arts.
