Dr. Scott Knickerbocker English Professor

As a teacher, I want my students to have good ideas – original, creative, and carefully wrought ideas worth defending and developing. Good ideas sprout from careful thinking and deep attention. My indirect goal is to encourage students, in practicing close reading of literary texts, to become more observant and intelligent “readers” of the world around them in general.
Musically, I write original songs meant to move one to re-see the world as wondrous. I also enjoy digging in the rich soil of “old, weird America” – whimsical country blues finger-picked on guitar, haunting ballads frailed on banjo, and spirited old-time dance tunes played on fiddle.  
Beyond the classroom and stage, I enjoy going on outdoor adventures – ultramarathon trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, backcountry skiing, and backpacking with my family and dog.

I have taught literature and writing since 1999 (and at The College of Idaho since 2007). I have written a book about poetry and various scholarly articles on literature and music. Currently I teach classes in American literature, outdoor education, and songwriting. I have also been a professional musician for over twenty years. I sing and play guitar, banjo, and fiddle, and I regularly perform both solo and with my trio The Knickerbocker Band. https://www.facebook.com/ScottKnickerbockerMusic