Noel Shafi is a linguist, poet, nonfiction writer, freelance genealogist, former high school English teacher, and amateur judoka. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from SUNY Oneonta, an M.S. in Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College, and an M.S. in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from SUNY University at Buffalo. He is a former member of the Society for Neuroscience, US Chess Federation, and Westchester County Darter's Association.