Joseph Cassara

Joseph Cassara is the George and Judy Marcus Endowed Chair and Assistant Professor in the Creative Writing Program at San Francisco State University, part of the College of Liberal & Creative Arts. He joined the faculty in Fall 2020 and is currently on leave for Spring 2025.

His educational background includes a BA in English & Comparative Literature from Columbia University and an MFA in Fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Cassara is a critically acclaimed fiction writer whose work centers on LGBTQ+ identities, queer communities, and social marginalization. His writing explores themes of family, trauma, resilience, and identity within urban American contexts, particularly in New York and California.

His publications reveal a consistent focus on queer narratives, especially those highlighting transgender and Latino experiences. He blends historical realism with lyrical prose, often drawing from real subcultures such as the Harlem ball scene. His collaborative and solo works reflect a deep engagement with contemporary social issues, including the AIDS crisis, pandemic life, and emotional dynamics in relationships.

• Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction (2019)
• Two International Latino Book Awards (2019)
• National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award (2018)
• Lambda Literary Award Finalist (2019)
• Fellowships from MacDowell, Fine Arts Work Center, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and California Humanities

Cassara has advised literary projects and contributed to high-profile anthologies and journals. He has not received public grant funding beyond fellowships, but his work has been supported by major cultural institutions. He has presented at literary festivals including the London Literature Festival, Miami Book Fair, and Provincetown Book Festival.

He is currently working on a new novel and a collection of essays, continuing his exploration of queer life and personal narrative.