Luis Francia

Luis Francia is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University (NYU), College of Arts & Science. He holds external affiliations as Adjunct Faculty at Hunter College and as writing faculty at the Vermont Center for Fine Arts MFA Program. With a B.A. in Humanities from Ateneo de Manila University (1965), his research focuses on creative nonfiction, poetry, and diasporic literature. His work explores themes of cultural identity, memory, and postcolonial critique, particularly in Philippine and Asian American contexts.

Francia has authored notable works including Eye of the Fish: A Personal Archipelago (2001), which examines cultural hybridity, and A History of the Philippines (2010), a seminal text on national identity. His poetry collections, such as The Beauty of Ghosts (2010), blend lyricism with socio-historical reflection. His essays in RE: Reviews, Reflections, Recollections (2015) won the 2016 National Book Awards for Best Book of Essays.

Francia’s accolades include the 2014 Knights of Rizal Award, PEN Open Book Award (2002), and multiple fellowships from organizations like the Asian Cultural Council and Edna St. Vincent Millay Arts Colony. His career spans over four decades of writing, teaching, and advocating for Philippine and diasporic cultural expression.