Oliver de la Paz

Oliver de la Paz is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, where he teaches Creative Writing. He also instructs in the Low-Residency MFA Program at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). As Worcester, MA's 2023-2025 Poet Laureate, de la Paz focuses on community engagement through poetry. His scholarly and creative work bridges Asian American literature, diaspora studies, and hybrid genres.

De la Paz holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Arizona State University. His research interests include poetry's intersection with cultural identity, with a particular emphasis on Philippine-American experiences. He co-edited A Face to Meet the Faces and authored six books, including the acclaimed The Diaspora Sonnets (2023).

He serves as co-chair of the Kundiman advisory board, an organization supporting Asian American writers. His work appears in The New York Times, Poetry, and American Poetry Review. Awards include NEA and NYFA grants, multiple Pushcart Prizes, and the 2023 New England Book Award for Poetry.

• Education: M.F.A., Arizona State University
• Key Roles: Poet Laureate of Worcester, Kundiman Co-Chair