Craig Santos Perez
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University of San Francisco (MFA) in Creative Writing
University of California, Berkeley (MA) and (PhD) in Comparative Ethnic Studies
Dr. Craig Santos Perez | |
|---|---|
 Santos Perez at the Bishop Museum in Hawaii (October 26, 2022) | |
| Born | February 6, 1980 |
| Education | University of Redlands (BA) University of San Francisco (MFA) in Creative Writing University of California, Berkeley (MA) and (PhD) in Comparative Ethnic Studies |
| Spouse | |
| Partner | Olivia Quintanilla |
| Website | |
| craigsantosperez | |
Craig Santos Perez (born February 6, 1980) is a poet, essayist, former university professor, and publisher from the Chamorro people, born in Mongmong-Toto-Maite, Guam Island. His poetry has received multiple awards, including the 2023 National Book Award, a 2015 American Book Award and the 2011 PEN Center USA Literary Award for Poetry.
Having grown up in a bilingual environment in Guam, Santos Perez moved with his family from Guam to California, United States, in 1995. He has stated in an interview: "When my family migrated to California, and when I left my family to attend college, Chamorro became nearly non-existent in my life. Because poetry became a way for me to stay connected to memories of home, and a space where I could learn and write about my cultural history, the Chamorro language started to reappear in small ways. I do not have a formula for how this happens; it just happens intuitively. Though I have noticed that most of the Chamorro words that enter into my poetry are words from the natural word, or prayers. Still today, my poetry is written predominantly in English, but I hope that someday Chamorro will become a fuller part of my life and my poetry."[1]
He received his MFA in creative writing from the University of San Francisco in 2006.[2]
In 2011, together with Brandy Nālani McDougall, he co-founded the publishing house of Ala Press, specializing in the dissemination of literature and culture of the Pacific Islands.[3]
