FRANCIS TANGLAO AGUAS, MFA
Our artistic director, Francis Tanglao-Aguas, is the founding Director (Emeritus) of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies Program at William and Mary, where he is currently the Director of Global Studies, Co-Chair of the Asian Centennial Commemoration, and Professor of Theater and Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies. He is a playwright, performer, director, producer, and teacher of theatre, film, and dance. He was born and raised in Pampanga, Philippines until his family left for Nigeria, West Africa where he completed his primary education. He graduated at the top of his class from the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, & Television receiving both his B.A. in Theater, Magna Cum Laude, and his Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing. At UCLA, he was Founding Artistic Director of Theater Underground, the university's undergraduate resident theater company.
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He is the first faculty of color to be tenured (2009) and promoted to full Professor (2016) in the performing arts at William & Mary. Students have honored him with the William and Mary Image Award for Outstanding Professor (2007), the NAACP Perseverance Award (2009), and the Class of 2015 Distinguished Professorship. Directing the Program of Africana Studies from 2012 to 2016, Professor Aguas initiated the expansion of faculty appointments in the program. President Taylor Reveley appointed him to the President's Task Force on Race and Race Relations in 2016.
Teaching
Professor Aguas previously held teaching positions at Georgetown University, Kenyon College, and Ateneo de Manila University, and has given lectures and workshops nationwide at UCLA, UC Irvine, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, Drexel University, DuPaul University, California State University San Bernardino, Ramapo College; and internationally at Singapore Management University, City University of Hongkong, and the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
Click here to watch Professor Aguas discuss the remnants of colonialism and empire.
His courses include:
APIA 205: Introduction to Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies
APIA 444: Filipino American & Diaspora Studies
APIA 445: Korean American Diaspora Studies
APIA.THEA 222: Acting Asian American: The Performance of Identity (GER 4C and 6)
THEA 317: Playwriting (GER 6)
APIA.THEA.AFST.GSWS 332: Sex & Race in Plays & Films: Dramatizing Diversity (GER 4C & 6, COLL 200)
APIA.THEA.AMES 333: South & South East Asian Folklore Performance (GER 4B & 6)
THEA 334: Classical Asian Theatres (GER 4B & 6)
THEA 460: Introduction to Tagalog: Filipino Language and Popular Performance Cultures (GER 4B)
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