Professor Dr. Augusto Espiritu

Biography

Augusto F. Espiritu is a professor in the Department of History at the University of Illinois, where he also holds a position in the Department of Asian American Studies and has an affiliation with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Born in Manila, Philippines, Espiritu immigrated to the United States with his family and grew up in Inglewood, California. He attended Loyola High School and later earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in History and Asian American Studies from UCLA. His research focuses on the intellectual history of the American Empire, investigating themes of migration, nationalism, and transnationalism. His current book project, “In Defense of Spain: Resistance to the American Empire in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in the Twentieth Century,” examines how intellectuals articulated nationalist ideals in relation to 'Hispanism' and the impact of U.S. colonialism. Espiritu’s teaching includes U.S. history with particular emphasis on American imperial history in Asia and the Americas, and he has taught courses on race, ethnicity, and migration. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to academia, including the Arnold O. Beckman Award and the Fulbright Research Fellowship.

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