Ricardo Cruz
Professor
English
Office
STV Stevenson Hall 420B
Office Hours
By appointment with Jeanne Merkle, Lead Staff
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
An ISU alumnus, Cruz is the author of the novels Straight Outta Compton and Five Days of Bleeding. He has published over 50 pieces of fiction in journals and anthologies. He is Professor of English and Acting Chair.
Teaching Interests & Areas
Creative Writing, Black Literature, Hip-Hop Studies.
Research Interests & Areas
(Re)Defining the Black Aesthetic, Relationship of Music and Fiction, (S)Language, Avant-Pop (Popular Culture in Fiction), Remix Aesthetic and Versioning.
Keynote speaker at 2018 PEN/Hemingway Award Ceremony
PEN America
2018
Keynote speaker for Illinois State University Graduate Symposium
2014
College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award
Illinois State University
2012
CAS Outstanding Service Award,
2011
College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award
2011
15th Annual Strand Diversity Achievement Award
Illinois State University
2009
College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award
Illinois State University
2007
Illinois Arts Council Literacy Award
State of Illinois
2006
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Illinois State University
2001
Honored as One of 25 Outstanding Alumni in the History of Richland Community College
1996
Other
Cruz, R. John Paul Jaramillo’s collection of short stories The House of Order (2011)
Cruz, R. Ted Morrissey’s novel Men of Winter, (2011)
Presentations
fiction. TheatresCool. (2011)