New Spanish and Portuguese Professor, Francisco Cantero-Soriano
August 27, 2026
The Spanish and Portuguese Department is excited to announce the arrival of our new professor, Francisco Cantero-Soriano.
Here's a few fun facts about Francisco so you can get to know him:
What are your research interests?
I have always been fascinated by Spanish poetry and by the ways lyric poetry creates affect in its readers. After leaving Spain to pursue higher education abroad, exile gradually became part of that equation, both intellectually and through my own experience of living far from home. I am particularly interested in how the exiled body manifests itself in lyric form and how poetry gives shape to queer experiences of displacement, belonging, and democracy.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am one of the fortunate people who managed to turn their hobby into a profession! Outside of literature, I love graphic design (I have a particular obsession with fonts) as well as theatre, museums, and cooking.
Where are you from originally?
I am originally from Sotogordo, a small rural village in Andalucía, in the province of Jaén, Spain. My family are farmers, and we produce our own olive oil. Even though I am now far from home, there is something about Albuquerque that somehow makes me feel closer to Andalucía. And a few drops of olive oil from our trees in Jaén make every morning feel a little more like home.
What is your favorite dessert?
I love a decadent cheesecake, but flan will always be one of my favorites too!
Do you have any pets?
Not yet! I think having a pet is a big responsibility, and I would like to make sure I could give one all the time and care it deserves.
What is your favorite thing about New Mexico so far?
Before moving here, I kept hearing people talk about New Mexico's “open skies.” I did not really understand what they meant, for me, skies were simply skies. Now I cannot stop admiring them. Their vastness and beauty are a daily reminder of just how small we are in this world.
