08/05/2026
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former student and friend Xavier Navarro Aquino, a graduate from our M.A. program in 2015. Xavier, both during his time studying with us and after, would have a number of accomplishments to his name, including scholarships at both the Bread Loaf and the Sewanee Writers' Conferences, his work published in Tin House, McSweeney’s, and Guernica, an invitation to speak at Boca Lit Fest in Trinidad, a PhD in Creative Writing from University of Nebraska, a Professorship at the University of Notre Dame, and most notably the publication of his acclaimed novel "Velorio" (2022). But we will always remember him fondly as the young ambitious writer who took student trips with us to Ghana and Paris, who we would see moving between the offices of his professors, seeking their mentorship and sharing with them his stories and poems, or who worked tirelessly on our student literary magazine Tonguas and in hosting poetry slams to help grow a community of writers on our campus. More recently, Xavier remained connected to our program, generously taking the time to visit with our students who will continue to study his novel.
We want to express our most profound condolences to his family in Utuado and friends, and especially to his wife Jayleen Santiago, who we also know from our courses. Xavier will be greatly missed. Que en paz descanse.
