Hunter Mourns the Passing of Juan Flores

Former Hunter College Professor Juan Flores, a highly regarded scholar, author, and lecturer in Puerto Rican, Afro-Latino and Cultural Studies, died Tuesday, December 2, in Durham, North Carolina.

Juan was a beloved figure at the College from 1994 until 2006, when he left for NYU to teach social and cultural analysis.

While at Hunter he was director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (Centro) until 1997 and he also served as director of Hunter's Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship Program.

"Hunter College and the entire community lost a great man and brilliant advocate with Juan's passing," said Hunter President Jennifer J. Raab.

Juan's research focused on social and cultural theory, Latino and Puerto Rican studies, popular music, transnational communities and Afro-Latino culture. He served on the Board of Directors of the New York Council on the Humanities and was a consultant for the Smithsonian Institution as well as the Rockefeller Foundation. He was also the author of numerous groundbreaking books focusing on the hidden histories of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. 

In addition, Juan was the co-founder and chair of the afrolatin@ forum—an Afro-Latino advocacy group—and co-editor of The Afro-Latino Reader. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Latino Legacy Award presented by the Smithsonian in 2009.