The Florida College English Association holds a conference each year, where members showcase their scholarship in the fields of literary criticism, creative writing, writing pedagogy, and more.
FCEA 2027, February 19th-February 20th
The FCEA conference will begin with materials pickup and coffee 8-9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 19th, at the HCC Ybor City Campus. Materials pickup will be followed by sessions and a luncheon speaker. On Saturday, Feb. 20th, materials pickup and coffee will begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions and the annual FCEA Board meeting. Sessions will continue until midafternoon. An Open Mic Night will be held after the sessions conclude on Friday, Feb. 18th.
Ybor City is one of Florida’s oldest cities. Its founding is steeped in the trade of cigar making, welcoming an influx of immigrants from various backgrounds. Almost a century later, an inflow of artists who sought inexpensive studio space contributed significantly to the revival of Ybor City, followed by the development of the restaurants and night life that now beckon thousands of people every year. Ybor City is also a National Historical Landmark. Between panels, sample the city’s offerings, such as the Cigar Museum and Visitor Center or Ybor City Museum State Park. Conference attendees can also enjoy a café con leche, one of the most popular drinks in Ybor City at several establishments. Fans of music may choose to visit at least a dozen venues, including the popular Ybor City Jazz House, for live music. Most prominently, the “Ybor Speaks” Immersive Sound Installation at Centennial Park celebrates the history of Ybor, enabling visitors to experience the sights and sounds of daily life in Ybor, including selections from books by many Tampa Bay authors.
Plenary Speaker
Professor J. Michael Francis is the Hough Family Chair of Florida Studies and Professor of History at the University of South Florida. He earned his Ph.D. in History from the University of Cambridge and has written or edited five books, along with numerous articles and book chapters.
Since 2016, Dr. Francis has served as Executive Director of La Florida: The Interactive Digital Archive of the Americas, an ambitious digital history project dedicated to recovering and sharing the diverse stories of early Florida. His scholarship has earned more than two dozen national and international awards and fellowships, as well as a $250,000 National Archives grant supporting Lost Voices from America’s Oldest Parish Archive, 1594–1821.
Dr. Francis has also served on the Florida Historical Commission and the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission. In 2021, Spain’s King Philip VI awarded him the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
Reflecting the 2027 FCEA conference theme, The Forgotten and the Lost, Dr. J. Michael Francis will draw from his current book project exploring letters and testimonies from Indigenous people in early-colonial Florida. His presentation will bring attention to voices often obscured or overlooked in traditional historical narratives, offering a compelling look at how these firsthand accounts can deepen our understanding of Florida’s past.
Outstanding Graduate Student Writing Award
FCEA gives free conference registration and $50 cash awards to graduate students: one for the best scholarly essay, and one for the best creative writing. Winners are announced prior to the annual conference so that they can make arrangements to attend. Any participant wishing to submit work to the contest should send a complete scholarly paper or creative piece to fceaconference@gmail.com by November 1, 2027. Please put “Outstanding Graduate Student Writing Award” in the subject line
For information on the 2027 Conference, check out:
