Stony Brook University’s Distinguished Professor Rowan Ricardo Phillips has been honored with the 2025 Arts and Letters Award by the American Academy of Arts. This recognition places him among a select group of artists, architects, composers, and writers acknowledged for their contributions to the arts.
Professor Phillips expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, “Art is its own reward. But, even with that said, I feel honored to be in such fine company.”
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an esteemed society dedicated to promoting interest in various art forms. The Arts and Letters Award was established in 1941 to support creative work across different disciplines. It includes a $10,000 prize awarded annually to several distinguished individuals in architecture, art, writing, and composition.
David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University, congratulated Phillips on this achievement: “This has been an exciting year of recognition for Rowan’s creative work. His book, Silver, recently made the longlist for both the National Book Award and for the Laurel Prize. Now, Rowan has been selected as one of eight writers across all genres to receive the Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.”
Benedict Robinson, professor and chair of Stony Brook’s Department of English, emphasized the significance of this honor: “The membership of the American Academy of Arts and Letters reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of all the arts in contemporary U.S., and it’s a tremendous honor for the Department of English and for Stony Brook University as a whole.”
Phillips' recent accolades include being longlisted for prestigious awards such as the National Book Award and Laurel Prize for his book Silver. His poem “The First and Final Poem Is the Sun” was featured in Best American Poetry 2024.
Phillips completed his doctorate in English literature at Brown University in 2003. His career boasts numerous honors including awards from Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award to fellowships from institutions like John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.