Cecilia “Lia” Uy-Tioco joins the GLOA Faculty

Cecilia “Lia” Uy-Tioco joins the GLOA Faculty

Cecilia “Lia” Uy-Tioco joins the Global Affairs Program as Term Assistant Professor this fall. Professor Uy-Tioco recently received her PhD in Cultural Studies from George Mason University after defending her dissertation titled “Texting Capital: Mobile Phones, Social Transformation, and the Reproduction of Power in the Philippines.” She specializes in critical media and cultural studies, globalization, and new media in the developing world. When asked about her thoughts on joining the GLOA faculty, Professor Uy-Tioco replied, “I’m excited to be part of one of the largest and fastest growing majors here at Mason. And am very much looking forward to meeting the students.”

Before joining GLOA, Professor Uy-Tioco was affiliated with New Century College, the Department of Communication, and the Cultural Studies Program where she taught and developed several courses in globalization, new media, and mass communication theory. At New Century College, Professor Uy-Tioco was also an Academic Advisor and Internship Coordinator. In addition, she has also been a guest lecture for various courses at Mason, speaking on mobile phones and text messaging in the Philippines, her experiences and participation in the two Philippines People Power revolutions (which resulted in peacefully overthrowing corrupt presidents), and mobile phones and migrant mothering.

Professor Uy-Tioco grew up in the Philippines. She received her bachelor of arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Ateneo de Manila University, where she subsequently taught at the Department of Communication. She also holds a certificate in Publishing from the Radcliffe Publishing Course at Harvard University, an MA in Individualized Study/Publishing from New York University and an MA in Media Studies from the New School University.

Prior to pursuing a career in the academe, Professor Uy-Tioco held various positions in the publishing industry. In the Philippines, she was Managing Editor of Metro Working Mom magazine and Assistant Director of the Ateneo de Manila University Press. In New York City, she worked at BasicBooks/HarperCollins and The New Press.

Professor Uy-Tioco enjoys travelling and has been to several countries in Asia, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. She is a foodie and cooks to relax. Among her guilty pleasures are reading food and home improvement blogs and watching too much TV.