Francis dalisay
Associate Professor, Public Relations Department
Read Francis Dalisay’s hiring announcement. (Professor Dalisay will begin in Spring 2025.)
What are you teaching this semester?
For Spring 2025, I will be teaching the Public Relations Research Methods class.
What is your area of expertise?
A lot of my work has focused on the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, very remote communities that are largely resource deprived. My expertise has been to develop communication solutions to the problems these communities face. I often work with researchers and practitioners from other fields, such as public health and the natural sciences.
What research are you working on?
Right now, I am leading a couple funded projects. The first one, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, involves the delivery of a tobacco and betel (areca) nut use prevention curriculum we developed in Guam middle schools. The second one, funded by a collaborative grant between the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, examines community perceptions and engagement regarding ocean renewable energy development in Guam.
Significant other, children, pets?
My wife’s name is Edlyn and we have a German Shepherd named Moses.
What excites you most about coming to Gainesville?
My wife and I feel right at home in Gainesville, but what really excites me the most about coming to this city is the opportunity to work at UF. It is a phenomenal institution.
What accomplishments, personal or professional, are you most proud of?
For personal, I am proud to have swam in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, a 2.4-mile open water race. For professional, I feel blessed with the privilege of being able to use my research, teaching and service as a way to empower individuals and communities.
Your hero or biggest inspiration (alive or historical)?
My late mother, Teresita.
What three things don’t we know about you?
- I have a frog/toad phobia (the cane toad is probably my worst nightmare).
- I play guitar and use to play in a thrash progressive metal band (that was many moons ago).
- I was born in the Philippines but immigrated to Guam at age 3.