Desiderio Macías Silva

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Desiderio Macías Silva (March 31, 1922 – February 1995) was a Mexican poet and medical doctor from Asientos, Aguascalientes. He served as president of the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes and helped create its motto, "Se lumen proferre."

He grew up in a rural, semi-desert landscape, studied at the Conciliar Seminary of Aguascalentes, and later studied medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. In Mexico City he joined the Netzahualcoyotl cultural association and published poems in the journal Espiral. After returning to Aguascalientes, he joined the literary group Paralelo and won first prize in the Juegos Florales. In 1972 his book Ascuario won the National Poetry Prize of Aguascalientes.

Macías Silva was a professor at the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. He also served as its president for many years. In 2013 the university’s Central Library was named in his honor. There is also an international poetry prize named after him: the Premio Internacional de Poesía "Desiderio Macías Silva."