Profile:

A lyrical poet descended from natives of the South Texas Rio Grande Valley


Education:

  • M.A., The Program for Writers, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • B.A., English, University of Illinois at Chicago

Professional Experience:

  • Russell Sage College, Troy, NY, Sept. 1992 – Jan. 2006.  Writing Studio Director and Instructor of English, Department of Literature and Modern Languages:  Teach courses in Creative Writing, U.S. Latino(a) Literature, Peer Writing Practicum, Writing and Community; direct The Writing Studio; develop and offer literary events to the college community.   
  • University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, NM; Instructor of English
  • Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM; Instructor of English
  • South Bay College, Hawthorne, CA; Instructor, Associate Dean of Faculty
  • University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; Lecturer, Department of English 
  • Los Alamos Technical Associates, Los Alamos, NM; Technical Writer & Editor

Honors & Accomplishments:

  •  Scholarship, Squaw Valley Community of Writers
  • The University of Albany, winner of master poetry workshop competition for study with Irish poet, John Montague 
  • Abraham Lincoln Fellow, The University of Illinois, Program for Writers: Poetry
  • Co-founder of Words Without Walls Undergraduate Creative Writing Conference; The  University at Albany, NY
  • Founder of The Writing Studio at Russell Sage College (RSC)
  • Founder of Medusa Community of Poets & Writers, RSC
  • Founder of The Audre Lorde Poetry Prize, RSC
  • First Place Winner of Illinois State Student Recognition Award

Professional Affiliations:

  • Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Squaw Valley, CA
  • Hudson Valley Writers Guild
  • Academy of American Poets
  • American Poetry Society
  • Associated Writing Programs (AWP)
  • Poets & Writers Directory of American Poets and Writers 

Publications:

  • New Millennium Writings: "In the Calyx"
  • ArtLife: The Original Limited Edition Monthly: "Witch Wife"
  • Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry: "Kaddish for Columbus"
  • New Zoo Poetry Review: "Father's Love Letter"
  • Blue Mesa Review: "Kiva at Chaco Canyon"
  • Ecos: A Latino Journal of People's Culture and Literature: "To Jenny," "First Snow," "From a Waterfall," "Visit Home," and "Love Poem for Charles" 
  • Black Maria: "Driving in Fog," "Dream of Three Girls at Play," "After a Year"
  • Squaw Valley Poetry Anthology 2005: "At the Edge of Town"
  • The Daily Illini, "Poery Contest Honorable Mention," University of Illinois at Chicago: "To Jenny"

Poetry Readings & Relevant Talks Presented:

  • Society for Crypto Judaic Studies, Poetry Reading, August 2007
  • University at Albany, The Multicultural Poetics of Lucille Clifton, Yusef Komunyakaa, Ana Castillo, and Gloria Anzaldua; Talk, Poetry Workshop Leader, April 2005
  • International Women Writers Guild; Featured Poet for National Women's History Month; March, 2004 
  • University at Albany, Writing From Your Roots; Talk, Poetry Workshop Leader, April 2004
  • Ohio State University; Poetry Reading; Featured poet for Ohio State University Hispanic Heritage Month Program,  March 2001
  • Public Talks and Readings at Russell Sage College: Giaconda Belli: The Bourgeois Poet of Nicaragua, Talk, Upton Center for Women's Studies,  April 2003; The Life and Poetry of  Audre Lorde, Talk, Upton Center for Women's Studies, March 1999, and February 1998; National Poetry Month Poetry Faculty Readings, Spring Semesters, 1995-2005