Carmen Tafolla

Dr. Carmen Tafolla (carmentafolla.net) was named State Poet Laureate of Texas in 2015, and is currently the President of the Texas Institute of Letters. An award-winning poet and children's author, storyteller, performance artist, motivational speaker, scholar, and university professor, she is the author of more than thirty books and a Professor of Transformative Children's Literature at UT San Antonio. In 1973, she became Director of the Mexican-American Studies Center at Texas Lutheran College, formed part of the Chicano Literary Movement of the 70s and 80s, and in 1978, was head writer for Sonrisas, a bilingual children's television series. She has received numerous distinctions, including the prestigious Americas Award in 2010; first Poet Laureate of the City of San Antonio 2012-2014; five International Latino Book Awards; two Tomas Rivera Book Awards; two ALA Notable Books; the Art of Peace Award; and the Texas 2 by 2 Award. She lives in San Antonio, Texas.