Partial list of publications: Jane: La Segua, Revelations, Next Extinct Mammal: Poems, Exiled From the Throne of Night: Selected Translations of Luis Cernuda
Genres: Poetry
Awards: Fellow, Virginia Center for Creative Arts (VCCA); Chair, Nonfiction Committee, National Book Critics Circle
Current residence: Chicago, IL

Education

PhD, English, Texas Tech University
MFA, Creative Writing for the Performing Arts, University of California, Riverside
BA, Creative Writing, University of California, Riverside

About

Ruben Quesada is the editor of a hybrid collection, Latinx Poetics: Essays on the Art of Poetry. He is the author of Jane: La Segua, Revelations, and Next Extinct Mammal: Poems. His writing appears in The New York Times, Best American Poetry, American Poetry Review, Harvard Review and elsewhere. He has served as an editor for AGNI, The Rumpus, and Pleiadesand as a poetry blogger for The Kenyon Review and Ploughshares. He teaches for the UCLA Extension Writers Program.  

CULTURAL TRAINING

2022 Intersectionality and DEI, National Book Critics Circle, Ethos Talent.

TEACHING

2018 – Present (Remote) UCLA Extension Writers Program
Instructor, Introduction to Poetic Forms, Spring 2023
Instructor, Introduction to Literary Translation, Winter 2023
Instructor, Introduction to Creative Writing, Fall 2022
Instructor, Prose Poetry, Summer 2022
Instructor, Prose Poetry, Spring and Fall 2021
Instructor, Prose Poetry, Fall 2020
2022 – Present (Remote) Antioch University-Los Angeles
Faculty, Prose Poetry, Fall 2022
Faculty, Poetic Forms, Fall 2023
2021 – 2022 (Remote) The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters
Associate Teaching Fellow, Introduction to Poetry, Fall 2022
Associate Teaching Fellow, Prose Poetry, Spring/Summer/Fall 2022
Associate Teaching Fellow, Prose Poetry Spring/Summer/Fall 2021
2021 (Remote) Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in Writing & Publishing
Faculty, Graduate Course: Digital and Literary Translation, Spring 2021
Faculty, Graduate Course: Professional Development, Spring 2021
2016 – 2018 Chicago High School for the Arts, Grades 10-12
Faculty, Introduction to Poetry, Spring 2018
Faculty, Advanced Poetry Workshop, Spring 2018
Faculty, Introduction to Poetry, Spring/Fall 2017
Faculty, Advanced Poetry Workshop, Spring/Fall 2017
Faculty, Introduction to Poetry, Fall 2016
Faculty, Advanced Poetry Workshop, Fall 2016 2012 – 2016 Eastern Illinois University
Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies in Matters of Culture, Spring 2016
Assistant Professor, Composition and Language/Literature, Fall 2015
Assistant Professor, Graduate Creative Writing Professional Development, Fall 2015
Assistant Professor, Introduction to Creative Writing, Fall 2015
Assistant Professor, Advanced Dramatic Writing, Fall 2015
Assistant Professor, Graduate Creative Writing – Poetry, Spring 2015
Assistant Professor, Literary Theory, Culture, and Criticism, Spring 2015
Assistant Professor, Dramatic Writing, Spring 2014, Fall 2014
Assistant Professor, Composition and Language/Literature, Fall 2013
Assistant Professor, Gender & Queer Literature and Criticism, Fall 2013
Assistant Professor, Literature, The Self, and the Word: Poetry, Fall 2013
Assistant Professor, Graduate Seminar in Digital Poetry & Poetics, Summer 2013
Assistant Professor, Beginning Nonfiction, Spring 2013
Assistant Professor, Beginning Poetry, Spring 2013
Assistant Professor, Composition and Language/Literature, Fall 2012
Assistant Professor, Beginning Poetry, Fall 2012

EDITED BOOKS

Latinx Poetics: Essays on the Art of Poetry, Editor. University of New Mexico Press, 2022.

AUTHORED BOOKS

Jane: La Segua, The Offending Adam, 2023.
Revelations. Sibling Rivalry Press, 2018.
Next Extinct Mammal: Poems. Greenhouse Review Press, 2011.
Exiled From the Throne of Night: Selected Translations of Luis Cernuda. Aureole Press, 2008.

BOOK CRITICISM

“Archaeologists of the Elusive.” Harvard Review, Dec. 2022.
“New Confessions.” Harvard Review, Dec. 2021.
“Object Lessons.” Harvard Review, Aug. 2021.
“These United States.” Harvard Review, Dec. 2020.
“Video and the Evolution of Language.” Ploughshares, 10 Mar. 2017.
“Latinx Faculty at Writing Retreats.” Ploughshares, 25 Jan. 2017.
“Latinx and Queer Visibility at Writing Conferences.” Ploughshares, 22 Feb. 2017.
“Inundations of Texts.” The Kenyon Review Online. 3 May. 2016.
“Not One of Us, All of Us.” Harriet Blog, The Poetry Foundation, 10 Jan. 2017.
“On Poetics, Identity & Latinidad.” Essay Press, Episode 10. 17 Sept. 2015.

JOURNALS

“Oath Keeper.” The New York Times Magazine, 14 Aug. 2022.
“Mark.” Pleiades, Spring Issue, 42.1, 2022.
“With a Line by Paul Monette.” Pleiades, Spring Issue, 42.1, 2022.
“Erased Lynching.” Pleiades, Spring Issue, 42.1, 2022.
“My Mother Is a Garden.” The Adroit Journal, Issue 41, 2022.
“Billow of Thistles.” Mumber Magazine, Issue 2. Dec. 2020.
“The Flood.” Mumber Magazine, Issue 2. Dec. 2020.
“After the Flood.” Mumber Magazine, Issue 2. Dec. 2020.
“For Charlie.” Poetry Now, Poetry Foundation, Nov. 2018.
“IX.” Cordite Poetry Review, 1, Nov. 2018.
“XI.” Poem-a-Day, Academy of American Poets. 7 Jun. 2017.
“Communion I.” Tupelo Quarterly, 13. 14 Oct. 2017.
“Confession II.” Tupelo Quarterly, 13. 14 Oct. 2017.
“Communion III.” Tupelo Quarterly, 13. 14 Oct. 2017.
“Kingdom Come.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“To a Poet on the Planet.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“This Is the Way the World Ends.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“It Comes in the Night.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“Woman in Black.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“Belladonna.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“Watching R. Budd Dwyer.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“Resurrection.” Spoon River Poetry Review, 42.1. 18 Jul. 2017.
“In Lubbock, Texas.” The Rumpus, 23 Apr. 2017.
“Angels of Paradise.” TriQuarterly, Issue 151. Winter/Spring 2017.
“Angels in the Sun.” American Poetry Review, Vol. 46 No. 1. Jan/Feb. 2017.
“Connoisseurs.” Southern Humanities Review, Vol. 50, No. 3&4. Dec. 2016.
“Elegy for this life.” Kettle Blue Review, Issue 3.1. Apr. 2016.
“Surrender.” Kettle Blue Review, Issue 3.1. Apr. 2016.
“When Night Saved My Life.” Berfrois, 10 Dec. 2015.
“Anecdote of the Day.” Taos Journal of Poetry & Art, Issue 7. Oct. 2015.
“Anecdote of an Aircrash.” Taos Journal of Poetry & Art, Issue 7. Oct. 2015.
“The Road Taken.” Origins Journal, 21 May 2015.
“Matthew 5:4.” The Rumpus, 14 Apr. 2015.
“For Icarus.” Quiddity, Vol 7.2. Fall/Winter 2014.
“Dredging Apollo.” Quiddity, Vol 7.2. Fall/Winter 2014.
“Starry Night.” Solo Novo, Fall 2014.
“Self-Portrait.” Solo Novo, Fall 2014.
“Denouement.” Solo Novo, Fall 2014.
“Dead Bird.” Miramar, No. 2. Sept. 2014.
“Winter Song.” Miramar, No. 2. Sept. 2014.
“Pilgrim.” Miramar, No. 2. Sept. 2014.
“Winter Landscape.” Luna Luna, 14 Aug. 2014.
“On Witness.” Superstition Review, May 2014.
“Aubade.” The Rumpus, 2 Apr. 2014.
“On Birth.” Pilgrimage Magazine, Vol. 37 Issue 1. 2013.
“On Technê.” Pilgrimage Magazine, Vol. 37 Issue 1. 2013.
“Dark Matter.” Cimarron Review, Issue 182. Jan. 2013.
“Resurrection.” Cimarron Review, Issue 182. Jan. 2013.
“Café Flesh.” Guernica, 15 Nov. 2012.
“On Style.” The Rumpus, 11 Apr. 2012.
“Store.” American Poetry Review, 40.5. Sept. /Oct. 2011.
“The Last Text.” American Poetry Review, 40.5. Sept. /Oct. 2011.
“Tamale Serenade.” American Poetry Review, 40.5. Sept. /Oct. 2011.
“Autumn Feeling.” Stand Magazine (UK), 9.3. 2010.
“Desire.” Stand Magazine (UK), 9.3. 2010.
“Old Garden.” Stand Magazine (UK), 9.3. 2010.
“Malibu.” Stand Magazine (UK), 9.3. 2010.
“Last Photograph of My Parents.” Palabra, 1.5. Nov. 2009.
“Mornings Before School, Age Four.” Palabra, 1.5. Nov. 2009.
“Clearwater.” LUNA, 1.8. Dec. 2008.
“Leaving for College After Summer Vacation.” OCHO, 15. Jan. 2008.
“The Cell.” OCHO, 15. Jan. 2008.
“For Fifteen Minutes.” OCHO, 15. Jan. 2008.
“Four Rooms.” Askew, Jun. 2007.
“For My Mother I.” Askew, Jun. 2007.
“Primary Body.” Askew, June 2007.
“Leaving for College.” Mosaic Literary Journal, May 2006.
“To Gabriela, In Memory.” El Andar, Summer 2000.
“Evening Machine Shop.” Third Coast, 10. Spring 2000.
“The Village.” Third Coast, 10. Spring 2000.
“Mornings in Cudahy, California 1976-1979.” Rattle, Winter 1999.
“Librarian on Break.” The 2River View, 3.1. Fall 1998

ANTHOLOGIES

“My Mother Is a Garden.” Leaning Toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend
Them, Storey Publishing, forthcoming.
“The Riots.” Poetry Is Bread Anthology, Nirpala Publications, forthcoming.
“Tamale Serenade.” Poetry Is Bread Anthology, Nirpala Publications, forthcoming.
“Nostalgia.” Poetry Is Bread Anthology, Nirpala Publications, forthcoming.
“1985.” Latino Hybrids: A Horror Anthology, Arte Publico Press, forthcoming.
“1987.” Latino Hybrids: A Horror Anthology, Arte Publico Press, forthcoming.
“Billow of Thistles.” Between Paradise and Earth: Eve Poems, Orison Books, forthcoming.
“Poetry is Bourgeois.” Labor Poems Anthology, University of Kentucky Press, 2022.
“When Winter Comes.” Where I’m At: Chicago Poetry, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, 2022.
“Billow of Thistles.” Alone Together, ed. Jennifer Haupt, Sept. 2020.
“Angels in the Sun.” Best American Poetry, Dec. 2018.
“Lament.” HIV Here & Now Project. 3 June. 2016.
“Fall Feeling.” Best American Poetry Online. 3 Dec. 2016.

SHORT FILMS

“My Handwriting by Dan O’Brien.” Scarsdale. CB editions, 2014.
“Greenwich / Isle of the Dogs by Dan O’Brien.” Scarsdale. CB editions, 2014.
“Breaking the Ice by Dan O’Brien.” Scarsdale. CB editions, 2014.
“After Love by Roger Reeves.” King Me. Copper Canyon Press, 2013.
“The Mechanics of Men by David Tomas Martinez.” Hustle. Sarabande Books, 2014.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

“Poetry & Criticism: Latinx Poetics.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference (AWP), Mar. 2023.
“So, You Want to Edit an Anthology?” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2023.
“Transparency & Transformation: The Literary Institution at the Tipping Point.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2022.
“Opening the Gate: Poetry Reviewing as an Agent of Inclusivity.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2022.
“Supporting LGBTQ Students in the Creative Writing Classroom.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference Virtual, Jun. 2021.
“Latino Caucus.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2018.
“The Literary Twitterati.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2018.
“Writing as Resistance and Social Responsibility in a Post-Truth Era.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2018.
“Latino Caucus.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Feb. 2017.
“Caucus Leaders Unite.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Feb. 2017.
“Latino Caucus.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Mar. 2016.
“The Horror of Heterosexuality.” Popular Culture Association Conference (PCA), Apr. 2015.
“Queridos: Gay Latinos.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Apr. 2015.
“Teaching Latino Poetry.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Feb. 2014.
“The Rosary Effect: The Challenges of Writing from a Catholic Perspective.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Feb. 2011.
“World Poetry in Translation.” American Literary Translators Association Conference (ALTA), Nov. 2009.
“Poetic Responses to Love & AIDS.” Discourses of Love Poetry in Ancient and Modern Times Classics Conference, Apr. 2009.
“Poetic Responses to AIDS.” Associated Writer’s Program Conference, Feb. 2009.
“Luis Cernuda: A reading of selected translations from Las nubes & Desolacíon de la
Quimera.” South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference (SAMLA), Nov. 2008.

UNIVERSITY PRESENTATIONS

University of Illinois, Chicago, Lit & Luz Festival, Speaker 2022
New York University, Lillian Vernon Writers House, Criticism Panel 2022
American University, Editing Panel 2022
San Francisco State University, Creative Writing, Visiting Editor 2022
Reed College, Tin House Summer Writers Workshop, Speaker 2022
University of Michigan, Helen Zell Writers’ Program, Visiting Editor 2021
University of San Francisco, MFA in Writing Program, Visiting Editor 2021
Babson College, Thompson Visiting Poets Series, Visiting Poet 2021
Western Illinois University, Visiting Poet 2018
Vermont College of Fine Arts, Visiting Poet 2017
University of Missouri, Kansas City, Visiting Poet 2015
Illinois Central College, Visiting Poet 2014
University of Miami, Visiting Poet 2013
Eastern Illinois University, Visiting Writer 2012
University of California, Riverside, Visiting Poet 2011

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

Virginia Festival of the Book, Speaker 2023
Emerald Coast Writers Conference, Visiting Poet 2022
Printers Row Lit Fest, Exhibit B, Speaker 2021
Sunday Salon Chicago Reading Series, Speaker 2021
National Latinx Writers Gathering, Speaker 2020
A Wild and Precious Life Series, Speaker 2020
Arkansas Literary Festival, Featured Poet 2019
Poetry Foundation, Open Door Reading Series, Featured Poet 2019
Unamuno Reading Series, Madrid, Spain, Visiting Poet 2017
Observable Reading Series, St. Louis, Visiting Poet 2015
Poetry Foundation, Nepantla Anthology Launch, Featured Poet 2014
Pygmalion Literary Festival, Featured Poet 2014
Poetry Foundation, Open Door Reading Series, Featured Poet 2014
Guild Literary Complex, Palabra Pura 2013

HONORS AND AWARDS

Fellow, Virginia Center for Creative Arts (VCCA) 2023
Chair, Nonfiction Committee, National Book Critics Circle 2022 – Present
Individual Arts Grant, DCASE, City of Chicago 2021
Poet-in-Residence, Red Lodge Clay Center 2015
Poet-in-Residence, Unamuno Author Series Madrid 2017
Development Grant, Latino Literature for EIU Library 2015
Faculty Research Grant, Eastern Illinois University (EIU) 2014
Fellow, CantoMundo Poetry 2012 – 2014
Award Recipient, Helen DeVitt Jones Excellence in Teaching 2012
Fellow, Napa Valley Writers Conference 2011
Award Recipient, Superhero Poetry, 516Arts Albuquerque 2011
Chancellor’s Ambassador, Texas Tech University 2009 – 2012
Summer Dissertation Research Award, Texas Tech University 2010
Residency, Santa Fe Art Institute 2010
Residency, Vermont Studio Center 2009
Summer Dissertation Research Award, Texas Tech University 2009
Scholarship, Aspen Summer Words 2008
Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of California 2007
Fellow, Lambda Literary Foundation Writer’s Retreat 2007
Fellow, Squaw Valley, Community of Writers 2007
Semifinalist, Crab Orchard Poetry Book Prize 2007
Graduate Fellowship, University of California 2006 – 2007
Fellow, Summer Poetry in Idyllwild 2006
Poet Laureate, University of California, Riverside 2005 – 2006
Senior Thesis Award, University of California 2004
Poet Laureate, University of California, Riverside 1999 – 2000
Finalist, Charles Johnson Award in Poetry 1999
Recipient, Arts Bridge Scholar Award, University of California 1999

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Literary Arts Advisor, Smithsonian Institution 2022 – Present
Board Member, National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) 2021 – Present
Mentor, Adroit Journal Summer Program 2020 – 2022
Juror, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 2021 – 2022
Vice Chair, Illinois Poet Laureate Search Committee 2019 – 2020
Judge, Publishing Triangle Awards 2019 – 2020
Judge, CLMP Magazine Award 2019 – 2020
Screener, Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes 2019
Literary Awards Committee, PEN America 2018 – 2021
Member, AWP Conference Subcommittee 2017 – 2018
Founder/Director, Latinx Writers Caucus, AWP 2015 – 2017
Digital Content Coordinator, CantoMundo Poetry 2013 – 2017
Co-Founder, Stories & Queer Reading Series 2013 – 2015
Screener, AWP Donald Hall Prize for Poetry 2013
Coordinator, Lions in Winter Literary Festival 2012 – 2015
Coordinator, IHLR Single-Author Chapbook Competition 2011
Liaison, Iron Horse Literary Review (IHLR) Reading Series 2010 – 2011
Webmaster, American Literary Translators Association Conference 2009
Liaison, Keynote Speaker, Texas Tech Poet Laureate Award 2009
Liaison, Presidential Lecture & Performance Series, Texas Tech Univ. 2009
Conference Committee, American Literary Translators Association 2008 – 2009

EDITORIAL SERVICE

Contributing Editor, TAB Journal 2022 – Present
Editorial Advisor, Jack Leg Press 2021 – Present
Guest Poetry Editor, Pleiades Journal 2021 – 2022
Guest Editor, PANK 2020
Blogger, The Kenyon Review 2019 – 2021
Poetry Editor, AGNI 2019 – 2021
Contributing Editor, Chicago Review of Books 2017 – 2019
Blogger, Ploughshares 2017
Essays Editor, The Rumpus 2016 – 2017
Senior Editor, Queen Mobs Teahouse 2015 – 2018
Founder/Publisher, Codex Journal 2013 – 2015
Poetry Editor, The Cossack Review 2012 – 2015
Managing Editor, Iron Horse Literary Review 2010 – 2011

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Academy of American Poets
Associated Writing Programs
Latinx Writers Caucus
American Literary Translators Association
Modern Language Association
Sigma Tau Delta, National English Honor Society