Carmen Tafolla, Ph.D. Dr. Carmen Tafolla is a poet, storyteller, performance artist, motivational speaker, and university professor. A native of the West-Side barrios of San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Tafolla received her B.A. from Austin College in 1972, an M.A. from Austin College in 1973, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. In 1973 she became Director of the Mexican-American Studies Center at Texas Lutheran College. She was named by the Texas Legislature in 2015 as the State Poet Laureate of Texas.
Dr. Carmen Tafolla is the author of more than 20 books, ranging from collections of poetry to collections of short stories, and from historical non-fiction to children's books. Honored twice by the Library of Congress, Tafolla received the 2010 Americas Award. Numerous other distinctions include the Art of Peace Award for works which promote peace, justice, and human understanding, five International Latino Book Awards, Outstanding Young Women of America, Foremost Women of the Twentieth Century, and the Dictionary of International Biography. In 1999, the President’s Peace Commission of St. Mary’s University selected her for its Art of Peace Award for writing which promotes peace, justice, and human understanding. Dr. Carmen Tafolla currently teaches at the University of Texas-San Antonio as Associate Professor for Transformative Children’s Literature and resides in San Antonio, TX. |
Poetry• This River Here: Poems of San Antonio (2014)
• Rebozos (2012) • Curandera (30th Anniversary Edition) 2012 • Tamales, Comadres & The Meaning of Civilization (2011) |
Awards• 2015-16 State Poet Laureate of Texas
• 2012-14 Poet Laureate of San Antonio • 2009, 2010 Tomas Rivera - Mexican American Award for Children's Books. • 2010 Americas Award for Childrens and Young Literature |
Childrens' Books• Fiesta Babies (2010)
• What Can You Do With a Paleta (2009) • What Can You Do With A Reboso (2008) • Baby Coyote and the Old Woman (2000) |
Other Works• To Split a Human: Mitos, machos, y la mujer chicana. Mexican American Cultural Center of San Antonio, 1975.
• A Life Crossing Borders: Memoir of a Mexican-American Confederate, English translation by Fidel Tafolla, Arte Publico Press, 2009. (Edited by Carmen Tafolla and Laura Tafolla) |