Carmen Tafolla is a poet, author, teacher, educational consultant, and sought-after speaker and performer. A native of the West-Side barrios of San Antonio, Texas, Tafolla earned a BA, MA, a PhD from the University of Texas, Austin. In 1973, she became Director of the Mexican-American Studies Center at Texas Lutheran College. The recipient of many honors, she is the current inaugural poet laureate of San Antonio. Tafolla has held numerous faculty and administrative positions at universities throughout the Southwest. In 1999, the President’s Peace Commission of St. Mary’s University selected Tafolla for its Art of Peace Award for writing which promotes peace, justice and human understanding.