معرفی
Ruben Quesada, Ph.D. is an award-winning poet, editor, and educator currently serving on the faculty of Antioch University-Los Angeles and Cedar Crest College's low-residency MFA programs. He is the founder and director of Mercy St, a literary arts nonprofit organization that has showcased over 100 artists worldwide. Quesada edited the groundbreaking anthology Latinx Poetics: Essays on the Art of Poetry, winner of the Gold Medal from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and is the author of the poetry collection Brutal Companion, which won the Barrow Street Editors Prize and was recognized as A Notable Book of 2024 by the University of California.
Quesada's creative work explores themes of grief, loss, identity, immigration, and social justice through the lens of his experiences as a queer Latinx individual. His poetry and criticism regularly appear in prestigious publications including The New York Times Magazine, Best American Poetry, Ploughshares, Harvard Review, and American Poetry Review. He has served as poetry editor for AGNI, Poet Lore, Pleiades, and Tab Journal, and as a poetry blogger for The Kenyon Review and Ploughshares. His work frequently engages with historical events, visual art, and personal memory to create layered poetic explorations of contemporary life.
Quesada's recent publications demonstrate consistent engagement with both personal and political themes, with his poetry collections addressing his 2016 HIV diagnosis, grief, and cultural identity. His editorial work has significantly contributed to Latinx literary studies through the Latinx Poetics anthology, which provides critical perspectives on poetry from Latinx writers. His creative output spans ekphrastic poetry responding to visual art, personal narratives exploring family relationships, and social commentary on issues including healthcare access and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Gold Medal from Independent Publisher Book Awards (2022)
- Barrow Street Editors Prize (2024)
- Fellowships from American Literary Translators Association
- Grants from Jentel Foundation, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Illinois Arts Council
- Recognition as A Notable Book of 2024 by University of California
As an educator, Quesada emphasizes authenticity and vulnerability in the creative process, encouraging students to write without self-censorship. His nonprofit organization Mercy St has created significant opportunities for literary artists, hosting events with participants from 12 countries and 39 states. Despite the financial challenges of a creative career—he has described periods with no income between teaching semesters—Quesada remains committed to his artistic practice and literary community building, maintaining a newsletter that chronicles his journey in poetry and publishing.
