Proust Questionnaire 38: Ricardo Alberto Maldonado

Ricardo Alberto Maldonado is a poet residing in New York City who was born and raised in Puerto Rico. His first collection of poems, The Life Assignment, was a finalist for the Poetry Society of America’s Norma Farber First Book Award. He is the executive director and president of the Academy of American Poets, a leading nonprofit that established April as National Poetry Month and brings verse to a wide audience through its Poem-a-Day series with more than 330,000 daily subscribers. The Academy also awards more than $1.3 million a year to hundreds of writers.

Maldonado will be the organization’s first Latino leader and intends to highlight, among other things, the linguistic diversity of American poetry today. Prior to assuming his role at the Academy of American Poets, he co-directed the poetry center at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, where Ulrich Baer, one of our co-hosts, also teaches courses on poetry and literature. Follow Ricky on Twitter.

Ulrich Baer is University Professor at New York University where he teaches literature and photography, and writes frequently about photography, art, literature, and other subjects. He is also the host of the podcast “Think About It” and editorial director at Warbler Press. Twitter: @UliBaer; Instagram. Caroline Weber is a specialist of French literature, history, and culture. She is Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Barnard College and Columbia University in New York City. Twitter: @CorklinedRoom. Instagram.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/poetry