Manuel Iris / Literature and Hispanic Outreach, DePaul Christo Rey Highschool and Poet Laureate of the City of Cincinnati
Poet, educator and public speaker. He received the “Merida” National award of poetry (Mexico, 2009) for his book Notebook of dreams, and the Rodulfo Figueroa Regional award of poetry for his book The disguises of fire (Mexico, 2014). His first bilingual book, Traducir el silencio/Translating silence, received two recognitions in the International Latino Book Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2018. That same year, he was named Poet Laureate of the City of Cincinnati, now Poet Laureate emeritus as of January, 2021.
Iris has published poetry, essay, and translation in magazines and literary journals from Mexico, Spain, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Portugal, France, England, the United States, and Angola. His poetry has been included in several Mexican, as well as Latin-American, and American, poetry anthologies. He has also given talks, lectures, and poetry readings in literary events, academic conferences, and cultural centers of Mexico, the United States, and Europe.
Manuel currently serves as Literature Teacher and coordinator of Hispanic Outreach at DePaul Cristo Rey High School, where he has also been a co-coach for the 2-times LTAB champion slam poetry team, and co-coordinator of the school’s poetry club.
Iris holds a BA in Latin American Literature from the Autonomous University of the Yucatan (Mexico), a MA in Spanish from the New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Cincinnati.