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CV: CV

Vita

Robert LeRoy Giron

Founder/Editor/Publisher (1998-present)
Gival Press, LLC. & ArLiJo

PO Box 3812

Arlington, VA 22203


Professor / Chair Emeritus (Prof. 1986-2018 / Chair 1992-1995 & 2010-2013)
English, Creative Writing, ESL
Montgomery College‑Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
Takoma Park, MD 20912

Education:
Summer Studies, Literature and the Humanities, The University of Cambridge,

Cambridge, England, 1998 & 1999.

Post Graduate, 1984-1986:

Continuing Education work at The George Washington University, American University, and the University of the District of Columbia in Publications Management, Printing, The Graphic Arts, Printing-Layout-Design, Marketing-Promotion-Public Relations, Management, and Entrepreneurial Development.

U.S. Small Business Administration: The ABCs of Business.

Post Graduate, Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. 1979.
Poetry Workshop at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor with Robert Hass, 1979.
Post Graduate, Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso, 1976-1978.

Course work with:
Raymond Carver
José Antonio Villarreal
Jon Manchip White
Francis Fugate
Gifford D. Wingate

M. A., Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1975.
B. A., The University of Texas at El Paso,1973.


Have Taught English Classes at:
Montgomery College, 1986-2018.
George Washington University, Summers 1988 &1989.
Austin Community College, 1982-1983. 
St. Mary's University, San Antonio, 1981.
University of Texas, San Antonio, 1981.
El Paso Community College, 1975-1981.
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1974-1975.

Related Experience:
Publisher, Editor, Marketing Specialist.
Honors Program Coordinator, College Department Chair, Acting Dean.
Translator, Writer, Photographer.
Commissioner, Arlington Commission for the Arts (2019-2021, Committees: Grants, Engagement, & Equity)


PUBLICATIONS:

Poetry collections:

Songs for the Spirit / Canciones para el Espíritu (2023),

Spanish translation by Javier Prieto Martínez.

 

Founder / Editor in Chief: The Sligo Journal (2010-2018),
Arts and literary journal for the Montgomery College-Takoma Park/Silver Spring community.

Editor: Poetic Voices Without Borders 2 (2009),
An international anthology with over 150 poets.

Editor: Poetic Voices Without Borders (2005),
An anthology of poetry by 147 poets from around the world in English, French, and Spanish.

Translator: Songs for a Single String of Canciones para una sola cuerda by Jesús Gardea (2002).

Songs for the Spirit (2001).

Metamorphosis of the Serpent God (1999).

Wrestling with Wood (1999).

Recuerdos (Memories) (1999).

Impressions françaises (French Impressions) (1999).


Founder / Editor: Chrysalis (1977-1981)

Arts and literary journal for El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas.


Poetry Has Appeared In:

 

Video of poem So It Began Like (YouTube, 2022): https://youtu.be/WhBAHWJ_NlM

Split This Bone (Gargoyle 74, Paycock Press, 2021).


This Is What America Looks Like: The Washington Writers' Publishing House Anthology, Poetry & Fiction from DC, Maryland, Virginia (Washington Writers' Publishing House, 2021).

 

101 Jewish Poems for the Third Millennium (The Ashland Poetry Press, 2021).

 

Written in Arlington: Poems of Arlington, Virginia (Paycock Press, 2020).

Love Jets: Queer Male Poets on 200 Years of Walt Whitman (Squares & Rebels, 2019).

Knocking on the Door of the White House: Latina and Latino Poets in Washington, D.C. (Zozobra Publishing, 2017).

Al Pie de la Casa Blanca: Poetas Hispanos de Washington, DC (Academia Norteamerica de la Lengua Español, 2010).

Full Moon on K Street: Poems About Washington, DC (Plan B Press, 2010).

Poetic Voices Without Borders 2

Gargoyle Magazine

Beltway: A Poetry Quarterly

Poets Against the War online

Only the Sea Keeps: Poetry of the Tsunami (Bayeux, 2005).

Poetic Voices Without Borders

The World Haiku Review

Arlington Artsletter

31 Arlington Poets (a CD)

White Crane Journal

Puerto del Sol

Amphora Review

The Texas Anthology

Art Form

The Great Lawn

Slouching Towards Consensus

Austin Writer

The Poet's Domain: A Place for the Genuine

This Week in Texas

Chrysalis

Goodbye Dove


 

Edited Books:

 

Arlington Poets in Solidarity with Ukraine (2022).

The Best of Gival Press Short Stories (2015).

 

Poetic Voices Without Borders 2 (2008).

 

Poetic Voices Without Borders (2005).


An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Women’s Studies
edited by Brianne Friel & Robert L. Giron (2005).


Essays/Articles Have Appeared In:

El Paso Times


Living in Faith

Journeys Across the Rainbow: Inspirational Stories for the Human Race

Speaking Out

Community College Humanities Journal

AFACCT: Focus on Teaching

WATESOL News

CEA‑Magazine

Community College Guide to Curriculum Change

The English Forum

El Paso Herald‑Post

Slouching Towards Consensus

What's News

Ventana USA

The Networker

The Advance Newspaper

Austin Writers' League Newsletter

Washington Edpress

Crit Lit News

Focus Series, a ghost writer and Spanish translator on a team for 22 books for children published by Scott, Foresman & Company


Book Awards:

Songs for the Spirit / Canciones para el Espíritu

*2024 Finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award for eBook (Nonfiction)

*2023 Best Book for Spiritual Bilingual, Pinnacle Achievement Award (NABE)


The Best of Gival Press Short Stories:

*2015 Foreword Reviews' Silver Award —The Indiefab Book of the Year Award for Anthologies
*2015 Great Midwest Book Festival Award for Compilations/Anthologies
*2015 Finalist USA Best Book Award for Fiction-Anthologies


Poetic Voices Without Borders 2:
*2009 Winner of the National Best Book Award for Fiction & Literature: Anthologies,      sponsored by USA Book News
*2009 Runner-Up for the London Book Festival Award for Poetry
*2009 Honorable Mention: San Francisco Book Festival Award for Poetry

Poetic Voices Without Borders:
*2006 Writers Notes Magazine Book Award Notable for Art
*2006 Independent Publisher Book Award Honorable Mention for Anthologies
*2006 Winner of the Writers Notes Magazine Book Award Notable for Art for the book

*2006 Semi-Finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award for Anthologies 

*2006 Winner of the Moving Words Poetry Competition for poem Living in Arlington.

 

An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Women’s Studies:
*2005 Winner of the DIY Book Festival Award for Compilations / Anthologies 

*2004 Finalist in the Moving Words Poetry Competition for poem The Pearl Glaze

 

Fortune Was My Name But Faith Sustained Me in Living in Faith:
*2003 Finalist in the Obadiah Writers Contest for essay (Obadiah Press, 2004)
 

Canciones para una sola cuerda / Songs for a Single String:
*2003 Finalist in the Violet Crown Book Award for Literary Prose/Poetry for Translation 

 

The Olive Branch from the collection Metamorphosis of the Serpent God:
*2001 Finalist in the Moving Words Poetry Competition for the poem

 

The First Thanksgiving [1598] a poem in the collection Metamorphosis of the Serpent God:

*2000 Best of the Entries in the Austin Writers League Radio Collective Contest and was aired on A Gift of Poets program on KOOP Austin, 91.7 FM and KRTU San Antonio, 91.7 FM, along with another of my poems titled The Souls of Countless Tribes


Teaching / Education
/ Industry Awards:

2023, Marquis' Industry Leaders

https://whoswhoindustryleaders.com/2023/09/04/robert-giron/

2023, June, Marquis Who's Who Distinguished Educator and Small Business Owner

2022, November, Marquis Who's Who Wall Street Journal Distinguished Leaders


2019, Professor Emeritus, Montgomery College

2011, Faculty Outstanding Service Award, Montgomery College

2002, Faculty Outstanding Service Award, Montgomery College

2002, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award, University of Texas at Austin

1997, National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award, University of Texas at Austin

1994, Montgomery College, Effective Team Award

1990, Montgomery College-Takoma Park Humanities & Social Sciences Special Faculty Recognition Award

1979, CIC Mellon Foundation Fellowship, University of Michigan, Fall 

1974-1975, Dean's List, Graduate Studies, Southern Illinois University

1971-1973, Dean's List, Baccalaureate Studies, University of Texas, El Paso

1973, Nominated to Top Ten at the University of Texas at El Paso

1973-1974, Named Who's Who in Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, University of Texas, El Paso


Types of Presentations:


Have presented at numerous national conferences related to the teaching of English (composition, film, and English as a Second Language) and creative writing.

Have given numerous poetry readings at national and international venues.

Have given numerous workshops on creative writing at middle schools and high schools as well as at the college level.

Have given lectures in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area on the topics:
The First Thanksgiving, 1598
Shamanism Across Cultures


A Sampling of Current Memberships:

The Authors Guild

The National Writers Union
National Book Critics Circle

The Writer's Center

Austin Writers' League

El Paso County Historical Society

San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society

Previous:

American Association of American Professors

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Washington Area Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

National Council of Teachers of English

Washington Independent Writers

 

Sponsored Activities:

The Ventura Valdez Poetry Contest, 1987-2017,

Founded the contests and provided cash prizes for the best student poems written in English and Spanish at Montgomery College.

The Sligo Journal, 2010-2021,

Provided support for the founding of the Journal which features art/photography, fiction and poetry by students of Montgomery College and artists/writers of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring, communities.



Sampling of Courses Taught at Various Institutions:


Creative Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction)

Hispanic Experience in USA Literature

Film and Literature

Introduction to Literature

Introduction to Drama

Introduction to Fiction

Composition & Critical Reading

Composition for Pre‑MBA Students

Technical Writing

English as a Second Language

Basic Writing and Reading

Public Speaking


Have Been Listed In:


Marquis Who's Who

 

Who's Who in America

Who's Who Among America's Teachers

A Directory of American Poets & Fiction Writers

Who's Who in Education

Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans


Have Traveled In:
Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, England, The Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iceland, Wales, Scotland, Greece, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Norway, Basque Country, Morocco.



Activities:
Writing, reading, theatre, art, music, travelling, swimming.

Languages:

Native speaker of English, fluent in Spanish, good command of French.

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