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:
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.