Sharing his personal experience of migrating to the U.S. as a child, author and educator Dr. Francisco Jiménez will present on the Utah Tech University campus later this month.
Jiménez will present “Living and Writing a Migrant’s Life” at 3 p.m. on April 19 in the Zion Room, located on the fifth floor of Utah Tech’s Holland Centennial Commons. The event is free and open to the public.
“Dr. Jiménez’s personal story and professional contributions to education are poignant reminders of the power of education, the centrality of family and the complexities of the human tapestry that is America,” Dr. Stephen Lee, dean of Utah Tech’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences, said.
Emigrating with his family from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, to California, Jiménez worked alongside his parents in the fields of California as a child. Now, Jiménez’s work has been recognized by the United States Congress, the United States Department of Education, the California State Senate and the Governor and Minister of Culture of the State of Jalisco. He serves as the Professor Emeritus in the department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Santa Clara University. He received his bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University and his master’s and doctorate in Latin American literature from Columbia University.
Jiménez is an award-winning author known for his autobiographical books, which include his four-book series: “The Circuit,” “Breaking Through,” “Reaching Out” and “Taking Hold.” The series is included in the American Library Association Booklist’s 50 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Additionally, he has published and edited several books on Mexican and Mexican American literature. His stories have been reprinted in over 100 textbooks and anthologies of literature.
Jiménez’s presentation is hosted by UT’s Institute of Race, Gender, and Identity, which resides in the university’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences. The college prepares students for 21st century jobs by focusing on the skills that employers prioritize, including effective oral and written communication, critical thinking, collaborative teamwork and analytical skills. Learn more about Utah Tech University’s College of Humanities & Social Sciences at colleges.utahtech.edu/humanities.