Category: Awards

Sarah Hernandez Receives Grant to Highlight Oceti Sakowin Literary Traditions

Posted on November 14, 2025November 12, 2025 by maryreynolds

November 14, 2025

Sarah Hernandez, author of We Are the Stars: Colonizing and Decolonizing the Oceti Sakowin Literary Tradition received $150,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Indigenous Knowledge Initiative to publish The Oceti Sakowin Reader: An Anthology of Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota Literature. Hernandez is a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate; her scholarship and teaching emphasize Native/Indigenous literature, literary criticism, and community-engaged research.

The Oceti Sakowin Reader will expand on these efforts to make Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota literary traditions more accessible to students and educators. “This anthology will help increase access to our vibrant literary tradition so that tribal students can see themselves and their communities positively reflected in their classrooms and textbooks,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez will lead the two-year project in partnership with the Oceti Sakowin Writers Society (OSWS), which will serve as the project’s fiscal sponsor. Inspired by The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature (2019), this anthology will be the first to bring together Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota voices in a single volume. Funding from the Luce Foundation will support editorial development, community-based research, podcast production, and educational materials, ensuring the anthology preserves and shares Oceti Sakowin literature for generations.

Congratulations, Sarah!

2025 International Latino Book Award Winners

Posted on November 7, 2025November 4, 2025 by Cameron Quan

November 7, 2025

We are pleased to share that four University of Arizona Press books were selected as winners and recently honored at the 2025 International Latino Book Awards in Los Angeles!

The International Latino Book Awards recognize excellence in literature, honoring books written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with the goal of “growing the awareness for books written by, for and about Latinos.”

See more about the winning books and their authors below.

Best Academic Themed Book, College Level – English (Gold Medal), Best Women’s Issues Book (Silver Medal), & Best Latina Themed Book (Silver Medal)

Founded in 1997, Mujeres de Maiz (MdM) is an Indigenous Xicana–led spiritual artivist organization and movement by and for women and feminists of color. Chronicling its quarter-century-long herstory, editors Amber Rose González, Felicia ‘Fe’ Montes, and Nadia Zepeda collect diverse stories with attention to their larger sociopolitical contexts. Mujeres de Maiz en Movimiento: Spiritual Artivism, Healing Justice, and Feminist Praxis crosses conventional genre boundaries through the inclusion of poetry, visual art, testimonios, and essays.

Victor Villaseñor Best Latino Focused Nonfiction Book Award (Gold Medal)

A haunting, an obsession, a calling: Tim Z. Hernandez has been searching for people his whole life. Now, in this highly anticipated memoir, he takes us along on an investigative odyssey through personal and collective history to uncover the surprising conjunctions that bind our stories together. They Call You Back is the true chronicle of one man’s obsession to restore dignity to an undignified chapter in America’s past, while at the same time making a case for why we must heal our personal wounds if we are ever to heal our political ones.

Best Women’s Issues Book (Gold Medal)

Frontera Madre(hood) explores how the topic of mothers and mothering transcends all spaces, from popular culture to intellectual thought and critique. Editors Cynthia Bejarano and Maria Cristina Morales bring together this collection of essays that bridge both methodological and theoretical frameworks to explore forms of mothering that challenge hegemonic understandings of parenting and traditional notions of Latinx womxnhood. This book articulates the collective experiences of Latinx, Black, and Indigenous mothering from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Best Academic Themed Book, College Level – English (Silver Medal)

Rafael A. Martínez, an undocu-scholar, intricately weaves his lived experience into this deeply insightful exploration. Martínez’s interdisciplinary approach will engage scholars and readers alike, resonating with disciplines such as history, American studies, Chicana and Chicano studies, and borderlands studies. Illegalized shows that undocumented youth and their activism represent a disruption to the social imaginary of the U.S. nation-state and its figurative and physical borders. It invites readers to explore how undocumented youth activists changed the way immigrant rights are discussed in the United States today.

Congratulations to all!

Book, Jacket, & Journal Show for University Press Week, Nov. 10-14

Posted on October 29, 2025October 24, 2025 by maryreynolds

October 29, 2025

The University of Arizona Press hosts the Association of University Presses’ Book, Jacket, and Journal Show in November. It is all part of our celebration of University Press Week, November 10-14. The award-winning books are on display at the Press offices on the 5th Floor of the University of Arizona Main Library. The winners are also on virtual display here.

Now in its 60^th year, the show honors the university publishing community’s design and production professionals. By recognizing achievement in design, production, and manufacture of print publications, it also sparks thoughtful, creative, and resourceful publishing design in the future.

Check out a few of the winning designs below, and a photo of the Show at the Press offices above.

“They Call You Back” Receives 2025 Memoir Prize

Posted on October 8, 2025October 6, 2025 by Cameron Quan

October 8, 2025

Please join us in congratulating Tim Z. Hernandez for having his book, They Call You Back: A Lost History, A Search, A Memoir, chosen as a finalist for Memoir Magazine‘s 2025 Memoir Grand Prize for Books and a winner in the Social Justice, Healing, and Investigative Research category! Read the full announcement here.

Hernandez’s mission to find the families of the twenty-eight Mexicans who were killed in the 1948 plane wreck at Los Gatos Canyon formed the basis for his acclaimed documentary novel All They Will Call You, which the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed “a stunning piece of investigative journalism,” and the New York Times hailed as “painstaking detective work by a writer who is the descendant of farmworkers.”

In this riveting new work, Hernandez continues his search for the plane crash victims while also turning the lens on himself and his ancestral past, revealing the tumultuous and deeply intimate experiences that have fueled his investigations—a lifelong journey haunted by memory, addiction, generational trauma, and the spirit world.

Tim will be presenting at the 2025 Hay Festival Forum on October 19. See the full schedule here.

Congratulations to Tim on this incredible achievement!

Tim Z. Hernandez is an award-winning author, research scholar, and performer. His books include fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and he is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Book Award. His work has been featured in international media, and in 2018 he was recognized by the California Senate for his work locating the victims of the 1948 plane wreck at Los Gatos, which is chronicled in his book, All They Will Call You. Hernandez is an associate professor in the University of Texas at El Paso’s Bilingual Creative Writing program.

Leo Romero Wins 2025 New Mexico Book Award for Poetry

Posted on October 3, 2025October 3, 2025 by Victoria Stapleton

October 3, 2025

Please join us in celebrating the news that Leo Romero’s Trees Dream of Water: Selected and New Poems has been chosen as one of two winners for the New Mexico Writers’ 2025 New Mexico Book Award for Poetry!

Romero’s book is traversed by memory, myth, and observation of the natural world. These poems explore family, community belonging and conflict, life as an artist, and the cycles of life and death. This lyrical anthology includes accompanying essays to illuminate Romero’s life and work for longtime admirers and new readers alike.

With six books of poetry and a book of short fiction to his name, Romero’s contribution to the literary canon is profound and enduring. Leo Romero stands as a foundational figure in Latino letters. Read an interview with Leo Romero where Romero answers five questions about his work as well as discusses what he’s working on next.

Trees Dream of Water is part of the University of Arizona Press’ Camino Del Sol Series, which spotlights poetry, fiction, and essays from both emerging and established voices in Latinx literature, providing a literary home for distinguished writers such as Juan Felipe Herrera, Carmen Giménez Smith, Luis Alberto Urrea, Richard Blanco, Alberto Ríos, Pat Mora, Tim Z. Hernandez, Emmy Pérez, and Francisco X. Alarcón.

Congratulations to Leo on this incredible achievement!

2025 Latino Book Awards: Finalists & Honorable Mentions

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Cameron Quan

September 10, 2025

We are pleased to announce that many of our books and authors were recently recognized as finalists and honorable mentions in the 2025 International Latino Book Awards! Congratulations to all!

All finalists will earn a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award at the October 25th International Latino Book Awards Ceremony at the Concert Hall at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA.

FINALISTS

They Call You Back: A Lost History, A Search, A Memoir – Victor Villaseñor Best Latino Focused Nonfiction Book Award

Frontera Madre(hood): Brown Mothers Challenging Oppression and Transborder Violence at the U.S.-Mexico Border – Best Women’s Issues Book

Illegalized: Undocumented Youth Movements in the United States – Best Academic Themed Book, College Level

Mujeres de Maiz en Movimiento: Spiritual Artivism, Healing Justice, and Feminist Praxis – Best Women’s Issues Book

Mujeres de Maiz en Movimiento: Spiritual Artivism, Healing Justice, and Feminist Praxis – Best Academic Themed Book, College Level

Mujeres de Maiz en Movimiento: Spiritual Artivism, Healing Justice, and Feminist Praxis – Best Latina Themed Book

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Molino: A Memoir – Best First Book (Nonfiction), English

Writing that Matters: A Handbook for Chicanx and Latinx Studies – Best Academic Themed Book, College Level

Once again, congratulations!

Arizona Friend Trips at National Book Festival

Posted on August 12, 2025August 19, 2025 by maryreynolds

August 12, 2025

Authors Lisa Schnebly Heidinger and Julie Morrison will represent Arizona at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, on September 6. The Arizona Center for the Book, Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, selected their book, Arizona Friend Trips: Stories from the Road as the “Great Read Adult Selection.”

The Arizona Center for the Book noted on its website: “As Lisa and Julie share their favorite trips and formative experiences, readers are treated to an intimate glimpse into their lives, making this book a joyous and uplifting read for travelers and armchair explorers alike.” The book will be part of the “Great Reads from Great Places” reading list, distributed by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book. Books may be written by authors from the state, take place in the state, or celebrate the state’s culture and heritage.

Heidinger talk about the book at libraries throughout Arizona in August as part of the Arizona Great Reads from Great Places author tour, sponsored by the Arizona Center for the Book.

The 25th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., on September 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A selection of programs will be live-streamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival.

Congratulations Lisa and Julie!

About the book:

In Arizona Friend Trips, Lisa Schnebly Heidinger and Julie Morrison invite readers to explore the state’s most cherished places through a blend of poetry, prose, and photography. From the iconic landmarks to hidden gems, each chapter of this captivating travelogue provides a rich tapestry of historical insight, personal anecdotes, and emotional reflections, painting a vivid portrait of Arizona’s diverse landscapes and vibrant culture. Be part of this unique journey as Lisa and Julie embark on an unforgettable adventure, filled with laughter, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the Grand Canyon State.

James Gerber Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on May 21, 2025May 21, 2025 by maryreynolds

May 21, 2025

The Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS) awarded James Gerber its Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2025 annual conference in Seattle. Gerber is author of Border Economies: Cities Bridging the U.S.-Mexico Divide; he is the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies and a professor of economics at San Diego State University. In announcing the award, ABS stated: “James is an extremely well-regarded member of the ABS community and is approachable and welcoming. He is a mentor and guide, whose wise counsel is often sought on ABS matters and border studies more generally. He is a distinguished and respected member of the global border studies community and a source of inspiration for younger generations of students and scholars interested in border studies.”

Congratulations, James!

About the book:

Enormous legal cross-border flows of people, goods, and finance are embedded in the region’s history and prompted by the need to respond to new opportunities and challenges that originate on the other side. In Border Economies James Gerber examines how the interactivity and sensitivity of communities to conditions across the border differentiates them from communities in the interiors of Mexico and the United States. Gerber explains what makes the region not only unique but uniquely interesting.

In Border Economies readers who want to understand the conditions that make the border controversial but also want to go beyond shallow political narratives will find an in-depth exploration of the economic forces shaping the region and an antidote to common prejudices and misunderstandings.

Joe E. Watkins Receives SAA Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Abby Mogollon

April 17, 2025

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) announced the recipients of its 2025 awards, which will be bestowed on April 25, 2025 at the SAA 90th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

“The Society has a long tradition of acknowledging excellence in the field of archaeology through our awards, which pay tribute to those performing outstanding archaeological scholarship and research,” said SAA President Dan Sandweiss. “In addition to honoring highly trained and experienced archaeologists, SAA awards also identify up-and-coming leaders in the field. We are particularly pleased that this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient is Joe Watkins, a past SAA president and only the second Native American SAA president.”

The press release shares that Watkins, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, served as SAA president from 2019 to 2022. The only previous Native American SAA president was the SAA’s founder and first president, Arthur C. Clark. Dr. Watkins was selected because he has opened up the discipline for Indigenous archaeologists with accomplishments like beginning the SAA Native American Scholarships and “his tireless efforts to elevate both institutional and public images of archaeology as a profession, especially those in which Indigenous peoples globally are welcomed and respected as collaborators and beneficiaries.”

“To be recognized by my peers for an award of this magnitude is beyond belief,” Watkins said. “I am humbled and honored to have my contributions to the discipline considered to be on a similar level to those who have previously earned this award.”

SAA award recipients, such as for the Lifetime Achievement honor, are selected by dedicated and knowledgeable award committees made up of SAA member volunteers.

Watkins is the author of the forthcoming work from the University of Arizona Press Indigenizing Japan: Ainu Past, Present, and Future. The work provides a comprehensive look at the rich history and cultural resilience of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido, Japan, tracing their journey from ancient times to their contemporary struggles for recognition. It will be published in November 2025.

Manuel Iris Wins 2025 Ambroggio Prize

Posted on March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 by maryreynolds

March 11, 2025

The Academy of American Poets has announced that The Whole Earth Is a Garden of Monsters | Toda la tierra es un jardín de monstruos, written by Manuel Iris (in photo above) and co-translated by Iris and Kevin McHugh, was selected by Giannina Braschi as the winner of the 2025 Ambroggio Prize. The Prize is given annually for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. The winners receive $1,000 and publication by the University of Arizona Press, a nationally recognized publisher of emerging and established voices in Latinx and Indigenous literature. The book will be published by the University of Arizona Press in 2026. Previous winners include Octavio Quintanilla, author and co-translator with Natalia Treviño; Margarita Pintado Burgos, with translator Alejandra Quintana Arocho; and Elizabeth Torres.

Braschi commented on the collection: “The poet pays homage to the migrant who will not be remembered or missed if lost. There is an intriguing parallel between two main characters—Juan Dominguez, migrant of fire, and Hieronymus Bosch, portraitist of fire—whose early lives are marked by the catastrophic fire from which they were born into new names, new ways, new lives.”

Manuel Iris is a Mexican-born American poet based in Ohio. He holds a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Cincinnati. The former Poet Laureate of Cincinnati, Iris currently serves as Writer-in-Residence for the Hamilton County Public Library; is Writer-in-Residence at Thomas More University; and is a member of Mexico’s National System of Art Creators.

Kevin McHugh is a translator, poet, and editor with over thirty years of experience in writing and teaching. He holds an MA in English from the University of Windsor, specializing in Irish literature. McHugh’s career spans both education and the literary world, having taught writing at the secondary and college levels, while also serving as a fellow of the National (Ohio) Writing Project.

We are thrilled to be publishing this award-winning collection. Congratulations, Manuel!

***

About the Academy of American Poets

The Academy of American Poets is the United States’ leading champion of poets and poetry. The organization annually awards more than $1.3 million to poets across the nation. It also operates Poets.org, the world’s largest publicly funded poetry website, and organizes National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world. Additionally, the Academy publishes Poem-a-Day and American Poets magazine, provides free educational resources for K–12 educators and adult learners, and leads the Poetry Coalition, a network of organizations dedicated to promoting the vital role of poetry in our culture. Visit poets.org for more information.

The University of Arizona Press