“Writing Truth in Times of Fear” spotlights the MALS’ first inaugural Writer-in-Residence mónica teresa ortiz. Ortíz talks with Karma Chavez, Chair of the Department of Mexican American Latina/o Studies, about the importance of land, Texas, as well as ethnic, racial, and queer identity to their creative practice. They also offer important insights for students wanting to pursue their passions.

mónica teresa ortiz is a poet born and raised in the rural Panhandle of Texas, between Oklahoma and New Mexico. mónica’s work includes three poetry chapbooks, “muted blood” (2018) from Black Radish Books, “autobiography of a semiromantic anarchist” (2019) from Host Publications, and “Do You Dream of Flamingos?” (2023), winner of the Garden Party Collective Chapbook prize and selected by fellow Texas poet Laura Villareal.

Karma R. Chávez is Chair and Bobby and Sherri Patton Professor in the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at UT Austin.