Born in Manila and educated in Madrid, Sofia arrived in the USA in 1986 and became a US citizen in 1989. She is the author of several poetry collections. She has received many awards, including the Aldrich Poetry Prize, the Transcontinental Poetry Editor’s Prize, the Whitebird Poetry Series Prize, the Rainer Maria Rilke Poetry Prize, and the Virginia Writers Club Superior Achievement Award in Poetry. In 2009, she was designated a Distinguished Scholar by Union College (KY), and in 2013 she received a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) degree from Union College (KY). In 2012, she was appointed Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor McDonnell.
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About the Author: Patrick Blessinger
Dr. Patrick Blessinger is an adjunct associate professor of education at St. John's University, a math and science teacher with the New York State Education Department, and chief research scientist of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (in consultative status with the United Nations). Dr. Blessinger is the editor and author of many books and articles and he is an educational policy analyst and contributing writer with UNESCO's Inclusive Policy Lab, University World News, The Hechinger Report, and Higher Education Tomorrow, among others. Dr. Blessinger teaches courses in education, leadership, and research methods and he serves on doctoral dissertation committees. Dr. Blessinger has been involved with accreditation certification for universities and colleges and he has been involved in various educational consulting projects. Dr. Blessinger provides professional development workshops and classes to teachers and educational leaders and regularly gives presentations at academic conferences around the world. Dr. Blessinger has received several educational awards, including: Fulbright Senior Scholar to Denmark (Department of State, USA), Governor’s Teaching Fellow (Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia, USA), and Certified Educator (National Geographic Society, USA).