Dr. Hector R. Romero, Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at The University of Texas-Pan American, recently received two prestigious international literary prizes for his poetry and narrative works from the Círculo Panamericano de Cultura (CCP).

The International Poetry Prize José María Heredia, and the International Short Story Prize Enrique Labrador Ruiz were recently presented to Romero at the University of Miami International Koubek Center by the CCP – an independent organization of Spanish and Latin American scholars interested in Hispanic literatures and culture.

The CCP awards three prizes each year in poetry, short story and drama, and the selection follows a strict, blind process involving three independent and different evaluation committees comprised of renowned critics and creative writers. The selected works are published in Círculo: Revista de Cultura or in Círculo Poético. The publications of the CCP are recognized by the Conference of Editors of Learned Journals and appear listed in the most prestigious bibliographic indexes. Each prize consists of a diploma, a monetary award and the publication of the works.

In addition to the publication of previous pieces of creative writing, Romero has published several scholarly books and many articles on different areas covering Spanish, Latin American, Cuban and Caribbean literature and culture. He is coordinating the second International Conference on Caribbean Studies which will take place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia in March. This conference is an international cooperative effort between UTPA and three of the most prestigious Colombian universities: Fundación Universitaria del Area Andina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Universidad de Cartagena-Instituto Internacional de Estudios Caribeños.

For more information about the UTPA Department of Modern Languages and Literature, call 956/381-3441 or visit www.utpa.edu/dept/modlang/