Carolina Hinojosa
Writer * Educator * Theopoet(a)
Carolina Hinojosa (she/her/ella) cisneroscafe@gmail.com
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Texas at San Antonio, in progress
Master of Arts in English, Our Lady of the Lake University, December 2020
Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Texas at San Antonio, December 2010
Master of Arts Final Lecture
Directed Study – Spatial Theory
Directed by Candace de León-Zepeda, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of English,
Mass Communication and Drama
“Peace-ing Our Des-Madre: A Pedagogy of Theoespíritu Toward a Liberative Praxis”
CURRENT APPOINTMENT
Graduate Research Assistant August 2021 - current
College of Liberal and Fine Arts
University of Texas at San Antonio
Poetry Co-Editor March 2019 – current
The Journal of Latina Critical Feminism
FORMER POSITIONS
Lecturer of English August 2020 - August 2021
Department of English, Mass Communication, and Drama
Our Lady of the Lake University
Albert J. Griffith Ph.D. Endowed Fellow August 2020 - December 2020
Department of English, Mass Communication, and Drama
Our Lady of the Lake University
Quest English Graduate Fellow August 2020 - December 2020
Department of English, Mass Communication, and Drama
Our Lady of the Lake University
Graduate Assistant
Center for Mexican American Studies and Research September 2020 - December 2020
Our Lady of the Lake University
Program Coordinator February 2019 - August 2020
Center for Women in Church and Society
Our Lady of the Lake University
Columnist March 2019 - August 2020
Sojourners Magazine
Assistant to the Chair April 2011-February 2019
Radiation Oncology
UT Health
Academic Programs Coordinator April 2010-April 2011
Radiation Oncology
UT Health
TEACHING
Online Adjunct Lecturer of English, Survey of Mexican American Literature, Our Lady of the Lake University, Summer 2021
Online Adjunct Lecturer of English, Introduction to Fiction, Our Lady of the Lake University, Spring 2021
Online Adjunct Instructor of English, ENG 1313, Composition I, Our Lady of the Lake Univerity, Fall 2020
Co-Director, Our Lady of the Lake University, Social Justice Living Learning Community, 2019-2020 academic year
Visiting Instructor, Sobrevivencia: A Theological Reflection, Our Lady of the Lake University, Young Women in Leadership and Spirituality, Fall 2019
Visiting Instructor, Theopoetics in the Classroom: Peace Write-In, Our Lady of the Lake University, Fall 2019
Applications of Learning, Our Lady of the Lake University, co-instructor, Social Justice Living-Learning Community, Fall 2019
Retreat Instructor, Our Lady of the Lake University, co-instructor, Social Justice Living-Learning Community, 2019-2020
Bilingual/Biliterate Seminar Instructor, Testimonio: Finding Your Voice, Write Art Out, April 2019
Bilingual/Biliterate Community Poetry Instructor, Theopoetics, Westfall Branch Library, January 2019
Bilingual/Biliterate Community Poetry Instructor, Testimonio, Latino Collection and Resource Center, San Antonio Public Library, March 2018
Poetry Instructor, Teen Arts Puentes Project, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, summer 2011 and summer 2012
PUBLICATIONS
Chapbooks
Becoming Coztōtōtl: poems by Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros, FlowerSong Books, February 2019.
Articles
“Listicle for Getting Through the Pandemic.” Faith and Leadership, Duke Divinity, April 2020.
“Revolutionizing Representation: Panel on American Dirt controversy stokes important
conversation but no easy answers.” San Antonio Current, vol. 34, no. 5, 2020.
“Proper Healthcare Takes a Community—and an Act of Congress.” Sojourners, January
2020.
“Why Storytelling Matters.” Faith and Leadership, Duke Divinity, October 2019.
https://faithandleadership.com/carolina-hinojosa-cisneros-why-storytelling-matters. November 2019.
“Amid Seasons of Doubt, God Keeps Creating,” Sojourners, December 2019.
“The Texts of Matriarchs are Texts for Survival.” Sojourners, October 2019.
“Activism in a Time of Perpetual War.” Sojourners, August 2019.
“Fighting Injustice Through Self-Reflection.” Sojourners, March 2019.
“When Church Language Fails Us, We Resist with Poetry.” Sojourners, Nov. 2018.
“The Work of the Hands.” On Being, June 2018. https://onbeing.org/blog/carolina-hinojosa-cisneros-the-work-of-the-hands/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“We Survive by Telling Stories.” On Being, May 2018. https://onbeing.org/blog/carolina-hinojosa-cisneros-we-survive-by-telling-stories/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Before the Resurrection, There is a Simple Meal.” On Being, March 2018. https://onbeing.org/blog/carolina-hinojosa-cisneros-an-unspoken-lent-food-that-nourishes-my-soul-and-my-history/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Welcome the Stranger.” Rivulet Collective, April 2018. https://www.rivuletcollective.com/rivulet/welcoming-the-stranger, accessed 21 November 2018.
“On Theology, Food, and Storytelling.” Redbud Post, 2017. https://redbudwritersguild.com/on-theology-food-and-storytelling/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Jesus Speaks for the Marginalized.” Mudroom, Oct. 2016. http://mudroomblog.com/jesus-speaks-for-the-marginalized/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Bury Us with Dignity.” The Lookout Magazine, vol. 2, no. 2, 2017.
Poetry
“Virgin de Guadalupe Stops Washing Dishes to Enter into Centering Prayer.” Puro Chicanx Writers of the 21st Century Anthology, 2nd printing, March 2019.
“Ode to What My Grandmother Has Forgotten.” Poetrybay, December 2019.
“Coritos for Las de Afuera.” Latinx Outsiders: Remaking Latina Identity edited by Grisel Y. Acosta, Routledge, July 2019.
“Namesake: A Poem to the Divine.” The Salt Collective, March 2019. http://thesaltcollective.org/namesake-a-poem-to-the-divine/, accessed 2 April 2019.
“In Lak’ech.” La Voz de Esperanza, vol. 32, issue 2, April 2019.
“Holy is a Bird’s Cry.” La Voz de Esperanza, vol. 32, issue 2, April 2019.
“A Psalm of Resistance.” The Salt Collective, March 2019.
“Even Then.” In Touch Ministries Magazine, Oct. 22, 2018. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/faith-works/even-here, accessed 21 November 2018.
“War Made Flesh” and “I Wish You.” The Windward Review, vol. 16, Sept. 2018.
“Prayer from a Latina Seminarian.” Christianity Today: Hispanic Higher Education Resource Guide. Oct. 2018, pp. 30-31.
“Madre.” Bird’s Thumb, Jun. 2018. http://birdsthumb.org/june-2018/2018/5/7/madre, accessed 21 November 2018.
“The Unwelcome” and “Self-Portrait as Bone.” The Rumpus, Apr. 2018. https://therumpus.net/2018/04/national-poetry-month-day-27-carolina-hinojosa-cisneros/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Testimonio of the Body.” SheLoves Magazine, Mar. 2018. http://shelovesmagazine.com/2018/testimonio-of-the-body/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“By the Grace of God.” The Redbud Post, Nov. 2017. https://redbudwritersguild.com/by-the-grace-of-god/, accessed 21 November 2018.
(2017, September 18). After Harvey: Poems from the Flood. Houston Chronicle, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/books/article/After-Harvey-Poems-from-the-flood-12169859.php, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Return to Texas.” Rock & Sling: a journal of witness, vol.12, no. 1, 2017, pp. 95 &109.
“How Amazing is Grace.” Altarwork, Feb. 2017. http://www.altarwork.com/how-amazing-is-grace/, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Fuga: Take Flight.” The Acentos Review, Nov. 2016. http://www.acentosreview.com/November_2016/carolina-hinojosa-cisneros.html, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Cantarito.” The Acentos Review, May 2015. http://www.acentosreview.com/may_2015/carolina-hinojosa.html, accessed 21 November 2018.
“The List.” La Bloga Online Floricanto, 2012. https://labloga.blogspot.com/2012/03/tqs-at-45-bits-pieces-floricanto.html, accessed 21 November 2018.
“Rough Sketches.” Zouch Magazine, 2011. http://zouchmagazine.com/poetry-rough-sketches/#.W_bflThKjcc, accessed 21 November 2018.
“I Am Also What I Have Lost.” Sagebrush Review, vol.6, 2001, pp. 60.
Book Reviews
“Book Review: Rain Scald by Tacey Attsity.” Concho River Review, vol. 33, no. 2, 2019.
“Book Review: JabberWalking by Juan Felipe Herrera.” Latinxs in Kid Lit, Jun. 2018, https://latinosinkidlit.com/2018/06/14/book-review-jabberwalking-by-juan-felipe-herrera/, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Discussion Essay for The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston.” The Red Couch and SheLoves Magazine, Nov. 2018, http://shelovesmagazine.com/2018/the-red-couch-the-woman-warrior-discussion/, accessed 28 November 2018.
“Introduction to Mujerista Theology, Written by Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz.” The Red Couch and SheLoves Magazine, February 2018. http://shelovesmagazine.com/2018/red-couch-mujerista-theology-introduction/, accessed 21 November 2018.
Short Work and Contributions
“Must Read Poet: ire’ne lara silva.” Bird’s Thumb, Jan. 2019.
“Reflection of El Mundo Zurdo.” The Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa Newsletter, no. 11-12, Dec. 2018.
Florer-Bixler, Melissa. “A Resistance Playlist for These Days.” Sojourners, Contributor, October 2018. https://sojo.net/articles/resistance-playlist-these-days, accessed 21 November 2018.
Rodriguez, Santi. “A Latinx Theology Reading List.” Sojourners, Contributor, September 2018. https://sojo.net/articles/latinx-theology-reading-list, accessed 21 November 2018.
Book Endorsements
Nikondeha, Kelley. Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us About Freedom. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, forthcoming 24 March 2020.
Thomas, Gena. Separated by the Border: A Birth Mother, a Foster Mother, and a Migrant Child's 3,000-Mile Journey. InterVarsity Press, 29 October 2019.
Florer-Bixler, Melissa. Fire by Night: Finding God in the Pages of the Old Testament. Herald P, 9 April 2019.
Baker, Amy Julia. White Picket Fences: Turning Toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege. NavPress, 2 October 2018.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
“‘Making Holy’ Through Poetry,” 2019 El Mundo Zurdo Conference: Planetary Citizenship: Anzaldúan Thought across Communities, Histories, and Cultures—An International Conference on the Life and Work of Gloria Anzaldúa, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, forthcoming November 2019.
CONFERENCES and READINGS
“Latinx Writers Caucus,” American Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), San Antonio, Texas, March 2020.
“Developing the MA-MFA in Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice,” American Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), San Antonio, Texas, March 2020.
“Toward a Peaceful Resistance: Theopoetics as Critical Pedagogy in the Writing Classroom,” UTSA English Graduate Symposium, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas, forthcoming February 2020.
“FlowerSong Small Press Release,” Gemini Ink, San Antonio Public Library, San Antonio, Texas, August 2019.
“Poets Against Borders,” Texas Institute of Letters, McAllen, Texas, April 2019.
“A Literary Celebration of La Mujer in Honor of Sor Juana,” ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin, TX, reading, April 2019.
“Latinas with New Work,” Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio, TX, reading, April 2019.
“Write Your Truth.” Write Art Out, San Antonio, TX, reading, January 2019.
“Mexican American Poetry Series.” Huizache: The Magazine of Latino Literature, Special guest, Austin, TX, reading, 2018.
“Self-Portrait as Bone and Blessed Be the Mother.” 100 Thousand Poets for Change Women Speak, San Antonio, TX, reading, 2018.
“Latinx Mothers and the Feminine Divine.” A VirginX Book Launch with Natalia Treviño, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX, guest reader, 2018.
“Writing as Liberative Praxis: A Latina Narrative.” Gemini Ink Writers Conference, San Antonio, TX, Conference, panel curator, July 2018.
“End Family Separation.” Interfaith Coalition and San Antonio Mennonite Church, San Antonio, TX, poetry event curator and guest poet, 2018.
“El Camino: An Afternoon of Poetry and Community.” San Antonio Public Library, curator, 2018.
“The Risks of Writing on Race and the Obligation to Continue.” Festival of Faith and Writing, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, panelist, 2018.
“No Ban, No Wall: Women Writers Unite.” Tintero Projects, Houston, TX, reading, 2017.
“The List: Librotraficante Movement.” American Literature Association: Symposium on Frontiers and Borders in American Literature, San Antonio, TX, panelist and reading, 2016.
“Mujer Fuerte.” Southwest Workers Union, 2nd Anniversary Underground Library, San Antonio, TX, reading, 2015.
“Lenguas Libres.” Lenguas Libres, Writers Bloc, San Anto Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio, TX, reading, 2011.
INVITED SPEAKER
"Writing as Limpia Writing Workshop." San Antonio Library, Latino Collection and Resource Center, October 2020.
"What Does it Mean to Serve at an HSI?" Provost Professional Development Days, Our Lady of the Lake University, August 2020.
“Writing Doubt.” Breathe Writers Conference, plenary speaker, Grand Rapids, MI, Conference, 2018.
“A Theo(poet)ic Revolution: The Language of Liberation.” Women Doing Theology Conference, plenary speaker, Elkhart, IN, Conference, 2018.
PROGRAMS COORDINATED
Bearing Witness: A Graduate Student Reading Fall 2020
Department of English, Mass Communication, and Drama
Our Lady of the Lake University
Co-Madres: A Student Mami Support Group Spring 2019 – August 2020
Our Lady of the Lake University
HERStory Month (Cancelled due to COVID) Spring 2019, Spring 2020
Our Lady of the Lake University
Zapatista Women’s Liberation Movement: International Women’s March Solidarity Event, OLLU Comadres: A Sobrevivencia of Graduate Student Mothers in Higher Education, El Sacrificio Para Mi Educacion: A First-Generation Student Testimony, Race, Power and Reproduction in the Americas, Storytelling and Sobrevivencia for Mujeristas
Caldito for Peace: #ElPasoStrong August 2019
Our Lady of the Lake University
Find Your Sacred Space: Blue Nation Orientation Weekend August 2019
Our Lady of the Lake University
Graduate Medical Education Radiation Oncology Resident Retreat July 2012
UT Health San Antonio, Mays Cancer Center
PODCAST INTERVIEWS
“Ancestral Wisdom and Theopoetics with Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Theopoetics Podcast, forthcoming January 2020.
“Talking ‘Bout a Revolution: Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Holding It(,) Together with Jenny Castro, 13 August 2018, https://holdingittogether.fireside.fm/wdt-short, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Episode 61 with Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Shalom Sistas with Osheta Moore, 13 August 2018, https://shalominthecity.libsyn.com/episode-61-with-carolina-hinojosa-cisneros, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Episode 130 The Language of Birds and Ancestors: Guest poet, Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Spark My Muse with Lisa Colon DeLay, 2018 April, https://lisadelay.com/blog/eps-130-the-language-of-birds-and-ancestors-guest-poet-carolina-hinojosa-cisneros/, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Persuasion 131 Your Food Has a Backstory with Kendell Vanderslice and Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Persuasion for Christ and Pop Culture, 5 April 2018, https://christandpopculture.com/persuasion-131-your-food-has-a-backstory-with-kendall-vanderslice-carolina-hinojosa-cisneros/, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Lighten Up #62: Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, 20 February 2018, https://www.unexpected.org/2018/02/lighten-up-62-carolina-hinojosa-cisneros/, accessed 29 November 2018.
“Testimonios 108 with Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros.” Spanglish Seminary, 10 October 2017, https://anchor.fm/SpanglishSeminary/episodes/Testimonios-108-with-Carolina-Hinojosa-Cisneros-e1g5tl, accessed 29 November 2018.
AWARDS and HONORS
Albert J. Griffith Ph.D. Endowed Fellowship, Fall 2020
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$3,777 fellowship
Recipient of the 2019 Rubem Alves Award in Theopoetics, March 2019
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$2,000 honorarium
Jack Sr. & Doris McCord Smothers Scholarship, Our Lady of the Lake University, Fall 2018
-
$2,340.66 scholarship
GRANTS
Foundations of Christian Leadership April 2020 funded $3,500
These Innovation Grants will fund experiments that the participants will design and implement in their respective organizations. Grant sparks theological imagination and empowers participants to identify new and more Christ-like ways of approaching the core work of their institutions. I wrote this grant for catapulting Co-Madres: student mother support group at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Bangor Theological Seminary Center August 2019 funded $500
Brave Change Planning Mini-Grant, individual application, a small grant for faith-based organizations or communities to support planning for a larger project, wrote the grant for Comadres: a graduate student support group for mothers of color at Our Lady of the Lake University.
Foundations of Christian Leadership April 2019 funded $3,500
Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Foundations of Christian Leadership, assisted in writing this grant to secure funding for the Social Justice Living and Learning Community, Center for Women in Church and Society, Our Lady of the Lake University in which I became co-director.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Latinx Writers Caucus, AWP, March 2020 – present
Board Member, ARC (Arts Religion Culture), July 2019 – present, 3-year service minimum
Board Member, Fall 2020 Blue Nation Welcome Weekend Advisory Board
ACADEMIC MISCELLANEA
Poetry Co-Editor, The Journal for Latina Critical Feminism, Spring 2019-current
Managing Co-Editor, The Thing Itself, Our Lady of the Lake University, Fall 2018-Fall 2019
Poetry Co-Editor, The Thing Itself, Our Lady of the Lake University, Fall 2018-Fall 2019
Contributing Editor, On Being Project, 2018-2019
SERVICE WORK
Member, Multicultural Committee, Our Lady of the Lake University, Spring 2020-current
Member, Lake Day Orientation Committee, Our Lady of the Lake University, 2019-2020
Member, Search Committee, Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Development, Our Lady of the Lake University, Spring 2019
Writer, The Good Book Club, Forma, Faith-At-Home for the Episcopal Church, 2017-present
Children’s Church Volunteer Teacher, Santa Fe Episcopal Church, 2018-present
Graduate Representative and Slam Poetry Judge, Memorial High School, Fall 2018
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Folklore Society
American Writers & Writing Programs (AWP)
Association for Theopoetics (ARC)
Gemini Ink
Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS)
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society
LANGUAGES
English (biliterate)
Spanglish (bilterate)