Welcome

Dear Friend:

As the newly appointed Tomás Rivera Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, I am delighted to invite you to attend the 25 th anniversary celebration of the inauguration of Tomás Rivera. The event will take place on Friday, April 29, from 1:00 – 9:00 PM at the University of California, Riverside.

Over the years, the Rivera Conference has been held to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Rivera. Tomás, as you know, was the first Chicano appointed to Chancellor of a University of California campus. At the end of his passing in 1984, many considered Tom ás to be the leading Chicano poet, writer, and higher education administrator. From its inception in 1988, the Tomás Rivera Conference has grown into a major forum, focusing on policy issues vital to the Latino community at the state and national levels. Therefore, it is fitting that this year’s celebration focusing on the 25 th anniversary of Tomás’ inauguration be entitled, “After the Rain: Tomás Rivera, the Legacy and Life,” and that it reexamines Tomás’ scholarly work, administrative leadership, and humanity. The conference will begin with Dr. Alvina Quintana, Professor of Literature, University of Delaware, delivering the keynote address entitled, “A Conversation on the Future(s) of Latina Literature.” That afternoon we will present the Tomás Rivera Lifetime Achievement Award to 97-year old Dr. Luis Leal, a professor emeritus of Chicano Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

A reception will follow at 6:00 PM in the UCR Commons, to be followed by the 7:00 PM presentation, “The Celebration of a Life, in the words of Tomás Rivera, His Friends and His Admirers” The presentation will consist of performances including videos, music and live readings by friends and colleagues. It will also include a reading of Tomás’ inaugural address.

On behalf of Concha Rivera and the entire conference planning committee, I thank you for your interest and support and hope you will join us in celebrating Tomás Rivera’s legacy. To herald in the spirit of the conference, let me leave you with four luminous lines from one of Tomás’ poems, “Do Not Forget Me,”

One day,

I was awakened

And I walked out

into brilliance.

Thank you again for your encouragement and support over these years.

With warm regards,

Juan Felipe Herrera,
Tomás Rivera Endowed Chair
Professor of Creative Writing