Ricardo Alberto Maldonado was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He is the author of The Life Assignment, the translator of Dinapiera Di Donato’s Colaterales / Collateral (National Poetry Series) and the recipient of poetry fellowships from Cantomundo, Queer|Arts|Mentorship and the New York Foundation for the Arts. He serves on the poetry committee for the Brooklyn Book Festival and the Board of Trustees of The Poetry Project. He is managing director at 92Y's Unterberg Poetry Center. He is the co-editor of A New Colossus, with Sophie Herron, and Puerto Rico en mi corazón, with Erica Mena, Raquel Salas Rivera and Carina del Valle Schorske.