Johanny Vázquez-Nieves was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She holds a Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Indiana State University. She started teaching Spanish at the City Colleges in 1996, first at Olive-Harvey College and presently at Harold Washington College.
Mrs. Vázquez-Nieves is also a poet and has been included in the anthologies Sin linderos ni arrabales, hacia el Siglo XXI!? Segunda Parte (2000), Sin linderos ni arrabales, hacia el Siglo XXI!? Primera Parte (1999), Y Dios la hizo mujer! (1998) and Motu propio (2000) all published in Madrid, Spain by Calíope Press. She also published in the literary magazines Beyond Borders (De Paul University), Diminuendo (Loyola University), Karakola (Santiago, Chile), Yagrumal (Puerto Rico), Abrapalabra (Univ. of Illinois at Chicago) and many others.
She has coordinated many poetry recitals, art exhibits, music and cultural presentations at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. She participated in poetry readings at places like Chicago Cultural Center, Wheaton College, DePaul University, Columbia College, Northeastern University, Notre Dame University, Indiana University and others. She was showcased in the Chicago Latino Writers Photographic Project and participated in A Tribute to Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and in Autor! Autor! Celebration of Latino Contributions to the Literary Arts all at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Mrs. Vázquez-Nieves won the poetry contest Voces Selectas 2000 of Luz Bilingual Publishing (California) and they published in their collection Carpetas de Luz some of her poems from her book El filo de la esquina/The Sharp Edge Corner . She is also the co-editor of the anthology Between the Heart and the Land / Entre el corazón y la tierra: Latina poets in the Midwest published by MARCH/Abrazo Press.
