In 2015 Juan Felipe Herrera was appointed the 21st United States Poet Laureate, the first Mexican American to hold the position. He is the author of 30 books, including collections of poetry, prose, short stories, young adult novels, and picture books for children.

The event is sponsored by the Latin American Studies Program; World Languages and Literatures Department; the Offices of the President, the Dean of the Faculty, and the Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity; the Student Speakers Bureau; and the student club Raices.