The Lobo Reading Experience is a program created at the University of New Mexico to offer a common academic reading experience that fosters a sense of community. Each year, a book is selected as part of the Lobo Reading Experience that represents a societal issue.
This year, the UNM Office of Student Academic Success, Dean of Students office, El Centro de la Raza, English Department and Office of the Provost, hosts Sonia Nazario, author of “Enrique’s Journey,” in this year’s Lobo Reading Experience event, Thursday, Nov. 12.
Students, faculty, staff and community members have the opportunity to have scholarly discussions and work together to determine ways on how to respond or act toward that particular issue.
Incoming freshmen are introduced to the topic before attending new student orientation. Several academic departments have adopted the book into course curriculum including the English Department as a celebration of student writing. Lobo Reading Experience is an academic year round program that provides all students an experience both inside and out of the classroom.
Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, director, UNM Student Academic Success, said, “What’s most exciting is that Lobo Reading continues to grow each year. For example, this year we have partnered with the City of Albuquerque Libraries where they have adopted the book by offering it to the entire community. We have also incorporated an Albuquerque Public Schools Charter School - South Valley Academy to involve young adults to read and discuss with us these important societal issues.”
Author Appearances…
Thursday, Nov. 12
• Celebration of Student Writing — SUB Ballroom A & B, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Author Presentation — SUB Ballroom, 1 - 2 p.m.
• Honors College Presentation to Freshman Classes — Honors College Forum, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
• Community Panel — Patrick J. Baca Library (Central and Unser, NW), 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13
• Q & A with the author for students, faculty and staff — Zimmerman Library Willard Room, 9 - 11 a.m.
• Immigration Advocacy Panel — Zimmerman Library Willard Room, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
“Enrique’s Journey” is a novel based on a series of articles in the “Los Angeles Times” that won two Pulitzer Prizes for feature writing and photography. The book follows a young Honduran boy searching for his mother 11 years after she left her family to look for work in the United States. The book brings forth the national issues on immigration. It reminds us that immigration affects various countries, individuals and families.
Nazario is best known for “Enrique’s Journey,” but spent 20 years reporting and writing about social issues. Published in the Los Angeles Times as a series, “Enrique’s Journey” won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2003. Random House later turned it into a book, which became a national bestseller and is now required reading at hundreds of high schools and colleges nationwide.
Nazario is an award-winning journalist who has written stories on some of this country’s biggest issues, such as hunger, drug addiction and immigration. She has won prestigious journalism and book awards. Nazario is of Jewish ancestry and is a fluent Spanish speaker. She grew up in Kansas and Argentina, and has written about Latinos in the United States quite extensively. She is a graduate of Williams College and has a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of California, Berkeley.
Nazario will present on several occasions Nov. 12, including at the Celebration of Student Writing at 1 p.m., a presentation to Freshman Classes at the Honors College at 4 p.m., and at a community panel city-wide event, moderated by Associate Press journalist Russell Contreras at 6 p.m. at Patrick J. Baca Library located at 8081 Central Ave., NW (Central and Unser).
Nazario’s other appearances take place Friday, Nov. 13 and Wednesday, April 13, 2016. On Friday, Nov. 13, she will do a Q&A for students, faculty and staff, which is also open to the community. The Lobo Reading Experience, which is open to the entire campus, continues through April.
For more information, call (505) 277-7000 or for a full schedule of events, visit, Lobo Reading Experience.