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Horacio Sierra, Ph.D.

Contributor

About

With more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.

Horacio Sierra is vested in promoting democratic values by demystifying higher education and promoting the arts and humanities through his writing and public speaking. With more than twenty years of experience as a college professor, archival researcher, cultural critic and student mentor, Horacio has won numerous awards and grants for his teaching and research. He has guest lectured at Columbia University, Florida International University and various colleges in California. President Biden appointed him to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2023.

Expertise

  • Higher education
  • Educational equity
  • Journalism
  • Literature, arts and humanities
  • Public speaking

Achievements

  • More than 20 years of experience as a college professor
  • Lecturer on higher education issues and the arts and humanities
  • Author of academic articles
  • Editor of scholarly journals
  • President Biden appointee to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Other Publications

Education

  • University of Florida (Ph.D., English)
  • University of Florida (M.A., English)
  • University of Miami (B.S., Communication)

Honors & Awards

  • University System of Maryland Teaching Excellence Award
  • Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Grant

Professional Memberships

  • Modern Language Association
  • South Atlantic Modern Language Association
  • Sixteenth-Century Studies Association
  • Renaissance Society of America
  • College English Association, Mid-Atlantic Group

 

  • What Is A Bootcamp? Getting Into Tech Without A Degree

    Coding bootcamps were born out of necessity. Modeled after trade schools, bootcamps provide the tech industry with a pipeline of ambitious graduates armed with job-ready skills. Whether it’s UX/UI design, cybersecurity or full-stack development, bootcamps teach students the skills they...
    What Is A Bootcamp? Getting Into Tech Without A Degree

  • How To Learn French: A Step-By-Step Guide

    Whether you’re learning French because you are moving to a Francophone country or because you want to speak the language of the novelist Victor Hugo, the chanteuse Céline Dion and the rapper MC Solaar, you need a strong drive to...
    How To Learn French: A Step-By-Step Guide

  • What Are Some Benefits Of Having A Job In High School?

    Having a job in high school is a hallmark of many Americans’ teenage years. Whether it’s a part-time shift bagging groceries or a summer gig as a lifeguard, these roles help millions of high schoolers learn responsibility and supplement their...
    What Are Some Benefits Of Having A Job In High School?

  • How To Become An Emergency Room Nurse

    The adrenaline and pressure of working as a nurse in an emergency room (ER) cannot be understated. In emergency situations, a nurse can mean the difference between life and death. Whether it’s catching mistakes or administering CPR, a nurse’s attention...
    How To Become An Emergency Room Nurse

  • What Does A Provost Do? Explaining Who’s Who On Your College Campus

    Back in primary school, none of us wanted to be called to the principal's office—we knew exactly what that meant and who the principal was. But when students first arrive on their college campuses, they encounter unfamiliar administrator titles, such...
    What Does A Provost Do? Explaining Who’s Who On Your College Campus

  • Online Coding Bootcamps For Women: Best Programs For 2024

    Ada Lovelace, Radia Perlman and Sister Mary Kenneth Keller are not often spoken alongside the names of Alan Turing, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. But they should be. The innovations of these women in computer science not only paved the...
    Online Coding Bootcamps For Women: Best Programs For 2024

  • The Best Places To Study Abroad: Where Should You Go?

    As if attending college isn’t enough of a transformative experience, imagine how life-changing it would be to live and study in another country for part of it. Studying abroad provides learners with a global perspective on both their majors and...
    The Best Places To Study Abroad: Where Should You Go?

  • Get Accepted: What Does ‘Waitlisted’ Mean In College Admissions?

    Waiting is part of the college application process. But when you’re expecting an admission decision and you’re instead told to wait longer—that shock can be mind-numbing. Getting waitlisted by the college of your choice can be stressful and frustrating. If...
    Get Accepted: What Does ‘Waitlisted’ Mean In College Admissions?

  • Career Guide: How To Become A Chef In 4 Steps

    Food is an essential part of many cultures, and being a chef is often likened to being an artist. Using natural ingredients and kitchen tools as their instruments, chefs concoct dishes that can both delight and help define society. Anyone...
    Career Guide: How To Become A Chef In 4 Steps

  • What Is A Hybrid Class In College? Your Guide To Hybrid Courses

    Just like a hybrid car that runs on gasoline and battery power, hybrid college classes are enticing because they combine the best of two worlds: in-person college and online classes. Beyond offering two learning modalities, every hybrid class is unique....
    What Is A Hybrid Class In College? Your Guide To Hybrid Courses

  • 24 Must-Read Books For College Students

    “I don’t have the time” becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if you say it often enough. When it comes to reading a book, many college students fill their schedules with classes and extracurricular activities, leaving little time for reading nonacademic literature....
    24 Must-Read Books For College Students

  • What Are The Most Productive Things To Do Over Winter Break In College?

    After a few days of waking up without having to attend classes, many students find that their free time during winter break throws them for a loop. You can make the most of your winter break by using the time...
    What Are The Most Productive Things To Do Over Winter Break In College?

  • Get Accepted: What Is A Good GPA For Getting Into College?

    The higher your high school grade point average (GPA) is, the easier it will be to gain admission to the college of your choice. That’s a simple fact. However, the college admissions process is more nuanced than that. Standardized test...
    Get Accepted: What Is A Good GPA For Getting Into College?

  • PE License Guide: What To Know About Professional Engineering Licensure

    Roller coasters. Suspension bridges. Space shuttles. Artificial hearts. The modern world would not know such innovations without the knowledge and skills of engineers. And since we depend on these inventions being safe and reliable, the engineers who design them must...
    PE License Guide: What To Know About Professional Engineering Licensure

  • What Are HBCU Colleges? Facts About Historically Black Colleges And Universities

    Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are uniquely American institutions. Just as the U.S. would not be the culturally dynamic country it is without jazz music and hip-hop culture, its intellectual and political landscapes would be weaker without the contributions...
    What Are HBCU Colleges? Facts About Historically Black Colleges And Universities

  • How Long Does It Take To Get An M.B.A.? Everything You Should Know

    Time is money, so when students spend time earning a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), they often hope the investment will pay dividends with a high-paying job. If you’re considering an M.B.A. degree, you probably want to know how long...
    How Long Does It Take To Get An M.B.A.? Everything You Should Know

  • Fashion Merchandising Degrees: A Complete Guide

    Fashion trends don’t just appear out of thin air, and clothes don’t sell themselves. By helping fashion designers and clothing retailers meet consumers, fashion merchandisers are at the center of the clothing industry’s ability to make fashion happen. As experts...
    Fashion Merchandising Degrees: A Complete Guide

  • Teacher Grants: Where To Find Free Money For Teachers

    Teachers understand the value of free educational resources better than anyone. School districts may pay for basic infrastructure and supplies, but teachers often pay out of their own pockets for everything else. Teacher grants from the government and private organizations...
    Teacher Grants: Where To Find Free Money For Teachers

  • Get Accepted: The Best Extracurricular Activities For College Applications

    The best colleges and universities want to educate the movers and shakers of tomorrow, so their admissions committees seek well-rounded applicants—students who earn good grades and are also involved in extracurricular activities such as academic clubs, sports teams and interest...
    Get Accepted: The Best Extracurricular Activities For College Applications

  • You Finished Your Summer Internship—Now What? What To Do After An Internship

    If your ultimate career goal is to land a job in your desired field, an internship can be a step in the right direction. A good internship involves learning practical skills, working alongside professionals in the field and—most importantly—helping you...
    You Finished Your Summer Internship—Now What? What To Do After An Internship

  • Epidemiology Vs. Public Health: What’s The Difference?

    When it comes to health and wellness, we all know a few basic rules: Wear sunblock. Drink enough water. Limit processed foods and sugary sodas. Don’t smoke cigarettes. Many of these maxims have become so ingrained in our psyches, we...
    Epidemiology Vs. Public Health: What’s The Difference?

  • What Is A Graduate Certificate? Everything You Need To Know

    Just like in a video game, leveling up is essential to advancing your career. A graduate certificate can boost your stats and demonstrate that you have unlocked a new set of skills. Benefits of earning a graduate certificate include broadening...
    What Is A Graduate Certificate? Everything You Need To Know

  • Earning An English Bachelor’s Degree: What You Need To Know

    With an English degree, you can flaunt your skills as a writing whiz, an incisive intellect and a cultured citizen. Even in an era when AI bots can complete writing projects, an English bachelor’s degree demonstrates strong critical thinking skills...
    Earning An English Bachelor’s Degree: What You Need To Know

  • What Is A Master’s In Mechanical Engineering? Everything You Should Know

    Mechanical engineers improve our lives on a daily basis. These professionals helped create modern society’s wonders, like air conditioners, spaceships and 3D printers. Their work even addresses urgent global issues, such as climate change, aging infrastructure and cyber terrorism. Mechanical...
    What Is A Master’s In Mechanical Engineering? Everything You Should Know

  • Career Paths For Different Types Of Teachers: What To Know

    If your favorite teacher inspired you to pursue a career in education, there are many routes you can take to become a teacher—and many types of teaching careers to choose from. Whether you’re about to start college, already have a...
    Career Paths For Different Types Of Teachers: What To Know

  • What Is A Student Credit Card?

    College students who plan to buy a place to live or start a business after they graduate should consider using student credit cards to help make those dreams a reality. With student loan debt and historically high mortgage rates interfering...
    What Is A Student Credit Card?

  • Early Action Vs. Early Decision: Explanation, Pros And Cons

    Deciding what college to attend is enough to stress any student. This process comes with many questions: Which college will be a good fit? Which will prepare you for the career you want? And which school is worth the cost?...
    Early Action Vs. Early Decision: Explanation, Pros And Cons
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Top Picks From Horacio Sierra, Ph.D.

  • 24 Must-Read Books For College Students
    24 Must-Read Books For College Students

    by Horacio Sierra, Ph.D.

    Read More

  • What Are HBCU Colleges? Facts About Historically Black Colleges And Universities
    What Are HBCU Colleges? Facts About Historically Black Colleges And Universities

    by Horacio Sierra, Ph.D.

    Read More

  • Earning An English Bachelor’s Degree: What You Need To Know
    Earning An English Bachelor’s Degree: What You Need To Know

    by Horacio Sierra, Ph.D.

    Read More

About

With more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.