Ricardo Alberto Maldonado is a Puerto Rican poet, translator, and arts administrator. He graduated from Tufts University and Columbia University's School of the Arts. Maldonado authored "The Life Assignment," a poetry collection acclaimed for its exploration of identity and language, and co-edited "Puerto Rico en mi corazón," a bilingual anthology supporting Hurricane Maria recovery efforts. As co-director of 92NY’s Unterberg Poetry Center, he produced esteemed reading series and developed workshops for emerging poets. In 2022, Maldonado became the first Latino Executive Director and President of the Academy of American Poets, reflecting his dedication to elevating diverse voices in American poetry.