The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is thrilled to announce that our esteemed colleague, Dr. Sara Poot-Herrera, has been awarded the Medalla al Mérito Universidad Veracruzana in its national category.
The Universidad Veracruzana (UV) presented Dr. Poot-Herrera with this prestigious honor on Monday, May 25, 2026. The award ceremony took place at 5 pm in the Miguel Vélez Arceo forum at the Casa del Lago UV in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
Recognizing an Extraordinary Trajectory
According to the official commendation from UV Rector Dr. Martín Aguilar Sánchez, the university is honoring Dr. Poot-Herrera for her "extraordinary trajectory in the research and promotion of Mexican and Hispano-American literature".
The institution further highlighted several key pillars of her career that merited this national recognition:
- Her vast bibliographic production.
- Her ongoing commitment to teaching.
- Her extensive work in cultural management and the humanities.
The awarding of the medal serves as a hallmark event during the 31st edition of the Feria Internacional del Libro Universitario (FILU). This year's international book fair, hosted by UV's Editorial Directorate, runs from May 22 to May 31, 2026.
Expressions of Gratitude
Sharing the joyful news with department colleagues as she traveled to Xalapa, Dr. Poot-Herrera expressed her deep gratitude to the Universidad Veracruzana for the recognition. She also extended her thanks to UCSB, the UC-Mexicanistas organization, and "always, always, [the] Department of Spanish and Portuguese".
Reflecting on the awarding institution, Dr. Poot-Herrera praised the Universidad Veracruzana's own prestige, noting its strong traditions in research, teaching, broad academic publishing, literary theory and critique, as well as creative fields like poetry, narrative, and theater.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sara Poot-Herrera on this incredible and well-deserved achievement!
