Frances Sjoberg

Literary director, University of Arizona Poetry Center

Age: 34

Community involvement: Native Voices poet symposium; High School Bilingual Corrido Contest; Imago Dei Middle School, volunteer teacher; Pima Cultural Plan Capacity Building Task Force; Arizona Partnership for Innovation; Alliance Fund, board member

Best advice you've received: If you don't think it's right, say something.

You attribute your success to: I set goals that are just beyond my comfort level; it keeps me engaged and obliges me to acquire new skills.

Why Tucson?: I've watched several ambitious friends begrudgingly move from Tucson in order to develop their careers; I'd like to prove that our city can support its own young professional people.

A word from the nominator: "Frances has an unquenchable desire to make a positive contribution to society by serving the underserved, by giving ÔvoiceÕ to the often unheard and creating opportunity for communities to come together around common goals." - Gail Browne, executive director, UA Poetry Center