CGCC’s David Muñoz Receives Literary/Arts Award

Congratulations to our very own Dr. David Muñoz for his recent recognition by The Victoria Foundation. Dr. Muñoz was honored with the Albert Ríos, Outstanding Literary/Arts award on Wednesday, September 6 during an awards ceremony at the Arizona Biltmore. The award, named after the renowned Arizona poet and long-time Arizona State University professor Alberto Ríos, recognizes the contributions of local educators who have made a significant impact on literacy and art in education.

“I am honored to receive the Alberto Ríos Outstanding Literary Award,” said Dr. Muñoz. “The work of Alberto Ríos, is truly a representation of not only the Chicano community, but also the immigrant Hispanic community living in the state of Arizona, at the beginning of the 21st century. I am humbled to receive this award from my peers and to represent Chandler-Gilbert Community College.”

Dr. Muñoz’s literary and academic career spans more than 40 years. A native of Mexico City, he began his college career at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico in the department of Philosophy and Letters. Following graduation, he migrated to the United States in 1975, where his academic journey continued. He obtained several degrees in numerous fields including an associate degree in Theatre Arts from Southwestern College; a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from Grand Canyon University; two master's degrees, one in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and the other in Hispanic Literature, from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Theological Seminary.

Along with his passion for education, Dr. Muñoz also has a passion for Hispanic/Chicano writing and sharing his devout culture with his readers. He is a bilingual writer, and has written in several genres, short stories, chronicles, essays, and a number of textbooks. His works include: “Insanities, Soundness, and Reality: A collection of short stories told perhaps by the same person,” “Editorial Garabatos,” “El Santo Don Patricio,” and “México de mis recuerdos,” to name a few. He also founded “Peregrinos y sus letras,” an internet bilingual magazine platform for authors from around the world to share their works.

Dr. Muñoz came to Chandler-Gilbert Community College in 1994 as an adjunct professor in religious studies and philosophy. He gained residential faculty status in 1997. Since becoming a member of the CGCC community, Dr. Muñoz has inspired thousands of students through his teachings and love of writing. Each year he introduces students in his class to the literary works of renowned Hispanic/Chicano writers such as those from Stella Pope Duarte, Sandra Cisneros
and Lucha Corpi. He also works effortlessly to bring these authors to the campus of CGCC to engage with students in dialogue about their literary contributions.

“This award gives me the opportunity to see that my work has not been in vain,” says Muñoz. “Because all us, as a community, continue to improve ourselves and will maintain our effort, to always present an accurate image of what it means to be Chicano, Mexican-American and or Hispanic, in the United States of America.”