Malcolm X College Instructor Wins Prestigious Poetry Prize

Dr. Ruben Quesada, a full-time English instructor at Malcolm X College, has been recognized by the Chicago Reader  for his collection of original poetry — a deeply personal work about resilience, grief, addiction, and more. 

The collection, titled Brutal Companion, draws from Dr. Quesada’s own life and journey, exploring themes of overcoming personal and health challenges with unflinching honesty. He describes the work as confessional, raw, and truthful. As a Chicago transplant, Dr. Quesada found this award to be confirmation that he’s in the right place. 

“It was surprising and exciting to be recognized by a publication that is so deeply connected to the city,” Dr. Quesada said. “I moved here to teach, and to be recognized by an institution like the Chicago Reader makes me feel like I’m part of the city.” 

For Dr. Quesada, the “Best New Poetry Collection by a Chicagoan in 2025” award is also an opportunity to spotlight something bigger: the enduring contribution of poetry to Chicago’s cultural life. He says that being recognized affirms what poetry can mean to everyday people and serves as a powerful reminder of the role of human creativity. 

“I’d like my students and my peers to know that poetry is valuable in this city,” he said. “I hope more students turn to poetry or creative writing as a form of expression. There’s so much interest in using AI but recognizing creative writing and poetry is a reminder that imagination and creativity are things that only humans can do.” 

Dr. Quesada is bringing that spirit directly to his students at Malcolm X College, where he is teaching a creative writing course this fall, and plans to offer a poetry course in the spring. He sees his award as a reminder of the rich creative writing programs available across City Colleges of Chicago — programs taught by working professionals who are actively contributing to the literary world. 

“I want my students to take advantage of that resource,” he said. 

Congratulations to Dr. Quesada on this well-deserved honor. His work is a testament to the power of personal storytelling and the vital role that City Colleges faculty play in enriching their students’ lives as well as the cultural and intellectual life of Chicago. 

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Dr. Quesada’s Brutal Companion has also won the Barrow Street Press Editors Prize. This is an annual book award and contract for full-length poetry manuscripts awarded by Barrow Street Press.  

He has been a full-time English instructor at Malcolm X College since January 2025. To find creative writing classes at City Colleges, visit https://catalog.ccc.edu/.