ALAMOSA – Paul Formisano, Ph.D., joins Adams State University as the new director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center.
Raised along the Front Range and educated throughout the arid West, Formisano comes to Adams State after 12 years as professor of English and director of the writing program at the University of South Dakota.
During that time, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in pedagogy, composition, and Western American and environmental literature while also assisting the university’s Sustainability Studies Program. He particularly enjoyed discussing with students the literature and public documents about the American West’s water and land issues.
“The stories we tell about the places we inhabit are so important — they reflect our values and how we see the world around us,” Formisano says.
He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters about how various individuals and communities imagine and communicate about natural resources.
Formisano relied upon his experiences growing up in Colorado and working and traveling with various water education initiatives, including International Project WET and Water Education Colorado, to complete his book, “Tributary Voices: Literary and Rhetorical Explorations of the Colorado River (2022).”
“Working in water education I had the opportunity to meet many different stakeholders throughout Colorado and the larger Colorado Basin along with luminaries like the late Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs. His love of law, history, and poetry reinforced my belief that we need many different perspectives to tackle our present resource challenges,” Formisano recalls. Such perspectives shape his book, which examines the value of traditionally marginalized voices and their contribution to water management.
Now back in Colorado, Formisano is excited to work more closely with the topics he has written and taught about for many years.
“I’m thrilled to be in Alamosa and working with such passionate people who care deeply about the Valley’s natural and cultural resources,” he says. “Learning about the many entities in the Valley that are working to preserve and protect these entities will take time, but I’m eager to learn. If you or your organization is open for me to visit your farm, school, or board meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
He has benefitted from support by Adams State and community leadership and especially from the founding Director of the Center, Rio de la Vista.
“Many generous and committed individuals have steered the Center to where it is today,” says Formisano. “I’m honored to build on this excellent foundation and excited to lead the Center in this new chapter.”
Joining him are his wife, four children, and their dog. They look forward to making the Valley their home and exploring all it has to offer.
