Plaza (born in Caracas, 1962) is director general for the highly respected Rómulo Gallegos Latin American Studies Center (CELARG). Trained in systems engineering at the Simon Bolivar University and a member of the Venezuelan Engineer's Association, Mr. Gutierrez also holds the MA in Latin American literature from SBU; he took several months of English studies at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and at Oxford. His publications include the poetry collection Al Margen de las Hojas ('To the Page Margins'; 1991), which won several awards; and a forthcoming collection, Common Purpose, which received the Third Literary Biennial "Mariano Picon Salas" prize. He is the co-author/editor of two anthologies, and many of his articles have appeared in national newspapers and magazines. Mr. Gutierrez is widely traveled and has participated in numerous literary congresses and workshops. He is a founding member and editor of Aljamia magazine and belongs to the Pequeña Venecia editorial group. Mr. Gutierrez is taking part in the program through the US Information Agency.