Clarissa A. León is a Colombian American writer, journalist, editor and educator originally from Reno, Nevada, and now based in Summit, New Jersey. She currently serves as the Deputy Editor for Documented, New York's go-to source for immigration news. She received her Master of Fine Arts in nonfiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh where she was a Valparaíso Foundation writing resident in Mojácar, Spain and managing editor of Aster(ix) Journal. At the Reynolds School of Journalism in Reno she was selected as the Laxalt Distinguished Writer.

In addition to her journalistic work that has appeared in Newsweek & The Daily Beast, The Nation and Salon among many others, she is an alumna of the literary arts workshops VONA/Voices and Lighthouse Writers where she was mentored by the late Valerie Boyd and author Melissa Febos. Her manuscript-in-progress attempts to answer questions, both personal and political, about belonging, attachment, identity, and home.

This bio serves as a brief synopsis for someone who cherishes meandering narratives as much as those that can be sufficiently direct. Do not be fooled — this bio is meant as an opening and not a closing. There’s much more to share. So, please, let’s grab a cup of café and drink to this thing we call life!