Irma M. Olmedo was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York City with her family in 1951 at the age of 8. She lived in the city until marrying and moving to the Midwest, where she obtained a Ph.D. and became a university professor. Her research on bilingualism, teacher education, and immigration has been published in journals and book chapters. She has lectured in many countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Australia, Brazil, and Russia. Her book, “Tales from the Barrio and Beyond,” fictionalizes her family experiences, focusing on the Puerto Rican migration and diaspora, issues of memory, childhood, ethnic/racial identity, cultural conflict, and change. The book has also been published in Spanish translation as "Cuentos del Barrio y de Más Allá."
