In addition to writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Balaban is a translator of Vietnamese poetry and a past president of the American Literary Translators Association. In 2008, he was awarded a medal from the Ministry of Culture of Vietnam for his translations of poetry and his leadership in the restoration of the ancient texts. Balaban is Poet-in-Residence and Professor of English at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. More about this author >