Benjamin Alire Saenz

Benjamin Aire Sarez was born on August 6 1954 at Old Picacho, New Mexico. He is the fourth out of seven children. Saenz was brought up on a small farm, which is located in Mesilla, New Mexico. He attended Las Cruz High School and graduated in the year 1972. After completing his high school education, he joined St. Thomas Seminary, which is located in Denver, Colorado, where he majored in philosophy and humanity. In the year 1977, he studied theologyin Belgium at the University of Louvain. He later on served as a priest in El Paso for several years before later on leaving the order. In the year 1985, he decided to return to school, thereby attending the University of Texas, where he majored in English and Creative writing.