Pennie A. Nichols holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. She has taught at that institution as well as at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge), Southern University (Baton Rouge), and Austin Community College. She has worked for over twelve years as a writer, editor, and author of college-level and high school textbooks. She is also coauthor of the Cuaderno de actividades of De viva voz, and has contributed material to Puntos de partida. �Qu� tal?, Pasajes, and many other publications of the McGraw-Hill World Languages Group, in addition to co-authoring En comunidad.