Engineering alumnus speaks through poetry
By Laura McDaniel, Editor, Bison Briefs
North Dakota State University (NDSU)
Box 5167
Fargo, North Dakota 58105

Hillol Ray has never hesitated to speak -- or write - his mind. He has been writing poetry since he was 6 years old. When he was in elementary school, the Calcutta, India, native was using persuasive writing to reach national audiences. "When I was in sixth grade, I wrote a letter to the editor of a national newspaper, Anandabazar, in Calcutta/Kolkata regarding nuclear non-proliferation and the role India should play," Ray said.

Ray always has been an advocate for environmental protection and humanitarianism and has used creative writing to convey his views on conservation, equality and peace. His personal convictions carry over into his professional life. An environmental engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, he manages the Drinking Water Supply Enforcement Program in Dallas.

Ray earned his master's degree in civil engineering, but he continues to use poetry to speak his mind. Poems like "Earth Day", "Mountains: Avalanche of Perceptions", and "Our Ailing Planet: As It Matters" project his concern for nature and the sustainability of Earth. His poetry has reached a global audience, being published in magazines, Web sites and anthologies in Asia, Europe, Canada, Sweden and North America.