Nela Rio taught Spanish in the Romance Languages Department from 1971 until her retirement in 2003. She has published many collections of poetry and prose, and her work has been included in anthologies, journals, and university courses in Spain and the Americas. Her work has been translated into English, French, and Portuguese. She is also a visual artist, having produced seven artist books and an award-winning DVD, Francisca. In May 2008, a symposium on her work was held in Gatineau, Quebec, with participants from five countries. She lives in Fredericton.