His Excellency Užupis Republic; Arkansas, USA, Goodwill Ambassador (appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton, USA 42nd President); Professor, Dr. Joseph S. Spence, Sr. USA (Epulaeryu Master), is a retired professional military veteran, worldwide award-winning poet, prolific book writer, a spirited man of God, dynamic motivational speaker, and inspirational book reviewer of over 100 book reviews posted in professional pedagogy mediums. He is the author of over one hundred peer-reviewed published poetic articles and eleven inspirational poetry books. three are as follows:
1. A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose, and Thoughts for the Mind, Body, and Soul (2004), a community bestseller.
2. Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body, and Soul (2006), won the Best Christian Poetry Award.
3. The Awakened One Poetics (2009), won 2nd place, Critters Writers Workshop Best Author's Pool, and publisher's bestseller.
He served as the Poetry Chaplain and a co-founder for the Worldwide Poetry Alliance, UK. The following are five co-published with the Worldwide Poetry Alliance:
1. "The Magic of Michael Jackson" (2011).
2. "Passionate Patriotic Poetry for 9/11" (2010).
3. "Celebrating in Poetry: The 20th Century, 100 Years of Music" (2010).
4. "Patriotic Poetry to Support the Troops" (2009); and,
5. "Practical Poetic Anthology: Styles, Forms, & Peganted Portrayals" (2009).
One hundred percent (100%) of all royalties from these five books sales were donated to charity to help first responders in the terrorist's aircraft attacks on the World Trade Center, NYC, and the Pentagon, Washington, DC, for medical care from 9/11.
He edited The World's Largest Poetry Anthology: Songs of Peace by League of Poets, Nigeria, Africa, 2020.
He simultaneously graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland (business and management), and Howard University ROTC (military science), Washington, DC, where he served as the special assistant to the Professor of Military Science and 2nd in command of the ROTC Cadets. Upon graduating he received the Distinguished Military Graduate and Daughters of American Revolution Awards from Howard University ROTC program.
He completed a divinity degree while in the US Army at night, and after completing a prescribed course of study, he was installed as a Eucharist Minister by the Bishop of the Armed Forces, Bishop Charles Burgreen. After that, he assisted protestant military chaplains worldwide as an additional duty to his primary role as a commander. He served twenty-six years of courageous, faithful, and honorable military service as an officer, commander, and retired as a decorated field grade officer worldwide.
After that, he studied English literature, creative writing, the African Diaspora, linguistics, mythology, and poetry at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM). He created the following poetry forms and styles while studying at UWM:
1. Seventh Heaven, October 21, 2006.
2. Epulaeryu, December 20, 2006.
3. Linking Pin Sonnet, January 15, 2007.
4. God's Dynamic Steps, October 3, 2007.
He created Epulaeryu Poetry based on his worldwide travels and sampling various dishes while fellowshipping with worldwide humanity. He created Linking Pin Sonnet after studying twenty different sonnet forms from twenty different poets worldwide, and currently serves as a tutor to poets worldwide to achieve their creative writing and publication goals.
He created Trilogy Poetry in July 2020, after the name of his first book, A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose, and Thoughts for the Mind, Body, and Soul. It addresses three entities: person, place, or thing.
During his studies at UWM, he has published globally in: Journals, Magazines, Anthologies, Ezines, Online, U. S. Army, Newspapers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Alpha Phi Alpha International Fraternity, Inc. Sphinx Magazine, and other mediums. In addition, he served as an associate editor for the Furrow student's literary magazine at UWM and Scribe for Alpha Phi Alpha Sphinx International Magazine.
He was inducted into various international academic honor societies, such as Golden Key International Honour Society, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, National Vocational Technical Honor Society, Phi Theta Phi International Honor Society, etc.
He has conducted various poetry seminars, workshops, and recitals worldwide. His poems are published in: Arabic, Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, African Yoruba, Japanese, Polish, French, Scottish Gaelic, Italian, Croatian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Assamese, Oriya, Bengali, and Jamaican Patois/Patwa, and Rastafarian languages.
His awards include the following:
Tony Evers, Wisconsin's Governor Proclamation, 1st Place, 2021 Veteran's Arts Competition, USA (November 23, 2021)
Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2021 Veterans Creative Arts Commendation Winner, USA (November 11, 2021)
YMCA Poetry Commendation Letter as Veteran's Creative Arts Winner, Wisconsin, USA (November 8, 2021)
Pentasiv B. World Poet Laureate 2021 Award (Philippines, November 2021)
Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Proclamation Veterans Creative Arts Winner, Wisconsin, USA (October 27, 2021)
Mahatma Gandhi Global Prestigious Jayanti Award (India, October 2021)
Veterans Creative Arts Completions 1st Place Winner "Erythra Thalassa" (September 2021)
Proclamation-Lord of Scotland (Scotland, August 2021)
Arab Cultural Knight for Love, Peace, & Cultural Activities (August 2021)
International Parent Day Distinguished Parent Award (Morocco 2021)
Veterans Creative Writing, 1st Place Winner "Gangster's Genre Inclusion?" (September 2020)
Literary Thought Leader, Golden Key International Honor Society Academy (USA 2020)
Noble Prize in Literature-Asia (Bhutan 2020)
King of the Tertulia Poetry Medal (Bolivia 2020)
Order of William Shakespeare's Medal (Oman 2020)
Global Icon of Humanity and Spiritual Services (India 2020)
Ambassador of Humanity (Morocco 2020)
Ambassador De Literature (Oman 2019)
Literary Living Legend of the 21st Century (India 2019)
Ambassador of World Peace-World Institute of Peace (Nigeria, Africa 2019)
World Poetry Star, World Nation Writers Union Award (Kazakhstan 2019)
Noble Star of Literature Award (India 2019)
World Peace Ambassador of Human Rights, Humanity, and Diplomacy-Philippines
Master of Creative Impulse, Philosophique Poetica Award (India 2019)
Poetry Gold Medal Honor Award (Nigeria, Africa 2019)
Poetry Bard (UK 2010)
Expert Author Award (EzineArticles, USA 2010)
Outstanding Poet, University of Wisconsin, Milw, English Department (USA 2009)
Poetry Soup International Contest Winner, "Amazing Grace" (USA, July 2007)
USA Independent Poetry Laureate (USA 2007)
Poetry Month Medal (USA 2006)
Who's Who in Poetry (USA 2005-2007), and many others.
Governor William Jefferson Clinton, Arkansas, USA, (42nd United States President), appointed him as a "Goodwill Ambassador" for Arkansas based on his dedicated and selfless contributions in helping students at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, USA, prepare for graduate school and citizens of Little Rock, to achieve their perceived goals.
He currently serves as the Global Chair Advisor for Global Literary Society-India, and The Honorary Chair Advisor for The World Parliament of English Literature-India, and a Lead The Change Agent-University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He resides in Wisconsin, USA.
