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Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in the town of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, in 1952. Cofer left Puerto Rico at age four for Paterson, New Jersey. Cofer's father spent much of his time stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, while her mother spent her days yearning for her home in Puerto Rico. Cofer was not confined to the United States, however. She and her mother often made trips back to the island. Cofer inherited a love for and connection to Puerto Rico from her frequent trips to her homeland and from her mother's nostalgia. Thus, though it was not her main residence, Puerto Rico played an important role in Cofer's childhood.
Cofer was uprooted once again to Augusta, Georgia, at age fifteen. She began her higher education at Augusta College where she received a bachelor's degree in English. After receiving her master's degree at Florida Atlantic University, Cofer moved to Athens, Georgia, where she became a professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Georgia. She continues to teach as a Regents and Franklin professor at the University.