Oct. 12, 2017 - Viet Thanh Nguyen, who won the Pulitzer Prize last year for his novel, "The Sympathizer," will be our keynote speaker for this year's Campus Reading Celebration. 1,000 copies of his new book, "The Refugees," a collection of short stories about the refugee experience have been distributed gratis to the campus community.
Viet Thanh Nguyen came to this country as a refugee from Vietnam when he was six years old, settling with his parents first in the Midwest, then in California. He is currently the Aerol Arnold Professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at USC.
The Campus Reading Celebration takes place on Thursday, Nov. 2. at 6 p.m. in the
Grand Salon. Viet Thanh Nguyen will read from and discuss his new book. Earlier in the day, at 3:30 p.m. in Malibu 100, there will be a public "Conversation with Viet Thanh Nguyen" about the refugee experience.
Registration is required for the Grand Salon event; admission is free for CSUCI students, faculty and staff (with valid CSUCI ID); $5 for non-CSUCI students with school IDs; and $10 for the public.