Javier Zamora
Theme: Immigrant & First-Generation Stories
“Javier’s refreshing authenticity made our university’s Commencement one to remember” Dominican University
“This is a magnificent book Clearly written by a poet, it puts the reader viscerally through every moment of Javier Zamora’s epic journey Every character is rendered with boundless care and love, and the result is not a book you should feel required to read but should rush to for a gorgeous, riveting tale of perseverance and the lengths humans will go to help one another in times of struggle With this book, Zamora arrives at the forefront of essential American voices” Dave Eggers, author of The Circle and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
FYE Speaker at Luther College, Regis University, and the University of Missouri
Francisco Cantú
Theme: Hispanic and Latinx Voices & Stories
“The Line Becomes a River lays bare, in damning light, the casual brutality of the system, how unjust laws and private prisons and a militarized border have shattered families and mocked America’s myths about itself” New York Times Book Review
FYE Speaker at College of Charleston and West Virginia University
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Theme: Social Justice; Global Perspectives; African American Voices and Stories
“Ever since his Baldwin-inflected Between the World and Me, Coates has been known for his incisive (and sometimes uncomfortable) cultural and political commentary Here he journeys from West Africa to the American South to Palestine to examine how the stories we tell can fail us, and to argue that only the truth can bring justice” The Boston Globe
FYE Speaker at Stanford University and Norfolk State University
Jay Ellis
Theme: Coming of Age
“Not only affirming but also transporting, a true beacon for both our younger and older selves who were once lonely, and perhaps are still lonely at times, but always capable of wielding our immense imaginations This is a joyous, celebratory, fluorescent, and fully alive book” Hanif Abdurraqib author of A Little Devil in America
Simran Jeet Singh
Theme: Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices and Stories
“While our students truly resonated with the message in the book, his visit truly brought his words to life The attention and care that Dr Singh generously gave to each audience and each individual student was truly unique He was kind, genuine, and approachable and students felt welcomed to engage with him about his book, about Sikhism, and about life For days after he left, folks would catch me on the sidewalk and thank me for bringing him to our campus community” Otterbein University
“The Light We Give is an extraordinary book With moral insight and an abiding commitment to make this world better one act at a time, Simran Singh pierces through the depressing noise of these dark days with a gentleness and care that soothes and inspires”
Eddie S Glaude, Jr, author of Begin Again
FYE Speaker at Otterbein University
John Hendrickson
Theme: Overcoming Adversity; Disability
“I can’t remember the last time I read a book that made me want to both cry and cheer so much, often at the same time” Robert Kolker, author of Hidden Valley Road
FYE Speaker at Otterbein University
Cathy Park Hong
Theme: Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“[Cathy Park Hong’s event] was incredible The last person to ask a question began by saying that "This entire conversation about art WAS art!” I honestly could not be more happy with the event, and Cathy herself is wonderful in every way ” University of Richmond
FYE Speaker at North Hennepin Community College
Abdi Nor Iftin
Theme: Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“Abdi’s talk was nothing short of fantastic Honestly, it was my favorite thing I’ve done so far at MCC He was so eloquent, thoughtful, and down to earth The audience loved him, as well” Manchester Community College
FYE Speaker at Illinois College, Manchester Community College, and Otterbein University
Jedidiah Jenkins
Theme: Family & Community; LGBTQIA+ Voices & Stories
“It’s rare to find the level of honesty and authenticity that Jenkins brings to his audience In a world of constant noise, his storytelling is piercing in an almost familiar way He’s managed to home in on that single idea that we all relate to and truly make you feel a part of the experience This is the type of storytelling the world needs more of” Chris Burkard, award-winning photographer, author of At Glacier’s End
Chanel Miller
Theme: Courage; Women's Voices & Stories
“[Chanel Miller] has gifted all of us with her voice and her truth, and her visit should prompt us to elevate our dialogue about sexual assault and supporting survivors at UC Santa Cruz and beyond The book has transformed conversations about how we should be approaching education, prevention, and intervention services on and off college campuses around the country” University of California, Santa Cruz
FYE Speaker at Duke University, Stanford University, Des Moines Area Community College, Seattle University, and Santa Clara University
Emi Nietfeld
Theme: Resilience & Perseverance
“She was amazing; Transparent, honest, raw, and very personable She was captivating and shared her journey openly She was a great inspiration ” Porterville College
Cheryl Strayed
Theme: Inspiration & Resilience
“Our evening with Cheryl Strayed was transcendent We had people that had driven over a hundred miles to be there Many from the audience came up to me afterwards filled with gratitude for her words and for her presence She inspired us all, and it is an evening none are soon to forget The generosity, beauty, and humanity found in Cheryl Strayed’s prose were echoed in every interaction she had whether speaking to hundreds or chatting with one A beautiful night!” Utah State University
FYE Speaker at University of Portland
Michelle Zauner
Theme: Family & Community; Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices and Stories
“Lyrical Earnest Zauner does a good job capturing the grief of losing a parent with pathos Fans looking to get a glimpse into the inner life of this megawatt pop star will not be disappointed” Publishers Weekly
FYE Speaker at Northwestern University
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Arthur C. Brooks
Theme: Being Connected
“Arthur Brooks is one of my very favorite thinkers Witty, wise, and insatiably curious, he is one of the few intellectuals who can reliably weave scientific research and everyday observations into what we all really need: succinct advice for a good life” Angela Duckworth, Founder and CEO of Character Lab and author of Grit
“To the overachievers, success addicts, and tired strivers who are fairly confident you can’t keep it up forever but will try anyway this book is for you Arthur Brooks shows you it’s possible to build a life that really does get better with age ” Simon Sinek, optimist and author of Start with Why and The Infinite Game
FYE Speaker at the University of Mississippi
Bill Burnett
Theme: Life Skills
“Life has questions They have answers Learn how to find a fulfilling career learn how to better navigate life’s big moment decisions and kill your ‘wicked problems dead'”
The New York Times
FYE Speaker at Arizona State University
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Dave Evans
Theme: Life Skills
“Dave’s visit was extremely successful with much positive feedback from students, faculty, and staff Dave’s high energy, magnetism, and deep knowledge thrilled the Cornell Dyson community; all enjoyed interacting with him and hearing his unique perspectives on the lifelong and lifewide applications of design thinking”
Cornell University
Angus Fletcher
Theme: Life Skills
“Primal Intelligence delivers a fascinating exploration of human potential that will change how you think about thinking With virtuosic range, Fletcher reveals why Shakespeare matters to Navy SEALs, what van Gogh can teach us about innovation, how Marie Curie’s intuition transformed, and much more This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to thrive in an uncertain world” Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret and Drive
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Dr. Marisa G. Franco
Theme: Life Skills
“Dr Franco was outstanding Warm, friendly, and so engaging as a speaker Our attendees absolutely adored her and appreciated her down-to-earth, practical approach to creating a culture of belonging in the workplace We’d definitely have her back” Texas Alliance of Child & Family Service
“Filled with evidence-based tips and stories you can’t wait to share, Platonic is a fantastic guide not just for making and keeping friends it’s also a manifesto for how to more effectively invest in the stuff that really matters in life” Laurie Santos, Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast
FYE Speaker at Tulane University
Prentis Hemphill
Theme: Mental Health Stories
““I love this book Prentis Hemphill offers us a visionary, personal, compassionate, empowering guide for our healing as individuals, within the histories of our families and deep within the broader contexts of our communities, societies, and the world at large” Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score
Jenny Odell
Theme: Life Skills
“This fiercely generous book by Jenny Odell invites us to exit the superhighways and explore the scenic detours, byways, rebel camps, the other visions of who we can be while reminding us that slowness can yield more than speed” Rebecca Solnit, author of Men Explain Things to Me and A Field Guide to Getting Lost
FYE Speaker at Stanford University
Bo Seo
Theme: Life Skills
“Bo Seo was remarkable Our students found him to be an exceptional listener He was in the room with them mentally He was focused on them Not somewhere else They picked up on that” Marquette University
Percival Everett
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“We had the most wonderful time with Percival last night! It was really a spectacular evening, the kind that makes you want to keep doing literary events The audience was so engaged in his words it made the hall feel alive” Seattle Arts & Lectures
“Percival Everett [is] our current Great American Novelist James is a masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own I almost cannot imagine a future where teachers assign The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn without also assigning James alongside it Everett is one of the most, if not the most interesting writers working today”
The Chicago Tribune
FYE Speaker at Indiana University Northwest, Clemson University, and University of California, Santa Cruz
Mosab Abu Toha
Theme: Poetry; Middle Eastern Voices & Stories
“Mosab was wonderful Generous with his time and the community that came out to support him” Arizona State University
“The poems in Mosab Abu Toha’s Forest of Noise are urgent, prayerful howls in the bleakest of nights Necessary, and wrought out of both terror and truth, these poems sing and weep in a rough and haunting harmony Abu Toha’s work begs the reader to pay close attention as each poetic line is, at its heart, a lifeline to survival”
Ada Limón, US Poet Laureate, author of The Hurting Kind
Brit Bennett
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“The students loved her! Some of them asked amazing questions and she answered them very well” Loyola University Maryland
FYE Speaker at Luther College and Loyola University Maryland
Edwidge Danticat
Theme: Caribbean Voices & Stories; Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“Edwidge was a phenomenally generous speaker, engaging with our students with such kindness, patience, and grace During the time with individuals or smaller groups, she made each interaction meaningful and joyful She created a specific presentation for our Write Like Us program that thoughtfully considered its goals of outreach and connection to our BIPOC students She is a wonderful speaker” Anoka-Ramsey Community College
FYE Speaker at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Tommy Orange
Theme: Native American and Indigenous Voices & Stories
“Tommy was an amazing speaker– so thoughtful, hilarious, and very gracious with our interlocutor and audience The audience was super engaged and very excited to listen to him share and meet him at the book signing” The University of Chicago
“Tommy’s visit to Elon in all regards was splendid He is a kind and generous man who so easily shares heartfelt responses He was totally at ease and consistently present He spoke with interest and respect to everyone from students to the President of the university Tommy is a creative genius who made an important impression on Elon during our MLK commemoration” Elon University
FYE Speaker at the College of William & Mary; California State University, Channel Islands; SUNY Oswego; MIT; Cuyahoga Community College; South Dakota State University; University of California, Irvine; Yavapai College; University of California, Santa Cruz; Reedley College; Fort Lewis College; Cardinal Stritch University; Frederick Community College; Cuesta College; Montana State University; and Reedley College
Hernan Diaz
Theme: Life Stories
“Hernan Diaz was fantastic! He really charmed our audience with his humor and warmth, and offered great analysis of his book Trust He was an excellent speaker”
Butler University
FYE Speaker at University of California, Santa Cruz
Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Theme: Hispanic and Latinx Voices & Stories
“We are still basking in the glow from Kali’s visit, which we thoroughly enjoyed and learned from Thank you so much to Kali for visiting us and engaging with everyone so readily while she was here” Mississippi State University
FYE Speaker at Metropolitan State University, Regis University, and Vassar College
Yaa Gyasi
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“Yaa was amazing, and exceptionally thoughtful in her conversation with our moderator and the student questions” Northeastern University
FYE Speaker at University of Massachusetts, Boston; Davidson College; Northeastern University; Simmons University, Tulane University; University of Portland; College of St Scholastica; University of California, Santa Cruz; West Virginia University; and more
Mohsin Hamid
Theme: Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“With one remarkable book after another, Mohsin Hamid has proven himself to be one of the 21st century’s most essential writers This is, perhaps, his most remarkable work yet The Last White Man is myth and poetry operating as a deeper form of social commentary, and an extraordinary vision of human possibility” Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies Students
FYE Speaker at New York University, Smith College, and Muhlenberg College
Cristina Henríquez
Theme: Hispanic Voices & Stories; Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“Ms Henríquez was incredibly inspiring, particularly the portion when she talked about growing up not speaking Spanish – it resonated with our primarily Latinx students who were listening to her speak We truly thank her for everything she shared and being authentic to our students” Porterville College
FYE Speaker at Henderson State University; California State University, Fullerton; University of Idaho; Tarrant County College; the College of New Jersey; and SUNY Oneonta
Robert Jones, Jr.
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“Robert Jones, Jr was a superb speaker who prepared a serious lecture specifically for this event He was responsive, open, and generous in the virtual class session with Marygrove high school students, who asked wonderful questions and received thoughtful answers The lecture audience was very much taken with him”
Marygrove Conservancy
FYE Speaker at Vassar College
Rachel Khong
Theme: Family & Community; Asian American Voices & Stories
“Khong masterfully explores a family splintered by science, struggling to redefine their own lives after uncovering harrowing secrets Real Americans is a mesmerizing multigenerational novel about privilege, identity and the illusions of the American dream” Brit Bennett, author of The Vanishing Half
Emily St. John Mandel
Theme: Overcoming Adversity
“Emily was fantastic! She is smart, thoughtful, engaging, and honest Our students and community members were all in awe of her answers to the questions she was asked She stayed to sign every single person ’ s book as well, which meant a lot to the attendees” University of Montana
FYE Speaker at the United States Air Force Academy, University of Montana, and Collin College
Leila Mottley
Theme: Family & Community; Black Voices & Stories
“Wonderful! Leila Mottley was so poised, clear, and moving” City College of San Francisco, Women’s and Gender Studies Department
“Leila was phenomenal!! People really appreciated her keynote, hearing her perspective, and interacting with her through Q&A and the book signing We are still beaming from the experience, as were our attendees She is an exceptional young woman ” Alliance for Girls
Ocean Vuong
Theme: Asian American Voices & Stories
“[Ocean] was mesmerizing Truly an unforgettable evening” Rutgers University
“Ocean Vuong’s Time Is a Mother is haunting, inconsolable, and at the same time a playful, generous in spirit, tender, inimitable book The poet’s late mother is these pages ’ muse and guardian spirit, as poem after poem Vuong redefines our idea of what an elegy can do it, what it is for But from all of this intersection of tragedy and tenderness, true wisdom comes: Vuong teaches us not just how to grieve, but how to live Ilya Kaminsky author of Deaf Republic and Dancing in Odessa
Colson Whitehead
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“Colson was a delight We received tons of feedback from faculty, staff, students, and the local community Everyone raved about his presentation, saying things like, ‘He was hilarious!’ ‘No wonder his books are so good,’ and ‘best Weis Lecture ever ’” Bucknell University
FYE Speaker at Williston State University; University of Arkansas, Fort Smith; Bucknell University; and Saint Louis University
Charles Yu
Theme: Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices and Stories
“Charles was fantastic! Funny, charming, and insightful at the same time Everyone I talked to loved his keynote and can’t wait to read the book and to watch his upcoming Hulu series He was also quick to tie in our work and mission and where we align into his speech I have heard nothing but good things about his speech” APIA Scholars
FYE Speaker at Connecticut College; Stony Brook University; Santa Rosa Junior College; University of California, Berkeley; West Virginia University
Gabrielle Zevin
Theme: Coming of Age; Overcoming Adversity; Life Stories
“Gabrielle Zevin was beyond wonderful Her talk was funny, poignant, and engaging and really connected with our community” Literary Arts, Inc
FYE Speaker at Flagler College and Reedley College
Isabel Wilkerson
Theme: Inequality
“The Morehouse campus is simply buzzing from Isabel’s lecture Students, faculty, staff, and administrators all attended and were impressed not only by her extensive research but also by her kindness and humility She reminded us all that the push for freedom continued long after slavery” Morehouse College
“It was a tremendous joy to host Isabel Wilkerson Our campus family was so happy to have met her and to hear her speak Everyone was personally touched by her body of work in a unique and special way It will be an event that we will cherish in our memories for a long time” Framingham State University
FYE Speaker at the City College of New York, University of Chicago, Tufts University, Stetson University, Wells College, Lansing Community College, Dallas College, and Queens University of Charlotte
Matthew F. Delmont
Theme: Black Voices & Stories
“Engaging, intellectual, thorough” Cuyahoga Community College
“Because of segregation and racism at home, Delmont shows how [African American soldiers] were among the first to see the war as an existential struggle between forces of fascism pitted against the forces of freedom, democracy, and human rights both domestically and globally” Dr Gordon “Nick” Mueller, president and CEO emeritus, The National WWII Museum
FYE Speaker at Cuyahoga Community College
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
Theme: Courage; Overcoming Adversity
“From journalist Hannah P Jones on Jamestown’s first slaves to historian Annette Gordon-Reed’s portrait of Sally Hemings to the seductive cadences of poets Jericho Brown and Patricia Smith, Four Hundred Souls weaves a tapestry of unspeakable suffering and unexpected transcendence” O: The Oprah Magazine
FYE Speaker at Bowie State University, Colby College, Arcadia University, and Minnesota State Colleges
Donovan X. Ramsey
Theme: 20th Century US History
“Beautifully composed and carefully researched, When Crack Was King is a thoroughgoing survey of the crack epidemic Since I lived through it, I thought I knew about this period until I read this clear-eyed book” Dr Ibram X Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling-author
Kurt Gray
Theme: Critical Thinking; Ethics; Life Skills
“A riveting read on the roots of our bitterest conflicts and the remedies for them One of the leading lights in moral psychology overturns widespread assumptions about why we ’ re divided and reveals how we can come together” Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re: Thinking
“Feeling outraged? Read this book In this divided world, Outraged offers a much-needed, scientifically-grounded framework that can help defuse moral conflict by making sense of it, and putting us on the pathway we need towards better, more humanizing interactions
Hahrie Han, author of Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church
Omar El Akkad
Theme: Social Justice; Immigrant, First-generation and Refugee Voices & Stories
“We truly could not have asked for a better experience Omar was so engaging, kind, and open to our students – he stayed for almost an hour after his presentation in the evening to answer questions from students The entire day was wonderful, and we couldn’t have asked for a better selection with a better author Thank you for helping us make this happen!” Flagler College
Hahrie Han
Theme: Civics & Democracy; Race & Cultural Identity in America
A masterful feat of elegant storytelling and rigorous research, Undivided invigorates readers with an astonishing example of what it takes to make real change, even in the context of deep polarization and racialized subjugation”
Jennifer Parker, editor of Hammer & Hope
Lauren Markham
Theme: Immigration & Migration
“In this brilliant, timely meditation on immigration and refugees, Lauren Markham explores how the stories we tell about borders and who belongs can harden our hearts or help to open them The threads she follows, emerging from personal narrative, reporting, history, and philosophy, come together deftly, weaving a tapestry as moving as it is illuminating” Rebecca Solnit, author of Hope in the Dark, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, and Men Explain Things to Me
