Internationally renowned novelist and critic Viet Thanh Nguyen is the fall 2019 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals. On Sept 19, special guests and UH leadership honored Nguyen with a reception, after which Nguyen delivered a public lecture.
Born in Ban Me Thuot, Viet Nam, Nguyen came to the United States as a refugee in 1975 with his family and grew up in San Jose, California. Holder of an endowed professorship at the University of Southern California, he has become one of the nation’s most acclaimed writers and leading voices on issues of immigration, race, justice and representation.
“Viet Thanh Nguyen is one of the most important public intellectuals of our time,” says Peter Arnade, UH Mānoa Dean of Arts and Humanities.
UH Mānoa’s Dan & Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals engages scholars and public figures dedicated to sharing their knowledge and life experiences with an emphasis on democratic processes.
