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Selection Timeline

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2024-2025 Book Selection: "First they Killed my Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" By Loung Ung

The front cover of a book with a black and white picture of a little girl with short curly hair with the book title "First They Killed My Father" in a red banner posted across the girl's eyes. The Book is, "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung. The bottom also reads, "Loung Ung, Author of 'Lucky child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind"'

From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her family, and their triumph of spirit.

One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung’s family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed.

Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung’s powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.

Headshot of Luong Ung, wearing a black shirt with ruffles and black styled hair that is slightly curled

LOUNG UNG is a bestselling author, activist, and co-screenwriter. Loung began her activism work in 1993 as a Community Educator for a domestic shelter in Maine, and has since been involved in various campaigns, including those against violence towards women, the use of child soldiers, and landmine eradication worldwide. She has made over 40 trips back to Cambodia, dedicating herself to helping her native land recover from the traumas of war. Loung has given keynote addresses at numerous forums in the US and internationally, including at Stanford University, Dartmouth College, Philips Academy, and Women in the World Summit, among others. In 2013, she expanded her activism reach to include screenplay writing and contributed to Girl Rising, a groundbreaking film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets and documentaries, including The New York Times, CNN, and Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

“For me, writing is an internal journey where you go in deep, you
reflect, you try to heal your inner child and pains. As an activist, it’s
an outward, going wide journey, where you realize that you are
connected to a much larger world. And that the story you tell isn’t
about you. It’s about a culture, a people, a nation, a family.” ~
Loung Ung

Committee Members

Photo of Shayla Bischoff - Assistant to the Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies

Shayla Bischoff

Administration Co-Chair

Shayla is the Assistant to the Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Studies.

Portrait of Dr. Judy Strathearn

Dr. Judy Strathearn

Faculty Co-Chair

Judy is a Senior Lecturer of Gender Institute of Teaching and Advocacy (GITA)

Photo of Cheyenne Calderon - Graduate Assistant for Undergraduate Studies

Cheyenne Calderon

Committee Member

Cheyenne is the Undergraduate Studies Graduate Assistant

Headshot of Salahuddin McKloskey

Salahuddin McKloskey

Committee Member

Salah is a Collection Development Librarian for the Auraria Library

Laura Miller, Content Manager / Managing Editor

Laura Miller

Committee Member

Laura is the Content Manager/Managing Editor for Communications

Photo of Bridget Arend

Bridget Arend

Committee Member

Bridget is the Associate Director of Teaching & Learning

Photo of Gabriel Grinsteiner

Gabriel Grinsteiner

Committee Member

Gabriel is the Assistant Director for Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry (D-PHI)

Photo of Mia Pino

Mia Pino

Committee Member

Mia is an Outreach and Sustainability Specialist in the One World One Water Center

1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform

Nhi Dang

Committee Member

Nhi is the CMEI Associate Director, Equity and Racial Justice Programs

Jennifer O'Dell Headshot

Jennifer O'Dell

Committee Member

Jennifer is an Honors Program Coordinator

Meredith Nation

Meredith Nation

Committee Member

Meredith is an Honors Program Specialist

For any information regarding the 1Book/1Project/2Transform program, please contact:

[email protected]