Loung Ung

Loung Ung is an author, lecturer, and activist who has devoted her life to advancing human rights and equality in Cambodia and around the world. She is the author of the memoir First They Killed My Father: a Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (HarperCollins 2000), which tells the story of her survival under the Khmer Rouge regime. It was a national bestseller and won the 2001 Asian/Pacific American Librarians’ Association award for “Excellence in Adult Non-fiction Literature”, as well as other awards. It has been translated into many languages and taught in many schools and universities. In 2013, Loung expanded her activism as a writer for Girl Rising, a documentary film about girls’ education around the world. First They Killed My Father was adapted into a Netflix movie in 2017 by director by Angelina Jolie from a screenplay co-written by Angelina Jolie and Loung.

For her work, Loung was chosen by The World Economic Forum as one of the “100 Global Youth Leaders of Tomorrow”. Additionally, Loung has also written two other books, Lucky Child and Lulu in the Sky, both published by HarperCollins, and is currently working on a novel. She is a sought-after speaker who has shared her story and insights with audiences around the world, including at the United Nations Conferences, and various universities and corporations. She has also appeared on numerous media outlets, such as CNN, and NPR.

Loung has visited Cambodia over 40 times since leaving the country. She likes to eat fried crickets and ride her tandem bike with her husband Mark, who is her partner/owner in three restaurants and a microbrewery–Bright Side, Nano Brew and Market Garden Brewery–in Cleveland, Ohio.