Amanda Nguyen will speak at Emory’s RespectCon 2026 event on Thursday, April 9.
RespectCon is an annual event held during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) that promotes campus dialogue and education to end relationship and sexual violence.
Nguyen founded the nonprofit organization Rise in 2014 after experiencing sexual assault while an undergraduate student at Harvard. Since then, Rise — a grassroots group advocating for survivors of sexual violence — has trained more than 2,000 organizers across 48 states and four countries with the tools needed to work toward having their voices heard. Rise has helped get more than 117 laws passed.
As an activist, Nguyen drafted and advocated for the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, legislation that safeguards the rights of sexual violence survivors in the United States. The bill was passed unanimously by Congress in 2016.
She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and awarded TIME Woman of the Year in 2017 in recognition of her role in drafting legislation and advocating for sexual assault survivor rights. This work spread when Rise brought their vision — access to justice for survivors of sexual assault worldwide — to the United Nations in 2022. The resolution received unanimous approval.
Nguyen graduated from Harvard University and was a fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She made history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space; her bioastronautics research focuses on women’s health.
She also is the author of The New York Times bestselling book “Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope.”
Nguyen’s RespectCon presentation will be moderated by Tyralynn Frazier, an associate research scientist at Emory’s Center for Contemplative Sciences and Compassion-Based Ethics. The evening also features a Survivor Civil Rights exhibit curated by the university’s Office of Respect.
“RespectCon is a beacon of hope, a chance for our community to reflect on and envision a world free from sexual and relationship violence,” says Micaela Harris, assistant director of sexual and relationship harm prevention with the Office of Respect, a part of Campus Life. The Office of Respect hosts RespectCon 2026 in partnership with a range of university departments.
“Our goal is for students, faculty and staff to leave this experience feeling profoundly inspired and empowered, ready to nurture a culture of respect in every aspect of their lives. Together, we can change the world," Harris says.
RespectCon is open to the entire university community. The event will offer dedicated survivor spaces staffed by Office of Respect counselor/advocates who are confidential resources. The event also provides timely trigger warnings, and participants should feel free to leave at any time.
“Because sexual violence thrives in silence, not discussing it only exacerbates the problem and further marginalizes survivors,” Harris says. “Our SAAM events serve as a reminder to us all that survivors’ stories matter, and a community of people stand with them."
Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026 events
This year marks the 25th anniversary of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, held each year in April. Emory’s Office of Respect will host three events during the month to inform and empower the campus community. All events are free and open to university faculty, students and staff.
Tuesday, April 7
6:30 p.m., AMUC, Harland Cinema
Join an evening of poetry and creative expression that empowers and uplifts students while providing a space to honor the experiences of relationship and sexual harm survivors. Take Back the Night is the oldest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence in all forms.
Thursday, April 9
RespectCon: Cultivating a Culture of Respect with Amanda Nguyen
6:30 p.m., Emory Student Center, Multipurpose Rooms 4-6
Amanda Nguyen — an activist, astronaut and best-selling author — made history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space. Her bioastronautics research focuses on women’s health. Nguyen was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and awarded TIME Woman of the Year for her work in drafting and passing sexual assault survivor rights in the United States and United Nations. She is the author of The New York Times bestselling memoir “Saving Five.” Nguyen’s visit is made possible by a grant from Emory’s Impact Circles, which uses the power of collective philanthropy to support projects that amplify underrepresented voices.