Amanda Nguyen (born October 17, 1991) is a Vietnamese-American civil rights activist, social entrepreneur, and astronaut-in-training, renowned for her dedication to advocating for the rights of sexual assault survivors. In 2014, she founded Rise, a nonprofit organization focused on championing the civil rights of survivors through legislative reform. Her efforts led to the unanimous passage of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act in 2016, a landmark federal law that ensures vital protections, including the preservation of rape kit evidence without charge for the duration of the statute of limitations.
Nguyen was born in California to Vietnamese immigrant parents. She was raised in a household that valued education, resilience, and advocacy. Growing up, she excelled academically and developed a deep interest in space exploration, dreaming of one day becoming an astronaut. She attended Harvard University, where she studied political science and astrophysics. During her time at Harvard, she was sexually assaulted, an experience that exposed her to the flaws in the legal system and ultimately led to her becoming a passionate advocate for survivors' rights.
Nguyen’s activism is deeply personal. Determined to create change, she turned her experiences into action, pushing for policy reforms that have since empowered survivors worldwide. Her advocacy has sparked a global movement dedicated to improving the rights of sexual assault survivors.
Beyond her work in sexual violence advocacy, Nguyen has also been a powerful voice against anti-Asian hate crimes. In 2021, she played a crucial role in raising awareness of the rise in violence against Asian communities, helping propel the Stop Asian Hate movement into the national and international spotlight.
Amanda NguyenWiki
Nguyen is also preparing to make history in another way—by going to space. She is set to become the first Vietnamese-American woman to fly to space with a planned mission in 2025.
In addition to her activism and space ambitions, Nguyen is an author. Her upcoming memoir, Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope, is scheduled for release on March 4, 2025. In this deeply personal book, she shares her journey from the aftermath of her assault to her transformation into an advocate. Using narratives from different stages of her life—ages 5, 15, 22, and 30—Nguyen explores themes of survival, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. She has described the writing process as deeply healing and hopes the book will provide comfort and inspiration to others who have faced similar struggles.
Saving Five is currently available to pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. The memoir is expected to be a powerful testament to hope, perseverance, and the impact of collective action, reinforcing Nguyen’s belief that positive change is possible when people come together to fight for justice. See more about Saving Five on Amanda's website: amanda.website:
Amanda.websiteSaving Five
'In 2013, the trajectory of Amanda Nguyen’s life was changed forever when she was raped at Harvard.
Determined to not let her assault derail her goal of joining NASA after graduation, Nguyen opted for her rape kit to be filed under “Jane Doe.” But she was shocked to learn her choice to stay anonymous gave her only six months to take action before the state destroyed her kit, rendering any future legal action impossible. Nguyen knew then that she had two options: surrender to a law that effectively denied her justice, or fight for a change—not only for herself but for survivors everywhere.
A heart-wrenching memoir of survival and hope, Saving Five boldly braids the story of Nguyen’s activism—which resulted in Congress’s unanimous passage of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act in 2016—with a second, beautifully imagined adventure, of Nguyen's younger selves as they—at ages five, fifteen, twenty-two, and thirty—navigate through dramatic incarnations of the emotional stages of her path toward healing, not only from her rape but from the violent turmoil of her childhood. The result is a groundbreaking work that seamlessly blends memoir with a moving journey toward acceptance and hope, forging a path ahead that is as inspiring as it is instructive.
From one of the most influential activists (and now astronauts) of her time, Saving Five is at once a tribute to resilience, a celebration of healing through action, and a resounding cry to change the world.'
Page created on 2/25/2025 3:43:48 PM
Last edited 2/25/2025 3:53:50 PM
