College of Education faculty concludes national book tour at UH Mānoa

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Jennifer L. Parks, (808) 956-0416
Communications Coordinator, College of Education
Posted: May 11, 2011


UH Mānoa College of Education Assistant Professor Maya Soetoro-Ng winded down her national 10-city book tour, which included appearances on the Today show and Piers Morgan Tonight, with a book signing at UH Mānoa. Co-sponsored by the College of Education (COE), Department of American Studies, Office of the Chancellor, College of Arts & Humanities, and UH Bookstore, the gathering took place on May 3 at the COE Collaboration Center.
 
During the two-hour event, Soetoro-Ng read from her book, Ladder to the Moon, answered questions, provided academic insights, signed books, and exchanged kind words and hugs.
 
Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw provided opening remarks to the packed room, filled with local press, university employees, friends, and children from the campus Children’s Center. Soetoro-Ng read interactively with the children while pausing to ask and answer questions along the way. When asked about the inspiration for her book, Soetoro-Ng said it was her mother’s spirit and energy and addressed the children specifically.
 
“I want to hear your stories and for you to know that you are strong. Everyone is the same; we’re interconnected. What happens to us, what we do will make a difference to those far away. It is about the whole big world and those who cannot be with us," said Soetoro-Ng.
 
While it is her first year teaching in the college’s Institute for Teacher Education Secondary Program, Soetoro-Ng earned her PhD in international comparative education at the college and taught for the University Laboratory School. She is currently working on her next book, a young adult “coming of age” story.