Amanda Nguyen is a survivor, astronaut, and activist. She is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, the 2022 Time Magazine Woman of the Year,  and Forbes 30 Under 30. She is the founder and CEO of Rise, a nonprofit that has helped in passing over 65 civil rights laws for sexual assault survivors worldwide. While studying at Harvard University, Amanda had ambitions in both social justice and astrophysics, rooted in her desire to become an astronaut. She was interning at NASA when her dreams were interrupted by sexual assault. Amanda, however, continued to pursue her goal, making history as the first Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman in space.
Amanda has been sharing her story of surviving sexual violence and has transformed it into an opportunity to create legislative change. She authored the federal Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights, unanimously passed in U.S Congress in 2016. She continues to use her voice to inspire millions as she leads global efforts towards justice and dignity for survivors. 
Amanda also wrote the Instant New York Times Bestseller Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope in 2025. She is an amazing example of finding Courage Through Creation.