The New York Times’ bestselling author of “Educated,” Tara Westover, will lecture virtually at Utah Valley University as part of the university’s Presidential Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at 11:30 a.m.

The virtual lecture is free and open to students, faculty, staff, and the public. Instructions on how to access the live lecture can be found at the UVU Office of the President, Speeches and Events website.

“Tara Westover’s story embodies what it takes to create an independent self, overcome challenges, and use education to build a life of dignity and freedom,” said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of Utah Valley University. “Her story of resilience, grit, and hard work is something everyone can learn from, and something we try to teach our students every day.”

Growing up in Idaho, Westover was raised in a family that did not attend school, as her father opposed public education. After stepping into a classroom for the first time at the age of 17, she catapulted herself into a decade of pursuing higher education, graduating from Brigham Young University magna cum laude, obtaining an MPhil and a Ph.D. from Trinity College, Cambridge, and winning the coveted Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Today, she is a senior research fellow at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School.

Westover’s memoir “Educated,” published in 2018, tells the story of her isolated childhood and educational pursuits. More than 4 million copies of the book have sold, and it has been translated into 41 languages. Aside from being on The New York Times’ bestseller list in hardcover for two years (as of February 2020), President Barack Obama included it on his favorite books of the year list, calling it “remarkable,” and Bill Gates included it on his holiday reading list.

Additionally, Apple and Audible named “Educated” the best memoir of the year, and Westover has received a myriad of other accolades for the book.

“The Presidential Lecture Series provides an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage with innovative experts in their fields,” said Cheryl Hanewicz, associate provost of Engaged Learning. “The event with Tara is timely and important given the challenges we are facing today with COVID-19. Tara’s inspiring message about the value of higher education will be a boost for everyone.”

Registration for the event can be found at the UVU Office of the President, Speeches and Events website.

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About Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University is one of a few higher education institutions in the nation that offer an integrated dual-mission model, which combines the prestige of a four-year university with the accessibility of a community college. UVU’s unique model, which focuses on student success, engaged learning, rigorous academic programs, and faculty-mentored research, is transforming higher education by making it more affordable and accessible to students of all backgrounds.

 

University Marketing & Communications

Scott Trotter

801.863.6807 | scott.trotter@uvu.edu

Barb Smith

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Tara Westover Bio

Tara Westover is an American author, whose book Educated: A Memoir debuted #1 on the New York Times bestselling list and stayed there for two years. She also currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School.

Westover was raised in Clifton, Idaho, by survivalist Mormon parents who opposed public education and other entities. Instead of attending school, Westover worked with her parents in their junkyard or stewing herbs for health benefits. She was 17 years old before she stepped foot into a classroom, and after that, she spent a decade pursuing education. After graduating magna cum laude from Brigham Young University, she attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where she was awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and obtained an MPhil and Ph.D. She later wrote Educated, which was published in 2018 and has since received an abundance of praise and accolades.

To date, Westover’s book has sold more than 4 million copies and has been translated into 41 languages. President Barack Obama included it on his favorite books of the year list, and Bill Gates included it on his holiday reading list. Educated was named book of the year by the American Bookseller Association, the best memoir of the year by Apple and Audible, and a finalist for many awards including the L.A. Times’ Book Prize in Biography, among other awards.

TIME magazine named Westover as one of the 100 most influential people in 2018 for her impact. Westover is now working on projects related to media and political polarization and told She-Files that she is working on a documentary on rural education.