Amanda Nguyen

Astronaut, Bioastronautics Research Scientist, Civil Rights Activist, Entrepreneur

American California, U.S.

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Quick Info

ProfessionAstronaut, Bioastronautics Research Scientist, Civil Rights Activist, Entrepreneur
NationalityAmerican
Date of Birth10/10/1991
Age34 years
BirthplaceCalifornia, U.S.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameAmanda Ngọc Nguyễn
Known ForFounder and CEO of Rise, Inc.; first Vietnamese woman to travel to space; author of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights

Physical Stats & More

Height5'5" (165 cm)
Eye ColorDark Brown
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolCentennial High School, California (2005-2009)
College/University
  • Harvard University, Massachussets (2009-2013)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (May 2018-May 2020)
  • Harvard University, Massachusetts (2009-2013)
Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Harvard University
  • Media Lab Director's Fellow from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Personal Life

Marital StatusUnmarried
Food HabitNon-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusUnmarried

Career

Awards and Honours
  • Young Women's Honors Award by Marie Claire magazine (2016)
  • Named in the list of Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy (2016)
  • Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 list (2017)
  • Named in the 40 Women to Watch list by The Tempest (2017)
  • Named in The Frederick Douglass 200 list (2018)
  • Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award (2019)
  • 24th Annual Heinz Awards in Public Policy (2019)
  • Named in the Vanity Fair Global Goals List (2019)
  • Named in the Time 100 Next list (2019)
  • Recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women (2021)
  • Named in the Time Women of the Year list (2022)
  • 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Career OverviewAmanda Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American social entrepreneur and civil rights activist known for founding Rise, a nonprofit organization that protects the civil rights of sexual assault and rape survivors. She authored and successfully advocated for the federal Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, which passed unanimously through Congress in 2016 and has inspired similar legislation in over 30 states and countries worldwide. Her organization has helped pass 33 laws covering over 84 million rape survivors. Beyond civil rights, Nguyen is a commercial astronaut who became the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space in 2025 through Blue Origin. She has also been instrumental in the Stop Asian Hate movement and continues her work as a global #MeToo activist.
Notable Achievements
  • Drafted and advocated for the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2016
  • Founded Rise in November 2014, which has since helped pass 33 laws across the United States
  • Spearheaded a UN General Assembly resolution recognizing rape as an issue of global importance, which passed unanimously
  • First Vietnamese and Southeast Asian woman to travel to space (2024)
  • Author of bestselling memoir 'Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope'
  • Kickstarted the Stop Asian Hate movement with viral video in February 2021
  • Served as Independent Director on USA Fencing Board of Directors

Social Media

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/amandangocnguyen/
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/amandangocnguyen/
Twitterhttps://x.com/nguyen_amanda
LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nguyen-7359a021/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Amanda's parents immigrated from Vietnam to America after the fall of Saigon.
2. She was a field researcher at Harvard Law School focusing on women’s rights.
3. Served as a policy intern at NASA, emphasizing her early interest in space.
4. Interned at the White House, suggesting her involvement in governmental procedures.
5. She was an analyst at Morgan Stanley, showcasing her financial acumen.
6. In 2013, she shifted her focus from becoming an astronaut to advocating for civil rights after a personal experience.
7. Founded Rise in 2014 to support victims of sexual assault.
8. Nguyen's work was recognized globally, leading to her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
9. In 2021, she addressed racist violence against Asian Americans, gaining significant attention.
10. Became a bioastronautics researcher in 2021, merging her passions for science and activism.
11. Made history as the first woman of Vietnamese heritage to travel to space in 2025.
12. Carried 169 lotus seeds to study their growth in space, highlighting her commitment to scientific research.
13. In 2013, she was raped during her last semester at Harvard University while training to become an astronaut.
14. After her assault, she filed her rape kit under 'Jane Doe' to stay anonymous, but discovered this choice gave her only six months before the state would destroy the kit.
15. Founded Rise in November 2014 to support victims of sexual assault and advocate for survivors' rights.
16. In February 2021, she addressed racist violence against Asian Americans with a viral video, gaining significant attention.
17. In July 2018, she alleged that Neiman Marcus refused to sell her a dress due to her race.
18. Became a bioastronautics researcher, merging her passions for science and activism.
19. Made history as the first Vietnamese woman to travel to space in 2024 on Blue Origin.
20. Has given over 1,000 media interviews across four continents for international news outlets including ABC, BBC, CBS, and NBC.
21. Has testified at the House of Commons, the Massachusetts State House, and attended the State of the Union.
22. Currently writing a memoir, a novel, and a screenplay in addition to her activism work.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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