PACIFIC GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY BRINGS SPEAKER IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA TO PALO ALTO MAY 21
Rwandan Genocide Survivor and Author of "Left to Tell" to Speak at Spangenberg Auditorium
Palo Alto, CA (April 27, 2007) - The Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP), a private, independent professional school educating doctoral students in Palo Alto, announced today it will host Rwandan genocide survivor and author of "Left to Tell" Immaculee Ilibagiza at Gunn High School's Spangenberg Auditorium on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 6:30pm. The talk is being co-sponsored with the Center for Interdisciplinary Policy, Education and Research on Terrorism (http://www.cipert.org/), the PGSP-De Anza bachelor's of science degree program (http://pgsp.edu/p3/) and the Institute for Restorative Justice.
Ilibagiza will share the remarkable story of how she and seven other women narrowly escaped death by hiding in a three feet by four feet bathroom for close to 100 days. Most of her family was wiped out by the genocide – some killed by a neighbor she knew well - and yet Ilibagiza's story is one of forgiveness and education so that history will not repeat itself in Rwanda or other places.
"I met Immaculee through my Rwanda work, and wanted PGSP's students, and our community to the have the opportunity to hear her message," says William Froming, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs and director of distance learning at the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. "Her courageous story of survival is heartbreaking, inspiring, and one that one that no human being should ever have to endure."
In 2005 Froming and his wife Karen Froming, Ph.D., flew a team of psychologists and PGSP graduate students to the National University of Rwanda. The group taught a week-long workshop on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that would give Rwandan students some tools they could apply to those struggling with trauma. The couple and their team hope to make another trip in the near future.
Ilibagiza has made several television appearances, including her recent appearance on Sixty Minutes (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/30/60minutes/main2218371.shtml). She will be signing copies of her book "Left to Tell" and answer audience questions during her appearance. Spangenberg Auditorium is located at 780 Arastradero Road, at Gunn High School. The talk will run from 6:30-8:00pm. PGSP is also working with Facing History and Ourselves (http://www.facinghistory.org/) to broaden the reach of this special program.
To reserve tickets, please e-mail Elizabeth Hilt at immaculee@pgsp.edu or call 650-843-3418. For more about PGSP, go to http://www.pgsp.edu/.
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About Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP) is a private, independent professional school in the San Francisco Bay area
educating doctoral students since 1975. Established to serve society, PGSP is a diverse learning community dedicated to the
search for knowledge and its dissemination. PGSP brings together a community of highly talented faculty and graduate students
working side-by-side to bring scientific rigor and theoretical knowledge to the analysis and practice of clinical psychology.
