Best-selling author of “Funny in Farsi” to speak at FIU


firoozeh_dumasFiroozeh Dumas, the author of FIU’s first university-wide common reading selection, will discuss her book, “Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America,” at a series of events on Monday, Oct. 19 at Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC) and on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC).

Dumas, an international best-selling author who has become a favorite on reading lists in many junior highs, high schools and universities, will speak about the immigrant experience and the uniqueness of America.

Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran, and moved to California at the age of seven. After a two-year stay, she and her family moved back to Iran. Two years later, she returned to California and attended University California at Berkeley. “Funny in Farsi” is a humorous look at Dumas’ family’s misadventures in America.fif

This is the first year of FIU’s university-wide Common Reading Program. Last year, pilot program participants read MacArthur Genius Award winner Edwidge Danticut’s “Breath, Eyes, Memory.”

New undergraduate students are given a common reading assignment during orientation. The assigned book then serves as a basis for projects and discussions in the Freshmen Experience seminar.

“This helps the intellectual development of our students,” says Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Lidia Tuttle.

Undergraduate Education chose Dumas’ book this year in the hopes of preparing students to hold meaningful conversations about ethnic assumptions, cultural differences and racial biases.

“This book fits nicely into our curriculum and emphasizes FIU’s focus on international issues,” Tuttle says. “Students will be better equipped to understand different countries and cultures.”

Dumas is the first Middle Eastern woman ever to be considered for the prestigious Thurber Prize for American Humor. She is also the author of “Laughing without an Accent,” a collection of autobiographical essays, recently turned into a one-woman show.

Dumas is scheduled to speak at MMC at noon in the GC Ballrooms. A book signing will follow the presentation.

At BBC, the talk will begin at 11 a.m. in the MaryAnn Wolfe Theater. Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to have their books signed 30 minutes before the event begins.

For more information, call 305-348-2800 or 305-919-5754.

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