Michelle Zauner is the acclaimed author of the bestselling Crying in H Mart, an unflinching, powerful memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own identity. Crying in H Mart was named one of the year’s best books by The New York Times, TIME, NPR, The Washington Post, Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, and more. President Obama also included Crying in H Mart among his “Favorite Books of the Year.” In 2022, TIME named Michelle Zauner one of its “100 Most Influential People.” Zauner initially launched to fame as the frontwoman for Japanese Breakfast, a Grammy-nominated indie pop band that has toured internationally and appeared on Saturday Night Live. They have released three studio albums: Psychopomp (2016), Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017), and Jubilee (2021). In addition to writing, singing, and performing, Zauner has also directed many of Japanese Breakfast’s music videos and is currently adapting Crying in H Mart into a feature film through Orion Pictures. When she is not on tour, she lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, Japanese Breakfast guitarist Peter Bradley.

For more information on Michelle Zauner, please visit www.prhspeakers.com

About the William Star Lecture: Vassar’s annual Starr Lecture is designed to bring a distinguished author to campus to speak to first-year students about their writing.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact the Campus Activities Office (845) 437-5370.

Sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, The First-Year Writing Seminar Program, and the Dean of First-Year Students.

The lecture is free and open to the public.