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The Center for Multicultural Education
109 Maucker Union
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0165
Ph: 319.273.2250
Fx: 319.273.7138

Paul Rusesabagina Author of An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography His experiences inspired the film Hotel Rwanda Lecture: "Hotel Rwanda: A Lesson to be Learned" Tuesday, November 3 7:00 pm Program Starts 7:30 pm Lecture Starts Lang Hall Auditorium Book Signing & Reception Tuesday, November 3 Immediately following the conclusion of his lecture Center for Multicultural Education Informal Discussion Wednesday, November 4 Tentative time: 10:00 - 11:30 am Center for Multicultural Education

Biographic Information

Ten years ago, as the country of Rwanda descended into madness, one man made a promise to protect the family he loved – and ended up finding the courage to save over 1200 people. Over the course of 100 days, almost one million people were killed in Rwanda.

His autobiography, An Ordinary Man, was published on the 12th anniversary of the genocide in 2006. A moving story, it delves into Rusesabagina’s personal journey while explaining the history behind Rwanda’s Hutu and Tutsis tribes within the historical context of the conflict.

From 1975 to 1978, Rusesabagina attended the Faculty of Theology in Cameroon and, in January 1979, was employed by Sabena as a front office manager in their newly opened Hotel Akagera in the Akagera National Park. It was at this time he learned about the Tourism, Hotel, and Catering Industry.

Through The Suisse Tourist Consult, Rusesabagina's application was accepted for entrance into the Kenya Utalii College in Nairobi in the Hotel Management Course, which he started in early 1980 and finished in September 1984 in Switzerland.

Back from Switzerland, Rusesabagina joined Sabena Hotels again and was employed as assistant general manager in the Mille Collines Hotel from October 1984 until November 1992, at which time he was promoted to general manager of the Diplomate Hotel (also in Kigali).

For the 100 days of the genocide, Rusesabagina had to move back to the Mille Collines Hotel. His colleague Bik, manager of that unit, left Kigali on April 11, 1994, despite the number of refugees still left on their own. It was the next morning, when the government (Interim Government) left Kigali for Gitarama. Rusesabagina was there for almost the entire span of the genocide.

When the massacre slightly calmed down, in July 1994, Bik came back and joined his unit, and Rusesabagina went back to the Diplomate Hotel where he stayed until September 1996, after which he went to Belgium as a refugee. From that time to date, Rusesabagina has worked as a businessman and owns a transport company.

Event Sponsors:

Diversity Council
Office of the Vice-President of Student Affairs
The Center for Multicultural Education
Holocaust and Genocide Education Program
African Union
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Student Services Fee Committee