Media Advisory: “From Homeless to Harvard” author to speak at UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Liz Murray, the best-selling author of “Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard,” will speak at the University at Buffalo at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Alumni Arena on the North Campus as part of UB’s Distinguished Speakers Series.

The child of cocaine-addicted parents in the Bronx, Murray was homeless by age 15 — living on the streets, riding the subway all night and eating from dumpsters. Determined to take charge of her life, she finished high school in just two years while camping out in New York City parks and subway stations, and then went on to Harvard, where she earned a BS in psychology in 2009.

Lifetime Television produced a movie about Murray's life story — “From Homeless to Harvard” — which premiered in April 2003. Her memoir, “Breaking Night,” was released in September 2010 and within a week landed on The New York Times best-seller list.

She is the recipient of Oprah Winfrey’s first-ever Chutzpah Award.

During her program, audio and/or video photography, as well as still photography, will be limited to the first five minutes of her lecture. Murray is expected to begin speaking at approximately 8:10 p.m.

Working media may reserve tickets for the program by contacting Christine Vidal in the UB Office of Communications at 645-4607 or vidal@buffalo.edu no later than noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Reserved tickets may be picked up at the will-call window in Alumni Arena prior to the program. Media may need to show press credentials in order to be admitted to the program.

Press arrangements: Mike Andrei, onsite, at 716-352-2955.