Central College History Club Hosts Cambodian Refugee Speaker

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Central College's History Club is hosting a special lecture tomorrow at 11 am in the Maytag Student Center Van Emmerik Studio. The featured speaker is Jimmy Suong, a child survivor of the Khmer Rouge killing fields in Cambodia who later immigrated to the U.S. and served 30 years in the military. Suong is respected as an intercultural leader who brings people of varying cultures together through his volunteer work and public policy advocacy.

Why it matters

Suong's personal story of overcoming the trauma of the Khmer Rouge genocide and building a life in the U.S. provides a powerful firsthand account of the refugee experience. His work to support other refugees and promote cross-cultural understanding aligns with Central College's mission to foster global citizenship and diversity.

The details

In his lecture, Suong will share his journey as a child survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which killed an estimated 1.5 to 3 million people between 1975 and 1979. After immigrating to the U.S., Suong served for 30 years in the military and now works as a senior human resources specialist for the Iowa Army National Guard. He is also known for his volunteer efforts to influence public policy and programs for refugees and the Asian Pacific Islander community in Iowa.

• The lecture will take place tomorrow, April 7, 2026, at 11 am.