Khaled Hosseini
Author, The Kite Runner

California State University, East Bay

Dr. Khaled Hosseini, who came to the United States as a teenager with his family seeking political asylum as a result of the Soviet invasion of his native Afghanistan, is best known for his highly acclaimed novel, The Kite Runner . Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965, but raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and now living in Fremont, California, Dr. Hosseini learned English, graduated from Santa Clara University and earned a medical degree from the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

Following a residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he began his medical practice as an internist at Kaiser Permanente. During the early days of his medical practice, Dr. Hosseini began writing The Kite Runner. The novel is a profound story about honor and how it is tested by fate and misfortune. Its success is due to Dr. Hosseini’s compassionate account, beautiful writing and rare insights into the culture, geography and history of Afghanistan, plus an exposition of the immigrant experience in California.

The novel was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 100 weeks, has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, received numerous prestigious awards and was made into a successful movie. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was published in spring 2007.

Since achieving international celebrity, Dr. Hosseini has used this platform to give back. He has established a foundation to support the people of Afghanistan and has helped foster understanding of Afghan culture by visiting university campuses.

The Kite Runner was on the Freshman Reading List at California State University, East Bay in fall 2007, and Dr. Hosseinialso has spoken at San José State University, where a stage adaptation of his book was performed by students in 2007. In 2006, Dr. Hosseini was named a goodwill envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and was one of six recipients of the University of California, San Diego Alumni Association Award of Excellence.

In recognition of his outstanding service to his community, many literary achievements and his commitment to higher education, the Board of Trustees of California State University and California State University, East Bay are proud to confer upon Khaled Hosseini the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.