CARSON- The Eliet Lecture Series at California State University, Dominguez Hills will welcome poet and novelist Chiwan Choi on Wednesday, March 11, for a public reading and discussion designed to connect students with a nationally recognized literary voice.
The annual lecture is organized by Randy Cauthen, professor of English, who said the series brings prominent contemporary writers to campus each year and gives students the chance to engage with them directly.
“[The Eliet Lecture] gives students the opportunity to hear [writers] read their works, and ask them questions about how they write, or what they write about, or writing or life in general,” Cauthen said.
The series honors former CSUDH English professor Patricia Eliet, who taught from 1969 to 1990. For more than 20 years, the lecture has introduced students to nationally renowned writers, poets, and luminaries including Junot Díaz, Gary Soto, and Karen Tei Yamashita.
Cauthen said one of the primary goals of the series is to make the profession of writing feel accessible.
Chiwan Choi’s life reflects a global journey. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he began elementary school in Asunción, Paraguay, before settling in Los Angeles in 1980. His work frequently explores family history, identity, urban life and pop culture. He has said, “All I ever wanted my writing to do was let people know they weren’t alone.”
Choi is the author of six books, including the poetry collection My Name Is Wolf, and the soon-to-be-released Birthdays.His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times Magazine and Esquire.
One of Choi’s most discussed projects is Ghostmaker. In 2015, he authored the novel, presented it publicly, and then destroyed the manuscript to challenge ideas about the permanence of literature and to examine the relationship among creator, art, and audience. The work now exists only in the memories of those who heard it read.
Michael W. Buckley, a part-time lecturer in the English department, helped bring Choi to campus after working with him at the California State Summer School for the Arts.
Buckley described Choi’s literary voice as both vulnerable and deeply human.
“Chiwan’s work is open, honest, vulnerable; he writes about the things that crush us in life, and he writes about them in a way that redeems the pain and turns it into a care for others, a tenderness for the world,” Buckley said. “He loves many things — music, cryptozoology, movies, ghost stories — but most of all, his style and literary voice are about real people and real lives.”
Beyond his books, Choi is known as a mentor and community builder. He is a founding partner of Writ Large, a publishing collective, and has served as a mentor to emerging writers through Cultural Daily, a digital magazine, where he is an editor. He also hosts the paranormal-themed literary podcast “Are You There, Ghost? It is Me, Chiwan”.
Cauthen said events like the Eliet Lecture Series allow students to see both the artistry and discipline behind a creative career.
Student response to past lectures has been strong. Cauthen recalled that Junot Díaz filled the University Theatre, which seats about 450 people. Students can stay informed about future Eliet Lecture events through the English Department webpage, The Bulletin, and university program announcements.
For students interested in literature, storytelling, or creative careers, the upcoming lecture offers more than a reading — it offers a chance to witness how language can transform personal history into art and connection.