'Hungry Girl' and Alumna Lisa Lillien Headlines UAlbany Homecoming and Family Weekend, Oct. 18 - 20

Great Dane Pre-Game, UAlbany Football vs. Towson, and a reading by Congressman and civil rights activist Luis Gutierrez round out the festivities

Lisa Lillien ’87, New York Times best-selling author and the creator of 'Hungry Girl,' will kick off the University at Albany Homecoming and Family Weekend at the Reaching Higher, Achieving More Luncheon.

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 11, 2013) -- Lisa Lillien ’87, the New York Times best-selling author and the creator of the Hungry Girl brand, will kick off the University at Albany Homecoming and Family Weekend at the Reaching Higher, Achieving More Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 18 from noon – 1:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom. The luncheon, which is free and open to the public, will feature a menu of all of Lillien’s fan-favorite recipes.

Lillien, best known as “Hungry Girl,” has television shows airing on both the Food Network and Cooking Channel. She developed a guilt-free, fun-food dieting approach and turned it into a free daily email service that entertains and informs with recipes, food finds, and tips & tricks. In addition to the million-plus die-hard subscribers to her daily emails, Lisa also reaches millions more with a weekly column on WeightWatchers.com, regular contributions to Redbook magazine, and recurring appearances on television shows like the Dr. Oz Show.

The author of eight best-selling books -- five of which debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Sellers list -- Lillien will also host a book signing on Friday at 4 p.m. in the SEFCU Hall of Fame Room.

Since its inception in 2006, the Reaching Higher, Achieving More alumni campaign has featured a wide array of University at Albany graduates - entrepreneurs, educators, lawyers, corporate leaders, entertainers, doctors, social workers, authors, and policymakers. The event was designed to give UAlbany students a window into the world of successful alumni, inspiring them to reach further and begin to lay the groundwork to carve out their own paths to success.

Lillien earned a bachelor’s in communication from UAlbany in 1987. After graduation she became editor-in-chief at Tutti Frutti magazine, was an executive producer for Nick at Nite/TV Land Online and served as VP for New Media at Telepictures Productions, Warner Brothers Corporation – all before launching Hungry Girl.

Also on Friday, U. S. Congressman, author, and civil rights activist Luis Gutierrez will read from his new autobiography Still Dreaming: My Journey from the Barrio to Capitol Hill (2013). The event will be held in the Main Theatre of the Performing Arts Center, at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Known to his supporters as "El Gallito" (The Little Rooster) for his passionate oratory and willingness to fight for a cause, Gutierrez's Still Dreaming is honest and often hilarious, recounting his rise from teacher, social worker, cab driver, and community activist to one of the most influential members of Congress. A leader of the Hispanic Caucus, Gutierrez serves currently on the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittees on Immigration and Border Security, and Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the New York State Writers Institute.

Then on Saturday, Oct. 19, the UAlbany Great Danes return to Bob Ford Field to take on the Towson Tigers. Prior to kick-off, UAlbany’s students, alumni, friends and the community-at-large are invited to celebrate at the Great Dane Pre-Game from 1 – 3:30 p.m. Pre-Game activities include live music, tailgating, a game ticket, and commemorative T-shirt. Registration is required.

Rounding out Homecoming and Family Weekend will include a viewing of the University's Veteran's Wall of Honor, tours of the University Art Museum, the School of Criminal Justice's Moot Court demonstration, UAlbany volleyball vs. UMass-Lowell, and the Alumni Association's Annual Homecoming 5K Run/2.5 Walk whose proceeds will benefit UAlbany’s Cancer Research Center.

To register for these events or view the weekend’s full schedule, visit the Homecoming and Family Weekend page.

Twitter chat: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. Eastern, live chat with Lisa Lillien #AskHungryGirl.

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