Ernie Honya

About Ernie

Ernie Honya is a Berkeley-Oxford educated scholar, public speaker, writer, thinker, and an entrepreneur. He is a recipient of the Haas Scholar and Gilman Scholar awards. Ernie Honya’s life is a testament to conquest over adversity and a remarkable example of the importance of believing in one’s own potential. Ernie went from being homeless in rural Texas to being a student at the University of Oxford in England.

He inspires his audience to overcome personal obstacles and self-doubt and to take action to transform their lives. Ernie is a gifted storyteller and specializes in topics such as: believing in the future, the power of imagination, turning misfortunes into opportunities, and the power to control one’s destiny.

Homeless to Oxford Book

Homeless to Oxford is the remarkable true story of how Ernie Honya, as a newly arrived immigrant from Ghana, went from being homeless in rural Texas to studying at the University of Oxford in England. Ernie arrived in the United States with one hundred dollars in his pocket and found himself traveling through rural America relying on the benevolence of people he met along the way. Ernie went from town to town, sleeping in the homes of strangers, until he finally ended up in a homeless shelter in Paris, Texas.

Through a strong work ethic and an unquenchable spirit of determination, Ernie found a path out of homelessness and successfully navigated his way through the American education system, which ultimately paved his way to the University of Oxford in England. Weaving in memories of his African childhood, Homeless to Oxford is an improbable and captivating story of a young man’s unyielding resolve to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.