Long-time PEN/Faulkner board member and supporter Willee Lewis has been selected as the 2026 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion. This annual commendation recognizes a lifetime of devoted literary advocacy and a commitment to inspiring new generations of readers and writers.
“For more than 40 years, Willee Lewis has been a tireless champion for PEN/Faulkner,” said PEN/Faulkner President Katherine Boone. “The growth of our literary and education programs wouldn’t have been possible without her, and everyone in the organization is grateful to have been the beneficiaries of her boundless energy, zeal for the mission, and commitment to supporting writers and readers in our community.”
PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion Willee Lewis will accept her award, along with our 2026 PEN/Faulkner Award winner and finalists, in a celebration to be held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC on May 6, 2026.
“I have been devoted to PEN/Faulkner for more than half of my life, and it’s been an honor to serve an organization with such a vital mission,” said Lewis. “I am deeply grateful to all of the friends who have stood with me in support of PEN/Faulkner, as well as to the Board of Directors for this extremely generous recognition.”