The PEN/Faulkner Foundation announced on September 23, 2026 that Executive Director Gwydion Suilebhan intends to step down after more than seven years of leadership. Suilebhan will remain through November 15 to support a smooth transition.
The Board of Directors is launching a nationwide search for PEN/Faulkner’s next Executive Director — a dynamic leader who can build on the organization’s distinguished literary legacy while expanding its reach, impact, and commitment to literature that speaks for and to a broader American experience. Details on the search, including the position description and application process, will be available on the PEN/Faulkner website.
“PEN/Faulkner has always been animated by a belief in the power of literature to deepen our understanding of one another and the world we share,” said Board Co-President Anne Aaron. “We’re grateful to Gwydion for his more than seven years of service at a time when superior agility was required to navigate unprecedented times. As we look ahead, we’re building on a strong foundation thanks to his dedicated leadership, and we’re excited about this moment of possibility — an opportunity to strengthen our programs and partnerships, reach new audiences, and imagine ambitiously what PEN/Faulkner can become.”
Founded in 1980 by Mary Lee Settle, PEN/Faulkner has grown from the creation of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction into one of the nation’s leading literary organizations, with work spanning nationally recognized prizes, public programming, and education initiatives that bring contemporary literature and working writers into classrooms and communities.
Its signature programs include the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction; the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story; the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel; a dynamic slate of public literary programs that bring acclaimed and emerging writers into conversation with readers and one another; and Writers in Schools, its longstanding education program connecting authors and books with D.C. students and teachers.
“As a writer and nonprofit administrator, I believe deeply in the mission of PEN/Faulkner,” said Gwydion Suilebhan. “Serving as a champion of the breadth and power of fiction in America has been a tremendous honor. As I step down in order to pursue new opportunities, I want to share my gratitude for every staff member, board member, writer, partner, educator, and supporter I’ve had the good fortune to meet and collaborate with. Thanks to you, the future of PEN/Faulkner is bright.”
For Aaron, Co-President Elizabeth Shreve, and the PEN/Faulkner Board of Directors, the transition is a chance to look deliberately toward the future while preserving what has distinguished the organization for nearly five decades.
“We have an important literary legacy, beloved programs, a committed community of writers and educators, a talented staff, and deeply engaged supporters. Our next Executive Director will have the opportunity to carry that legacy forward while thinking expansively about our reach, relevance, and impact,” Shreve said.
The nationwide search will be conducted by Tassant Partners in partnership with a Search Committee appointed by the Board. PEN/Faulkner welcomes candidates and nominations from the literary, nonprofit, philanthropic, education, and broader cultural communities.