Longtime PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel is stepping down to head Freedom House

The CEO of PEN America, has stepped down aft much than a decade marked by important maturation and caller controversy

NEW YORK -- The CEO of PEN America, Suzanne Nossel, is stepping down aft much than a decade marked by important maturation and recent controversy, In January, she will beryllium heading nan pro-democracy Freedom House.

“I americium tremendously honored to lead an statement pinch Freedom House’s bonzer way grounds astatine nan forefront of fighting tyranny successful each its forms,” Nossel said successful a connection released Thursday by Freedom House, a nonprofit founded successful 1941 to thief raise American guidance to fascism.

Since Nossel was named CEO of PEN successful 2013, nan yearly fund for nan literate and free look statement has surged from $2 cardinal to $20 million. PEN has presided complete a wide scope of eager programs, from situation penning to nan search of book bans. Each spring, PEN has hosted a high-profile fundraising gala astatine nan American Museum of Natural History, organized a World Voices Festival attended by authors from dozens of countries and handed retired literate awards worthy hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Over nan past year, Nossel and nan activity astatine PEN person been wide criticized by authors and others successful nan literate organization for its consequence to nan Israel-Hamas war. Hundreds of writers endorsed letters aliases different said retired complete what they believed was PEN's nonaccomplishment to forcefully condemn nan sidesplitting and censorship of Palestinian artists and journalists. Last spring, PEN canceled its yearly awards ceremonial aft dozens of nominees withdrew and canceled nan World Voices Festival aft facing a akin response.

On Thursday, PEN announced that Summer Lopez and Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf will service arsenic interim CEOs while PEN searches for a imperishable replacement. Lopez had been serving arsenic main programme serviceman for free look programs and Rosaz Shariyf arsenic main programme serviceman for literate programs.

"As main programme officers astatine PEN America, Summer and Clarisse person demonstrated their committedness to our ngo of elevating writers and lit and protecting free expression, on pinch a way grounds of excellence successful leadership,” PEN America President Jennifer Finney Boylan said successful a statement. “We are besides grateful to Suzanne Nossel, to whom we wish occurrence successful her early endeavors.”