Writers & Books today announced the selection of its new executive
director following a nation-wide search. Writer and literary translator Kyle Semmel, most recently of Bethesda, Maryland, will take the
position on May 16.
“We were looking for someone with a real passion for
literature, because you can’t really do this job without that,” says Joe
Flaherty, who founded Writers & Books in 1980 and has served as its only
director, and who announced his retirement last year. “We also were looking for
a person who was enthusiastic about working in a community setting, as opposed
to an academic one.”
Semmel is originally from the
region. He graduated from York Central High School, near Geneseo,
and has lived in Pennsylvania, Kansas, Denmark, metro D.C., and Milwaukee. He
has experience working for nonprofits in various capacities, as the development
and communications manager of Collegiate Directions, and as the interim director
at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda.
Much of Writers & Books’ mission and identity is its openness
to people of all ages and backgrounds, Flaherty says, so the candidates needed
to have that same philosophy.
“We advertised this position for a three-month period in a
wide range of websites and publications, with the hopes of getting the broadest
variety of candidates as possible,” Flaherty says. The full search took 11
months. “Throughout the many steps we took to winnow down the number of
potential leaders, we were always very aware that we had no preconceptions of
who that person might be and gave every likely candidate our full unbiased
attention.”
In addition to bringing administrative experience to the
table, Semmel’s capacity as a literary translator may
signal a stronger focus on translation for Writers & Books. In fact, he
already has a relationship with the Rochester-based literary translation
organization, Open Letter Books; Semmel translated Danish
author Naja Marie Aidt’s “Rock,
Paper, Scissors,” which Open Letter published last summer.
When he was in town last year to do a reading of “Rock,
Paper, Scissors,” Semmel checked out Writers &
Books, and later learned that Flaherty was retiring.
Semmel says that he’s been struck
by the vibrant and dynamic literary community in Rochester, and that running an
organization like Writers & Books is “really quite a dream. Being around
people who are excited by books and who want more literature in their lives — I
couldn’t ask for a better job.”
Semmel says he’s interested in a
collaboration between Writers & Books, Open Letter, and BOA Editions to make
Rochester an even stronger beacon of a literary translation scene. “I think there’s
a rich potential based on the foundation that’s already there,” he says.
In addition, he says that he’s interested in developing more
ways for Writers & Books to serve everyone in the community. This could
mean potential partnerships with local schools, and bringing in writers that
would have a strong appeal to young adult audiences.
“I’m a strong proponent in encouraging young people
especially to find books that speak to them, that talk about them and their
experiences,” he says. “Once kids find books that appeal to them, they will
search out other books.”
This article appears in May 4-10, 2016.
In a country filled with women writers and women-led nonprofits, and writers and leaders who are people of color, why this?
“… why this?” That’s very vague, please elaborate.
Rochester Musician: Another white guy to maintain the status quo. Change is good, especially in an organization as old as this one.
The implication, then, is that a white male is incapable of bringing about change in an organization? Or just an organization such as this one?
It seems that WAB took great care in opening the search to a variety of potential applicants, and gave itself plenty of time to conduct a thorough and complete search for the best fit. I don’t think it’s fair to suggest there was any desire to “maintain the status quo” when it was clear from the article that WAB’s openness to people of all backgrounds was a key element of the search. Their staff is majority female, and you can see diversity of age, ethnicity, and background among their instructors.
Rochester Musician: I suppose it’s possible, but wouldn’t it be great to have someone come in with a different kind of perspective? I could list all the ways the organization is missing some very powerful change, but you won’t hear it anyway.
Maiast, lots of women have always worked at W&B and are paid almost nothing. We joke and call them nuns. Clearly, if the organization was all that open in the search, then someone could have been found to bring in a brand new perspective. Sheesh. The new guy was even locally grown. I mean, even a West Coast white guy could bring some change along with him.
“Yes, I’m a bigot – BUT, for the Left.” – Alvy Singer in “Annie Hall”
Kathryn, I agree that all organizations, even the best of them, need to change and grow to remain relevant. However, I don’t think that the demographics of Mr. Semmel preclude him from being a change-maker. There are women who don’t fight for the rights of women, and people of color who don’t fight for the rights of people of color, etc. “Another white guy to maintain the status quo” is a pretty broad stereotyping statement in itself, especially without him being given a chance to prove himself.
That being said, I have to disagree with maiast in that I believe WAB is lacking in diversity, especially being that it is an important part of a city like Rochester, which has such a richness of cultures, races, ethnicities, interests, etc. Yes, most of the staff are women, but is that a surprise, as most educators are women? To just focus on race/culture- the majority of the classes offered are Euro-centric, and are led by people with a Euro-centric identity. It will be exciting to see what direction the new director guides WAB and if he taps into the rich tapestry of culture and literature (even unconventional and underground) that Rochester has to offer.
Kathryn: Perhaps I am missing something. What in the world does “Another white guy to maintain the status quo.” (pertaining to the color of someone’s skin color) have to do with someone’s overall creativity and ideas for expanding passion for literature to a more diverse community such as Rochester, NY and beyond?
What does race have to do with whats in someones head? Being white or any other race DOES NOT have anything to do with this.
After reading your comment, it makes you sound narrow minded and that you were snubbed in the national search and for the job position itself.
After reading the article, he has lived in other geographical locations and can bring the different view and perspective.
Please give two of your ideas for a “powerful change.” I would love to hear it.
I’m glad to see active discussion of this topic.
Sorry “linkfence.” I’m retired! If you take a look at most of our local, arts-based nonprofit organizations, you will note the large numbers of white faces. If you think it’s racist to want to see someone with a different perspective in an organization whose mission is to serve the community, and which relies a great deal on public grant money and a tax free status, then so be it.
Personally, I was hoping they would tear that place down and make it a Chili’s or Applebee’s or something that contributes to the community and economy.
BUT, since they went another direction I have to agree wit Kathy Quinn Thomas here. Not knowing anything about Semmel, I’m certain he’s just a another WASP.in control looking to do WASP things. (Probably wears Ralph Lauren and voted for JEB!)