Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu has been elected president of PEN America, taking leadership of the influential literary and human rights organization at a moment marked by rising global threats to free expression and internal debate about the organization’s role in global crises. pasted

Mengestu, 47, was born in Ethiopia and moved to the United States at the age of two, later emerging as one of the most acclaimed contemporary voices exploring migration, displacement, identity, and belonging. Over the course of his career, he has published four novels — including his most recent, Someone Like Us — in which he often examines the emotional and political realities of migrants whose lives are shaped across multiple countries and cultures. His writing has earned international recognition for its quiet power, moral depth, and human sensitivity. pasted

Beyond his literary achievements, Mengestu plays a significant role in shaping public conversations about literature, ethics, and global responsibility. He leads the Center for Ethics and Writing at Bard College and has been part of PEN America’s board for nearly a decade, giving him deep familiarity with both the organization’s mission and its evolving responsibilities. He joins a lineage of PEN America presidents that includes Ayad Akhtar, Jennifer Egan, Salman Rushdie, and Jennifer Finney Boylan. pasted

PEN America, founded in 1922, has historically been known for defending imprisoned writers and artists around the world. In recent years, its domestic role has expanded significantly, with the organization becoming a major force in resisting book bans, censorship, and state-level restrictions on teaching about race, gender, and sexuality in the United States. pasted

However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the organization has faced intense criticism from members and the wider literary community regarding what some viewed as an insufficient response to the threats facing Palestinian writers and the destruction of Gaza’s cultural heritage. The resulting backlash led to the cancellation of PEN America’s 2024 literary awards and World Voices Festival and to the departure of longtime chief executive Suzanne Nossel. PEN America has since emphasized renewed efforts to support displaced Palestinian writers, including relocation support and discreet humanitarian assistance in partnership with other organizations. pasted

Speaking about the future of PEN America, Mengestu emphasized that the organization’s advocacy must remain deeply rooted in literature itself — in the voices of writers and the cultural ecosystems that sustain free expression. He has also underscored the importance of strengthening relationships with PEN International chapters around the world, noting the rise of anti-democratic movements and increasing cultures of fear and silence. His presidency signals both continuity and renewal: a commitment to PEN America’s historic mission, paired with a determination to rebuild trust, deepen engagement with writers globally, and ensure that the defense of free speech remains not only legal and political, but deeply human, ethical, and literary.