Dear Friend of The Poetry Project,

After a national search that began last fall, the Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Kyle Dacuyan will be the Project’s next Executive Director! Kyle will begin by working side-by-side with outgoing ED Stacy Szymaszek in June and will officially take the reins Monday, July 2nd.

Kyle comes to the Project from his position at PEN America as Senior Manager of Literary Outreach & Activism, where he organized readings, public actions and programming with a focus on advocacy; facilitated partnerships with cultural and community organizations; and established a community engagement fund for writers undertaking advocacy projects across the country. His poems have appeared in Lambda Literary, DIAGRAM, Sixth Finch, and elsewhere.

Kyle exhibits a keen understanding of and respect for the mission and history of The Poetry Project, and deep commitment to its values and its future. He is an attentive listener with an exemplary track record facilitating collaborative work, and is ready to take a conscientious, thoughtful and open approach to the leadership transition.

Of his new role, Kyle says, “I am incredibly honored to be joining a community that has been expanding how we learn, share space, and exchange ideas through poetry for more than 50 years. The Poetry Project has deeply informed my sense that poems give us new language for being together — and that work feels especially crucial at this particular moment. I am grateful to Stacy, the Board, and the many dedicated individuals whose vision and commitment have made the Project the vital and beloved place it is, and I look forward to being a part of the work that carries this forward.”

The board took their charge in finding a new Director extremely seriously, and we are confident that we have found a qualified, humble and kind person with the vision, experience and grace needed to steward the Project into its next era. As we look back at Stacy’s tenure with immense appreciation, we also look forward to what the future will bring.

Please mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, June 21 at 7pm. We’ll be throwing a party in Parish Hall to welcome Kyle and say farewell and thank you to Stacy for her 11 years of leadership, and we hope you can join us!

Sincerely,

Camille Rankine
on behalf of the Board of Directors