Lydah Pyles DeBin has been named executive director of the Center for Fiction, located in Brooklyn. DeBin joins the Center for Fiction from Literary Arts in Portland, Ore., where she served as deputy director from 2017 to 2022. She succeeds interim co-executive directors Leslie Griesbach Schultz and Betsy Smulyan, who assumed the roles in January after the departure of the Center’s prior executive director, Traci Lester.
Prior to her role at Literary Arts, which she joined in 2012 as director of development and marketing, DeBin had a long career in publishing. She began her career as a production editor at Publications International, then went on to serve as a national account manager at Random House (2004–2008), Simon & Schuster (2008–2009), and Penguin Young Readers Group (2009–2011).
“I am honored to join the Center for Fiction as executive director at this momentous time in the history of the organization,” said DeBin in a statement. “I thank the community for trusting me to be a partner in leadership as we work together to uncover what will be next for this vital institution. During the search process, I met a staff and board who are dedicated to The Center’s mission and passionate about fiction’s ability to foster empathy, curiosity, connection, and discussion. I feel enormous excitement about what we can build together.”
