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Phil Klay Becomes PEN America President, Succeeding Mengestu

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 3:53 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. author Phil Klay becomes president of PEN America, succeeding Dinaw Mengestu.
Mengestu resigned in July after a PEN report on Jewish-Israeli writers, having led the organization less than a year.
Klay, an Iraq War veteran and 2014 National Book Award winner, praised the PEN study, condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

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Story summary

U.S. author Phil Klay becomes president of PEN America, succeeding Dinaw Mengestu.
Mengestu resigned in July after a PEN report on Jewish-Israeli writers, having led the organization less than a year.
Klay, an Iraq War veteran and 2014 National Book Award winner, praised the PEN study, condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.