The Feminist Press Announces New Leadership
New York, NY — The Feminist Press at the City University of New York today announced a new leadership team as Dr. Norrell Edwards steps into the role of Chair of the Board of Directors and Caro Llewellyn joins the organization as Executive Director, effective March 16, 2026.
Together, Edwards and Llewellyn will guide the independent nonprofit publisher into its next phase—expanding the reach of feminist literature, deepening its commitment to diverse voices, and strengthening its role as a platform for writers whose work challenges injustice and reimagines the possibilities of publishing.
“As Chair of the Feminist Press Board, I am honored to follow in the trailblazing footsteps of those who have insisted that women’s voices will not be dismissed, erased, footnoted, censored, or silenced,” said Dr. Norrell Edwards. “I first encountered the Press when I read All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave, the landmark anthology of Black feminist studies published in 1982. Feminism isn’t just some ‘ism’ applicable only within the academy; feminism is about lived realities. As a scholar, activist, and mother, I know firsthand the importance of feminist writing that speaks to everyday women fighting against oppression, gives voice to the unheard, and imagines new possibilities for the future. I am eager to continue that work. Especially now, we desperately need champions for voices and perspectives in danger of being silenced—and Feminist Press is that champion.”
Llewellyn brings more than three decades of international literary leadership to the role. She has directed major literary festivals around the world and worked with some of the most influential writers of our time, including numerous Nobel Prize laureates. She previously served as director of the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, founded and chaired by Salman Rushdie, where she championed freedom of expression, spotlighted literature in translation, and fostered dialogue among writers across cultures and borders.
“It is a privilege to join The Feminist Press at such a pivotal moment,” said Caro Llewellyn. “For five and a half decades, the Press has opened space for writers whose work reshapes how we understand power, identity, and possibility. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Edwards, the remarkable staff, and the Board of Directors to build new pathways for feminist writing. I’m excited to lead the team in championing bold voices, expanding global literary exchange, and ensuring that transformative stories continue to reach readers and spark conversation in the years ahead.”
Through its publishing program, partnerships, and public engagement, the Feminist Press continues to amplify urgent feminist voices and bring groundbreaking writing to readers worldwide, fostering dialogue across communities and generations.
About Dr. Norrell Edwards
Dr. Norrell Edwards is a scholar of Black diasporic literature whose work explores Black women’s writing, feminist theory, and cultural criticism. Her scholarship and teaching focus on the ways Black feminist thought shapes literature, history, and contemporary social movements. A longtime advocate for feminist publishing and literary scholarship, she brings to the role of Board Chair a deep commitment to supporting writers whose work challenges systems of oppression and expands the possibilities of feminist thought.
About Caro Llewellyn
Caro Llewellyn is an internationally recognized literary leader who has spent more than three decades directing major literary festivals and cultural programs across the United States, Europe, and Australia. She previously served as director of the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, founded by Salman Rushdie, where she championed freedom of expression, literature in translation, and global literary exchange. Throughout her career she has worked with many of the world’s most celebrated writers, including numerous Nobel Prize laureates, and is widely respected for building dynamic platforms that bring diverse voices and global perspectives to readers and audiences.
