Lisa Lucas(born 1980) is an American publishing executive. From 2020 to 2024, she was senior vice president atKnopf Doubleday,and from 2016 to 2020 she was executive director of theNational Book Foundation.[2]
Lisa Lucas | |
|---|---|
 Lucas in 2018 | |
| Born | Lisa Lucas 1980 (age 43–44)[1] New York City,United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Executive director |
| Known for | National Book Foundation |
Early life
editLucas was born in New York City in 1980[1]and grew up inTeaneck, New JerseyandMontclair, New Jersey.[3][4][5]Lucas's father is musicianReggie Lucas,a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer.[6]
Lucas attended theUniversity of Chicago,where she studied English.[4]She graduated in 2001.[7]
Career
editLucas began her career as a 15-year-old intern atVibemagazine; at 17 she worked for radio stationKIIS-FM.[4]After college, Lucas worked for Chicago'sSteppenwolf Theater,then theTribeca Film Festival.[8]In 2012, Lucas became publisher of arts magazineGuernica.[9]
Reporting on Lucas's 2016 appointment to executive director of the National Book Foundation,[10]NBCsaid: "With Lucas at the forefront of the National Book Foundation and Awards, the future of publishing looks very bright."[11]The Los Angeles Timessaid Lucas "is clearly poised to bring the organization to a new level...ideally suited" to promote the foundation. She is the third director in the history of the foundation, "one of America’s key literary institutions,"[12]and the first woman and the first African-American to lead the organization.[13]As executive director, she has publicly discussed the importance of inclusivity in publishing and reaching young readers.[14]
In July 2020, Lucas was named byKnopf Doubledayas a senior vice president to serve as publisher of bothPantheon BooksandSchocken Books.[5]In her time in these roles, Lucas publishedNana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’sChain-Gang All Stars(aNational Book Awardfinalist), signedLeVar Burtonto a two-book deal, and was the first Black publisher for Pantheon, an 80-year-old imprint.[15]In May 2024, Lucas andReagan Arthurwere removed from their roles at the company as part of cost-cutting.[15][16]
References
edit- ^abBreen, Kerry (June 22, 2020)."Lisa Lucas discovered that her dad's famous song was about her".Today.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
June 22, 2020...Lucas, 40, who is the executive director of the National Book Foundation...her mother, Kay Lucas wrote (Thiswas written when you were being born. It's about you.)
- ^Cox, Ana Marie (September 7, 2016)."Lisa Lucas Wants to Make Reading Fun Again".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^"National Book Foundation's Lisa Lucas Will Always Enjoy a Good Book".New Jersey Monthly.November 1, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
- ^abcWabuke, Hope (February 27, 2016)."A Lifelong Lover of Books Breaks Ground Atop the Literary World".The Root.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^abItalie, Hillel viaAssociated Press."Lisa Lucas, head of National Book Foundation, to join Knopf"Archived2020-07-15 at theWayback Machine,Minneapolis Star,July 15, 2020. Accessed July 15, 2020. "The head of the organization which presents the National Book Awards is joining the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Lisa Lucas, executive director of the National Book Foundation since 2016, has been named senior vice president of the Knopf imprints Pantheon and Schocken Books.... A native of New York City who grew up in Teaneck and Montclair, New Jersey, Lucas has held a variety of positions in the book world, whether publishingGuernicamagazine or serving on the literary council of the Brooklyn Book Festival. "
- ^Kellogg, Carolyn (May 27, 2016)."Lisa Lucas, head of the National Book Foundation, wants you to love reading".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^"A more literary union".The University of Chicago Magazine.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
- ^Williams, John (February 10, 2016)."Lisa Lucas Named Executive Director of National Book Foundation".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Richardson, Cat (2014)."Lisa Lucas Looks to Guernica's Future | Poets and Writers".Poets & Writers.No. November/December.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Dwyer, Colin (February 10, 2016)."Lisa Lucas Takes The Reins At The National Book Foundation".NPR.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Brown, Lesley-Ann (September 12, 2016)."National Book Foundation's Lisa Lucas: Get to Know 'the Other NBA '".NBC News.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Sullivan, Greg (March 18, 2016)."National Book Foundation director: 'diversity isn't just about race'".The Guardian.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Kirch, Claire (March 9, 2016)."Four Questions for...New National Book Foundation head, Lisa Lucas".Publishers Weekly.RetrievedOctober 19,2016.
- ^Brady, Amy (January 24, 2017)."How Lisa Lucas Got Everyone Talking about the National Book Foundation Again".Chicago Review of Books.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
- ^abAlter, Alexandra; Harris, Elizabeth A. (May 20, 2024)."Penguin Random House Dismisses Two of Its Top Publishers".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedMay 22,2024.
- ^Alter, Alexandra; Elizabeth Harris (August 21, 2024)."'A Lot of Us Are Gone': How the Push to Diversify Publishing Fell Short ".The New York Times.