2025 PEN/Faulkner Award Celebration
Thursday, May 15, 2025
6 PM arrivals, 7 PM ceremony, 8 PM dinner and dessert
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library
Cocktail Attire
An Event to Remember for Contemporary Fiction Lovers
Our 45th Annual PEN/Faulkner Award Celebration on May 15, 2025 will honor this year’s distinguished books and authors. This exquisite literary evening willl feature presentations by our judges; original readings by our winner and four finalists; and a celebration of Dr. Carla Hayden, our 2025 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.
HONOREES
PEN/Faulkner Award Finalists
PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion
Dr. Carla Hayden
SPECIAL GUESTS
2025 Judges
Bruce Holsinger
Deesha Philyaw
Luis Alberto Urrea
Master of Ceremonies
Ron Charles
Featured Speaker
Marie Arana
CELEBRATION CO-CHAIRS
Renée & Stephen Gardner
Laura & Jonathan Kravis
Sophia McCrocklin & William Isaacson
CELEBRATION TEAM
Anonymous
Anne Aaron
Elliot Ackerman & Lea Carpenter
Katherine Boone & Joshua Geltzer
The Honorable Ann Brown
Melinda & John Buntin
Jonathan Coopersmith & Lisa Halperin
DC Writers Room
East City Bookshop
The Garcia Family Spotlight Foundation
Renée & Stephen Gardner
Emily & David Glendinning
Mary & Robert Haft
Laura & Jonathan Kravis
Willee & Finlay Lewis
Sophia McCrocklin & William Isaacson
Tracy & Gregory McGillivary
John & Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Relegation Books
Joan H. Simmons
Emilie & Jacob Sommer
Deborah Tannen & Michael Macovski
Ericka Taylor
Jung Yun & Joel Anderson
This list is current as of February 24, 2025.
OUR 2025 PEN/FAULKNER LITERARY CHAMPION
Dr. Carla Hayden
Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress on September 14, 2016. Dr. Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library, was nominated to the position by President Barack Obama on February 24, 2016, and her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year on July 13.
Her vision for America’s national library, connecting all Americans to the Library of Congress, has redefined and modernized the Library’s mission: to engage, inspire and inform Congress and the American people with a universal and enduring source of knowledge and creativity.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Hayden held leadership positions at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Chicago Public Library, the University of Pittsburgh Library, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Chicago Public Library.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Ron Charles
Ron Charles writes about books and publishing for The Washington Post. For a dozen years, he enjoyed teaching American literature and critical theory in the Midwest. Before moving to the District, he edited the books section of the Christian Science Monitor in Boston. His wife is an English teacher and the cinematographer of their satirical series, “The Totally Hip Video Book Review.” His awards include the Louis Shores Award for reviewing from the American Library Association, the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing from the National Book Critics Circle, and First Place for Arts & Entertainment Commentary from the Society for Features Journalism in 2011. He was one of three jurors for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.
Your Support Matters
Your support makes our programs possible. Please consider a contribution. Thank you.
GIVE ONLINE
Make a secure, tax-deductible gift online
GIVE by Mail
PEN/Faulkner Foundation
6218 Georgia Avenue NW
Unit #1062
Washington, DC 20011
GIVE by phone
(202) 898-9063
GIVE by Text
Text
PENFAULKNER
to 44321