Grace Hagen is the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association's new executive director, effective March 10.
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| Grace Hagen | |
Hagen became MIBA's operations manager in May 2024 and served as its interim executive director following the departure of former executive director Carrie Obry in late 2024. She is a professionally certified social justice educator, and prior to joining MIBA was director of operations and inclusion at the Novel Neighbor, St. Louis, Mo. She has also served as an operations and equity consultant, facilitator, and speaker.
The MIBA board wrote in a statement: "After a comprehensive search that produced a remarkably talented and enthusiastic group of candidates, we chose Grace not only for her commitment to our organization and its vision and mission, but also for her people-centered, genuine enthusiasm for the bookselling community.
"Her diverse skills, both technical and interpersonal, and her demonstrated ability to connect and collaborate, position her to equip our association with the tools and energy necessary to thrive in the dynamic future of bookselling."
"I am so grateful to the hiring committee, and to MIBA's board as a whole, for the diligent, thoughtful hiring process," commented Hagen. "I am excited to be in service to the work of bookselling from the first word put to page by writers all the way to the last word read by readers. I take the privilege and responsibility of stewarding MIBA's members, assets, and values seriously and joyfully, and look forward to being in partnership--being held accountable, being supported, being educated--by those who want to share in the work."
She can be reached at grace@midwestbooksellers.org.