The word SPEAKERS in bold yellow text is displayed against a black background with abstract book-like shapes.
  • A woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a white shirt and layered necklaces smiles slightly, seated indoors. The background features books and vintage decor with dim lighting.

    Ipek S. Burnett

    Ipek S. Burnett, PhD, is a Turkish-American author and scholar who offers a psychological lens on social, cultural, and political issues. She is the author of A…

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  • James Tager

    James Tager is the former Director of Research at PEN America. Tager previously led PEN America’s research and campaigning efforts on freedom of expression issues related to the…

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  • A man with curly dark hair wearing a gray blazer and black shirt stands outdoors, looking directly at the camera, with a blurred green background.

    Jason Stanley

    Jason Stanley is the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University. Before coming to Yale, he was Distinguished Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Rutgers University.…

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  • A man in glasses and a blue short-sleeve shirt sits at a table outdoors with a blurred city skyline in the background. The lighting is soft, suggesting a sunset or sunrise.

    Javier Fuentes

    Javier Fuentes is a Spanish American writer whose debut novel won the 2024 PEN/Hemingway award. A 2018 Lambda Literary Fellow, Javier earned an MFA in Fiction from…

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  • A man with short gray hair and glasses is wearing a black polo shirt. He is standing in front of a bookshelf filled with various books and decorative items, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

    Jeff VanderMeer

    Jeff VanderMeer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Southern Reach series, including 2024’s Absolution. His other novels include Hummingbird Salamander; the Borne novels (Borne,…

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  • Woman in a black blouse stands outdoors with arms crossed. Behind her, a lush green landscape with autumn trees and a house in the distance. She gazes thoughtfully into the distance.

    Jennifer Egan

    Jennifer Egan is the author of several novels and a short story collection. Her 2017 novel, Manhattan Beach, a New York Times bestseller, was awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal…

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  • A woman with long blonde hair stands in front of a stone wall and a window. She is wearing a sleeveless green patterned top and is looking at the camera with a neutral expression. The background is slightly blurred.

    Jennifer Finney Boylan

    Jennifer Finney Boylan is the author of nineteen books, including Mad Honey, coauthored with Jodi Picoult. Her memoir, She’s Not There, was the first bestselling work by a transgender American.…

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  • A confident woman with long brown hair stands indoors, leaning against a surface. She is wearing a cream-colored button-up shirt and a green skirt. The background is dimly lit, suggesting an office or professional setting.

    Jenny Niven

    Jenny Niven joined the Edinburgh International Book Festival in September 2023. Prior to this, she was founder and Director of the award-winning Push the Boat Out, a festival…

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  • A person with curly red hair sits on a brown leather chair, wearing a purple blouse and black pants. There’s a lit fireplace in the background, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

    Jodi Picoult

    Jodi Picoult is the #1 bestselling author of many novels including My Sister’s Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, The Storyteller, Leaving Time, Small Great Things, A Spark of Light,…

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  • A bald man with a trimmed beard, wearing blue-rimmed glasses, a blue blazer, and a light-colored shirt, smiling slightly in front of a plain light background.

    Jonathan Friedman

    Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D., is the Sy Syms managing director of U.S. free expression programs at PEN America. He oversees research, advocacy, and education related to academic freedom,…

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  • An older woman with wavy hair wears large brown sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. She dons a light blue floral blouse, multiple silver rings, and dangling earrings, standing against a light background.

    Joyce Carol Oates

    Joyce Carol Oates is the author of many works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. She is the editor of New Jersey Noir, Prison Noir, A Darker Shade…

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  • A woman with short curly hair sits at a table, resting her arm on it. She wears a t-shirt, fishnet gloves, chunky jewelry, and earrings. She is looking confidently at the camera against a plain background.

    Joyelle Nicole Johnson

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  • Julie Trébault

    Julie Trébault is the Executive Director of Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) – an independent organization that defends and advances the right to artistic freedom, providing practical…

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  • A person is painting a colorful mural featuring an outstretched arm and birds. They hold a paintbrush in one hand and a paint cup in the other. The mural includes vibrant colors like blue, green, and red.

    Kabir Mokamel

    Kabir Mokamel is a visionary artist recognized internationally for his bold approach to visual storytelling. As the Co-Founder and Creative Director of ArtLords, Kabir has spent over thirty years…

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  • An older person with blond hair smiles, wearing a brown hat, round pink and yellow glasses, a red tie, white shirt, black vest, and showing a tattooed arm. Stairs are visible in the background.

    Kate Bornstein

    Kate Bornstein is an author, playwright, performance artist, and actress. Kate is a trans icon whose pioneering books on the subject of nonbinary gender, Gender Outlaw and…

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  • Woman with curly hair, wearing a black blouse with leopard print sleeves, stands against a plain gray background with hands in pockets, smiling gently.

    Lara Aburamadan

    Lara Aburamadan is a Palestinian visual artist, journalist and founder of Refugee Eye. Born and raised in Gaza City, now based in the San Francisco Bay Area,…

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