March 30th, 2026 — Pulitzer Prize–winning author Hernan Diaz (CRF 2025) has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors at MacDowell, the nation’s oldest artist residency program. A former MacDowell Fellow himself, Diaz brings both literary distinction and firsthand experience of residency life to the role, succeeding Nell Painter, who served as Chair from 2020 to 2025.
Best known for his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Trust (2022), Diaz is the author of four books translated into more than thirty languages. His acclaimed body of work also includes In the Distance, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and his forthcoming novel Ply, which he completed while in residence at Civitella, set for release in fall 2026. His writing—marked by structural sophistication and stylistic clarity—has appeared in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Paris Review.
Diaz’s connection to MacDowell runs deep. During his 2019 residency, he completed significant work on Trust, an experience that continues to inform his understanding of the residency’s impact. Reflecting on its legacy, Diaz describes MacDowell as a space where “a beautiful and uniquely communal form of solitude allows for art to come forth.”
As Board Chair, Diaz will help guide MacDowell’s mission to support artists across disciplines, drawing on his broad experience in academia, publishing, and arts leadership. His appointment underscores the continued importance of artist-led stewardship in shaping the future of residency programs—and the enduring value of time, space, and community for creative work.
Read the full announcement at www.macdowell.org.
Photos by Marco Giugliarelli for Civitella Ranieri.