Irene Muturi (left) and Chris Andrews check out some of the books for sale during the Decatur Book Festival . File Photo: Jonathan Phillips

Julie Wilson was recently named interim executive director of the Decatur Book Festival following the departure of longtime Executive Director Daren Wang.

She will officially take over on Jan. 1, 2018. She has been the Book Festival’s Program Director since 2015.

“I’ve spent the past three years working closely with the staff, volunteers and the board, helping produce a successful festival each year,” Wilson said in a press release. “I’m excited to pair that knowledge with my background in non-profit and agency marketing to lead the festival in 2018. I have experience in the overall management of the festival, including managing million-dollar budgets, compiling and presiding over critical committees, coordinating logistics, and managing ‘on-the-fly’ problem solving.”

Here is the full press release from the Decatur Book Festival:

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AJC Decatur Book Festival Welcomes Interim Executive Director

Program Director Julie Wilson Steps Into New Role

The AJC Decatur Book Festival (DBF) Board has named Julie Wilson as the AJC Decatur Book Festival Interim Executive Director for 2018. Wilson has served as Program Director since 2015, where she managed the selection of more than 300 authors annually and worked hand-in-hand with outgoing Executive Director Daren Wang. Wilson will begin her official duties January 1, 2018, but she is already working with Wang, the DBF staff and the DBF board to assure a smooth transition.

“We are thrilled that someone of Julie’s caliber and expertise is stepping into this role,” said DBF Board Chair James Diedrick. “She has been an exceptional Program Director, and we believe she has the capacity to build a professional organization and cohesive team primed to identify new partnerships and programs, while maintaining the commitment to providing a diverse, engaging lineup of authors.”

Wilson said she is eager to step into her new role and is prepared for responsibility and opportunities.

“I’ve spent the past three years working closely with the staff, volunteers and the board, helping produce a successful festival each year. I’m excited to pair that knowledge with my background in non-profit and agency marketing to lead the festival in 2018. I have experience in the overall management of the festival, including managing million-dollar budgets, compiling and presiding over critical committees, coordinating logistics, and managing ‘on-the-fly’ problem solving.

“Most importantly,” Wilson continued, “I’m passionate about the festival, Decatur, and learning new things. I’m curious by nature, so I hope to channel that innate desire to discover new things as a guiding notion to develop new ideas for the festival.”

Wilson has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been a consultant to non-profit organizations, a manager of Customer Experience and Integration at the American Cancer Society, and a Manager of Research and Knowledge Services at Ketchum Public Relations. She is a Decatur resident and has served in a number of volunteer roles within the community for organizations such as Westchester Elementary School, Decatur Education Foundation, Eastside Church, and Meals on Wheels.

Launched in 2006, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival (DBF) brings more than 300 nationally and internationally known authors, children’s and young adult writers and illustrators, and tens of thousands of readers together for a weekend of fun and discovery. Held every Labor Day weekend in Downtown Decatur, the DBF is the largest independent book festival in the country. The DBF hosts author events throughout the year and sponsors The Decatur Writers Studio. For more information, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com, “like” Decatur Book Festival on Facebook or follow @DBookFestival on Twitter.

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