The Associated Press reports that Francine Prose, most recently the author of A Changed Man and Reading Like a Writer, is expected to be named the new president of PEN American Center.

"Even though many people and most writers know about PEN, I think there's only a vague idea of what PEN actually does," she said to the AP in a recent interview, "PEN saves lives. I can't think of anything more important." With programs like "Freedom to Write," which supports writers who face persecution, PEN American Center works to advance literature, defend free expression, and foster international literary fellowship.

Prose is a former faculty member of the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Read: Francine Prose to Head PEN

Related:
Francine Prose Reads Reading Like a Writer on "Live from Prairie Lights"
Francine Prose Reads A Changed Man on "Live from Prairie Lights"