There have been a lot of firsts for Black leaders in high places this year, and former New York Times journalist Dana Canedy is joining the bunch making her own history in the publishing world.

Major publishing company Simon & Schuster has named the Pulitzer Prize-winning author as their new senior vice president and publisher, making her the first Black publisher at the imprint, Deadline reports.

“I am confident that as our new publisher, Dana can deepen our strengths while expanding our field of vision, combining broad editorial expertise with hands-on management skill and the proven ability to effect strategic change,” said Simon & Schuster president and CEO Jonathan Karp in a statement.

Canedy expressed her excitement for her new position stating:

“I look forward to leading the storied Simon & Schuster flagship imprint, a publishing powerhouse that has long produced some of the most important and impactful books in our culture. We have an incredible legacy on which to build, and it is an honor for me to join this talented group of editors and publishing professionals as it continues to tell the stories that demand to be told, through the voices of so many of the best authors of our time.”

Canedy is a seasoned reporter and editor in the industry who has accomplished many feats in her career.

During her time at The New York Times, Canedy wrote her best-selling 2008 memoir, “A Journal For Jordan,” that has been picked up for a screenplay adaptation set to begin production with Michael B. Jordan and director Denzel Washington this fall, according to Deadline.

Following her 20-year tenure at the esteemed publication, she went on to become the administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes in 2017, where she has campaigned for more diversity among “amazing” authors, TheGrio reports.

As the first Black person to hold this position at Simon & Schuster, Canedy is opening doors for other young journalists who aspire to achieve similar goals.

Dana Canedy

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