Electric Literature Adds Nicole Cliffe to Board of Directors

Nicole Cliffe, writer and cofounder of The Toast, has joined the board of directors at Electric Literature. She will serve alongside Andy Hunter, the publication's founder and publisher of Catapult and Lit Hub, novelists Michael Cunningham and Lev Grossman, Bookforum publisher Danielle McConnell, HarperCollins v-p and executive editor Sara Nelson, and v-p and executive editor of Farrar, Straus and Giroux Sean McDonald. Cliffe, in addition to her role on the board, will contribute to the publication.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be joining the board of Electric Literature, an organization that cares as much as I do about bringing great writing to everyone," Cliffe said in a statement. "I’ve loved the voices that Electric Lit has been showcasing, many of whom I remember having my hair blown back by at The Toast (in a good way!), and I’m looking forward to getting to work!"

Cliffe's addition is part of a slew of new hires over the past few months, including Jess Zimmerman as editor-in-chief and Jennifer Baker as contributing editor covering craft, the publishing industry, and representation in literature. Michael Seidlinger was also promoted to social media editor for the company during this time.

The move is reflective of what executive director Halimah Marcus called the site's "new feminist perspective," and, as of this year, EL's top positions are all occupied by women.