Lilly González has been named Deputy Executive Director of the San Antonio Book Festival, effective January 1, 2018. The Festival’s first full-time employee, Lilly held the role of Communications Director for two years. The promotion marks an important transition for SABF as Festival leadership considers a succession plan for the long-term future.
“Lilly has performed at a very high level,” said SABF Governing Board Chair Cathy Green. “Her increased responsibilities reflect past performance and significant contributions to the SABF in the future”.
In her new role, Lilly will continue to oversee SABF communications and publicity but will assist Executive Director Katy Flato with fundraising and will represent SABF with strategic partners and in the community.
“Lilly’s essential role at the Book Festival became evident the day she joined the team,” said Katy. “Her natural leadership skills, her organizational zeal, her deep and personal understanding of the importance of reading and the need for a vibrant culture of literacy in San Antonio serve her well as she steps into this new position. We are excited for her and for the future of the Book Festival.”
Originally from the Rio Grande Valley, Lilly spent 14 years living in Chicago, with a brief two-year stint working with detainees in immigration jails along the border. Prior to moving to San Antonio, she worked in public affairs at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She earned both her MFA in creative writing and BS in journalism from Northwestern University. She was recently selected as a San Antonio Fellow of the New Leaders Council, a national organization with 48 chapters across the country dedicated to educating a new generation of leaders and to providing those leaders with the tools they need to succeed.
“My passion for our San Antonio Book Festival has grown every year,” said Lilly. “I was that child who needed a book festival in my life. And now as an adult, I’m that nerd who lives and breathes books. I see the impact we have both on avid readers and kids who need to become readers and it truly inspires me. I’m excited to continue to further the Festival’s mission and promote a love of reading in San Antonio.”
We encourage you to learn more about Lilly by watching her recent Pecha Kucha talk. You can email her at lilly.gonzalez@saplf.org.
