The Decatur Book Festival released this announcement this afternoon…

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF) has named Julie Wilson as program director. Previously, Wilson served as assistant program director for AJC DBF and becomes the fourth person to have served in that role.

A North Carolina native, Wilson discovered her love of books from her mother, who was an elementary school librarian. Wilson succeeds Philip Rafshoon as program director. Tom Bell was the inaugural program director of the book festival and is an AJC DBF co-founder. Terra Elan McVoy also served as program director.

“Working with Julie over the past year, I’ve been floored by both her professional skills and by the great work she did with authors and publicists,” AJC DBF Executive Director and Co-founder Daren Wang said. “She learned the ropes under Philip and I can’t think of anyone better suited to build on his legacy. Programming the festival requires a person with a blend of practical knowledge and an innate curiosity and I can’t imagine anyone better suited than Julie.”

Wilson had come to the AJC DBF from the American Cancer Society, where she spent nearly seven years managing customer feedback and process improvement, measuring and evaluating customer experiences and developing marketing communications programs.

 Previously, she spent the bulk of her career at Ketchum, a leading international communications agency, managing myriad client and internal projects, from managing earned media evaluations and other measurement projects to media relations campaigns for start-up and established companies. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who majored in journalism with a concentration in advertising.

When she’s not reading a “Captain Underpants” or “Lunch Lady” book with her son, she’s reading a handful of books she’s learned about through the AJC DBF.

“I’m ecstatic about this opportunity to serve as program director for such a successful, well-regarded event,” Wilson said. “I have some pretty big shoes to fill following Philip. I gained incredible experience in 2015 working with the AJC DBF team, learning from the very best in the business. Securing an eclectic mix of dynamic authors who appeal to a diverse audience is as much art as it is science. I look forward to building upon my experience to continue evolving our program offerings and strengthening our ties with authors and publishers locally and nationally.”

Wang wished Rafshoon, who had been in his role since December 2012, well and referenced his own Keynote speech from the 2015 AJC DBF in which he cited the festival’s spirit of continual reinvention.

“I would like to thank Philip for his years’ of service,” Wang said. “His contributions have helped to make the Decatur Book Festival what it is – not only the largest independent book festival in the country in terms of its size but, in our minds, the best in quality, as well. We wish him well in his future endeavors. Aside from Philip, another of the reasons for the festival’s success is our continual evolution.

“In my opening comments during this year’s keynote event, I said that even as we celebrate the 10-year mark, the DBF must reinvent and renew itself each year. That has always been the case and it is the case as we plan Year 11. In the coming months, we’ll announce some fantastic new partnerships and a new year-round initiative that will help elevate the book festival to even greater new heights.”

Rafshoon said he feels confident that the festival is in “great hands.”

“I have had a fantastic three years as program director of the AJC Decatur Book Festival,” he said. “I have greatly enjoyed helping the festival grow while increasing the quality, variety and diversity of the hundreds of curated author programs. I am now leaving the festival to pursue new opportunities in event planning, promotion, sales and development.

“I am forever grateful to Daren Wang and the board for the terrific opportunity to work with such a special community. It has been a wonderful experience to collaborate with all of my talented and enthusiastic colleagues as well as our committee members, volunteers, industry professionals and writers. I leave confident that the festival is in great hands of leaders who will continue the progress that we have accomplished.”