Welcome and Congratulations to G.E. Patterson and Marianne Manzler
The Loft has an incredible year ahead! Not only are we living into our new mission and vision but we are gearing up to celebrate 50 years of service to our beautiful and diverse communities! In support of the work ahead, we have reorganized the Loft team around two key areas of impact: craft and community. We’ll share more about our exciting new direction and strategic goals in January 2024 when we launch the celebration of our 50th year (stay tuned!). Now, I am thrilled to announce two of the people who will steward the vital work of the Loft’s Craft Team!
Our commitment to advancing the power of writers is ambitious! This is why we’ve created a new position, the Senior Director of Craft. This role will oversee the organization’s craft offerings for writers including education, awards, and community services and will play a lead role in advancing antiracism and equity in the Loft’s programs, services, and organizational culture. We could not be more excited to welcome G.E. Patterson into this important leadership position. He brings a broad base of more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit, academic, and philanthropic organizations as well as deep roots in literary communities locally, regionally, and nationally. G.E. has held leadership and faculty positions at Metro State University, the Institute on Race and Poverty at the University of Minnesota, and at Frogtown Farm in St. Paul. G.E. has also worked as a practicing attorney, community advocate, independent editor and public artist. G.E. holds degrees in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and law from Stanford University. As a poet, G.E. has taught and published widely. His first collection of poetry, Tug, won a Minnesota Book Award and he has been the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships.
Next, the Loft is pleased to announce the promotion of Marianne Manzler to become the Loft’s Program Manager for Education. Marianne brings more than a decade of experience in education and nonprofit settings to her new role. Most recently, Marianne has served as the Director of Youth and Community Programs at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver and as Program Administrator and Interim Education Manager at The Loft Literary Center. Marianne holds an MFA in Creative Writing—Prose and undergraduate degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing. She has served as a U.S. Fulbright scholar, Americorps member, and Urban Leaders Policy Fellow. As a writer, Marianne has published widely including earning an honorable mention in Best American Essays 2022 edited by Alexander Chee. As the Loft’s new Program Manager for Education, Marianne will be responsible for developing and managing the Loft’s annual class offerings for adults and youth; serving as the primary liaison managing relationships with teaching artists; and collaborating across programs and events to advance the success of the Loft’s educational offerings. She will also play a key role in advancing antiracism and equity within the Loft’s educational offerings and learning environments.
Please join us in welcoming G.E. and Marianne into their new roles on the Loft team!