Tree Swenson has been named the new executive director of the Hugo House. Right now, Swenson is working as executive director of the Academy of American Poets in New York City, but she has a long history in the Northwest as a cofounder of Copper Canyon Press. The press release is after the jump.

I'll be interviewing Swenson about her goals for the Hugo House in coming weeks, but this seems to be an interesting choice. The last few executive directors and interim executive directors—most notably Sue Joerger—have been more focused on the money side of things, cleaning up the House's finances and ensuring the organization would exist into the future.

With her background, Swenson presumably will have more of a hand in the creative side of things, making her the first Hugo House ED since, really, Lyall Bush's tenure ended back in 2008, to have a vision for the kind of work the House produces. After four rocky years, the literary arts organization has to be hoping that this is more of a long-term appointment.

SEATTLE – Richard Hugo House, a Seattle-based nonprofit writing center, has named Tree Swenson as its new Executive Director.

Ms. Swenson brings to Hugo House a wealth of nonprofit literary arts leadership experience. Since 2002, she has served as the executive director of the American Academy of Poets in New York City, where she provided inspirational leadership, vision, strategy and management of the $1.8 million national organization. Before that, she served as the Director of Programs at the Massachusetts Cultural Council in Boston.

Ms. Swenson also has strong ties to the Northwest. She co-founded Copper Canyon Press in Port Townsend, the nationally recognized literary press devoted to poetry, and served as its executive director and publisher for 20 years.

She has served on several boards for literary organizations, volunteered on countless arts grants and fellowship panels and taught classes at universities and writing centers on both coasts.

“I am delighted to be coming back to the Northwest to lead Richard Hugo House for many reasons,” Ms. Swenson says. “The mission of Hugo House is stirring and its track record impressive; Seattle is one of the country’s most literary cities and home to remarkable writers; and the organization’s namesake, Richard Hugo, was a personal friend. I’m eager to do what I can to help make Seattle even more of what Hugo called a ‘triggering town’ – the source of the creative inspiration and a place that nourishes writers.”

Hugo House Board President John Burgess adds, “We’re so excited to have Tree move back to the Northwest and bring her commitment and passion for the literary arts to Hugo House. Over the next several years we’ll expand the depth and breadth of what Hugo House offers the community through the momentum of her leadership.”

Ms. Swenson will start at Hugo House in March and officially be welcomed at its annual fundraising event, Eat Read Hugo, on March 29. She replaces Barbara Green, who’s been serving as interim executive director at Hugo House since June.