Nantucket Book Festival Names New Executive Director

The Nantucket Book Festival and Foundation has named Kaley Kokomoor as its new executive director.

Kokomoor has been working with NBF for the past several years under the guidance and leadership of the organization's current and outgoing executive director Maddie Hjulstrom, who is leaving to pursue other interests and opportunities.

Kokomoor has been a member of the NBF team since 2020 when she was hired as its special projects coordinator. The NBF has credited her with helping to manage the organization’s growth and adaptation as it responded to the pandemic.

"From coordinating the launch of our At Home With Authors series to executing on fundraising initiatives, Kaley has already helped usher in the future of NBF," the organization stated in its announcement.

Kokomoor previously worked as an elementary school teacher in Connecticut and Maine and, most recently, as the outreach and communication manager at the Nantucket Atheneum.

“The Nantucket Book Foundation and Festival is at a critical pivot point," said NBF President Mary Haft. "Having reached our 10^th anniversary, we are reaching for a new future, with greater outreach, both within our Festival goals, and critically, with growing our outreach and impact on our island’s children through our Foundation. While Maddie will leave huge shoes to fill, we know that Kaley is stepping into this position with fresh energy, goals and direction. Together, as Kaley has said, ‘the sky is the limit'."

The NBF also shared its "profound thanks" to Maddie Hjulstrom who began with the festival as its author liaison in 2014. She became the Nantucket Book Foundation’s Executive Director in 2016, following a long career with Barnes & Noble.

“Two things I love dearly are Nantucket and reading,” Hjulstrom said. “To be able to work with an organization that celebrates both has been the highlight of my career. I am humbled and amazed by the devotion of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors and sponsors, who have believed in us and our work for the past 10 years. Most of all, I am grateful for the deep friendships I have made with so many good people here on island. Kaley is one of those people, and I am beyond delighted to see her step into this role.”