Karen M. Phillips serves as executive director and publisher at Words Without Borders, where she is focused on expanding access to international literature. Prior to joining WWB, Karen worked at the Americas Society, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and as a consultant to international cultural organizations including Germany’s UNESCO Commission. She holds an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and a BA from Smith College, where she studied Spanish literature. A lifelong student of languages, Karen speaks fluent Spanish and is conversant in French, Portuguese, and German.