The Nature of Words board of directors announced Thursday that Jamie Houghton has been appointed its interim executive director.
The board of directors of the Bend nonprofit literary education center and festival asked Robert McDowell to step down from his role as executive director, according to Stephen Archer, board president.
“It was mostly be- cause of inter-office management and fundraising issues more than his literary vision or his grasp of the mission for The Nature of Words," Archer said.
McDowell had joined NOW in May, replacing founder Ellen Waterston as executive director.
“The transition period between the founder and the future of an organization is always difficult," Archer said. “I would not say that we are in a crisis mode, but we are in a longer transition mode between (Waterston) and the future direction than anyone would like to see."
Houghton has been with the organization since 2008, including as creative writing instructor and program director.
“What this change in leadership is doing is invigorating the board to ... focus on how this particular nonprofit is going to function in the community," Archer said.
Contact: www.thenatureofwords .org or 541-647-2233.
