Pamela Newkirk, a journalist and author of the book “Diversity Inc.: The Failed Promise of Billion-Dollar Business,” has joined the board of directors of the Shubert Organization.
Newkirk, a scholar whose work examines contemporary and historical depictions of African American in popular culture, is part of the journalism faculty at New York University. She will fill the board seat left open by Philip J. Smith, who retired in June, and will also serve on the board of the Shubert Foundation.
Newkirk joins the board effective immediately.
“We are delighted to have Pamela join our board and look forward to her active participation,” said Robert E. Wankel, chairman and chief executive of the Shubert Organization. “She brings significant expertise to Shubert, and her insights in matters relating to diversity will be invaluable to us, especially as we strive to achieve a more inclusive and diverse culture at our company and in the industry.”
Wankel leads the board, which currently consists of Wyche Fowler, Jr,, Diana Phillips, Richard J. Poccia, Lee J. Seidler and Stuart Subotnick.
Before joining the NYU faculty, Newkirk worked as a daily news reporter at publications and was part of a Pulitzer-prize winning team at New York Newsday. Her previous books include “Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga,” and “Within the Veil: Black Journalists, White Media.”
She holds journalism degrees from Columbia University and New York University, and a doctorate from Columbia University.
