Kasey Meehan

Program Director, Freedom to Read

Kasey Meehan is the Freedom to Read Program Director at PEN America, leading our initiatives to protect the right of students to freely access literature in schools. Previously, Kasey served as the Associate Director of Postsecondary Policy at a mission-driven education research organization in Philadelphia, Research for Action. Kasey’s research centers students, educators, and school leaders’ experiences in identifying strategies for reform and capturing emerging best practices and strives to connect research to policy and program change. Kasey holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a MPA from the Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Politics.

Publications

Utah lawmakers ban 13 books statewide. Could more states do the same?
NPR, September 2024

Don’t Say Rape: How the Book Banning Movement Is Censoring Sexual Violence
Ms. Magazine, March 2024

A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas school, under the nose of censors
NPR, February 2024


Articles by Kasey Meehan

Banned BooksU.S. Free Expression
Monday September 23

Memo on School Book Bans from PEN America

The final count for the 2023-2024 school year will be released later this fall along with a public Index of School Book Bans.

Friday December 1

Yes, Florida Bans Books: Why Can’t Gov. Ron DeSantis Read His Own List?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed that book bans in his state were a “false narrative.” Don’t take our word for it that Florida bans books – take DeSantis’.

Sunday November 5

More Than 300 Titles, Including Numerous Literary Classics, Banned In Collier County, Florida

Collier County Public Schools in Florida is making news for removing over 300 books from its school libraries from all grade levels.