The Trustees of Columbia University have approved Keith Gessen’s promotion to George T. Delacorte Associate Professor of Magazine Journalism with tenure, effective July 1, 2026. Gessen joined the faculty in 2016 following a national search and has since established himself as a leading voice in long-form journalism and geopolitical reporting.
“Keith Gessen is an outstanding journalist and an able chronicler of the most consequential stories in world affairs,” said Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism. “We're delighted to have him as a permanent member of our faculty.”
Tenure is a distinction that recognizes scholarly excellence, demonstrated capacity for imaginative, original work and great promise for continued contributions at the leading edge of the disciplines.
“I'm very happy to be able to continue working with some of the brightest and most motivated journalism students, and faculty, in the world,” said Gessen.
A contributing writer for The New Yorker, Gessen has reported on Russia for nearly three decades and is widely recognized for his coverage of Russia and Ukraine, including on-the-ground reporting during the war and more than a dozen deeply reported pieces examining its global implications. His work is regarded as among the most influential journalism on the conflict.
At Columbia, he also serves as Director of the George T. Delacorte Center for Magazine Journalism. Prior to joining the faculty, he was a founding editor of n+1, an influential literary magazine where he continues to serve on the board.
Gessen is the author of the novels All the Sad Young Literary Men and A Terrible Country, as well as the essay collection Raising Raffi. His work spans fiction, journalism and translation, including translations of Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich’s Voices from Chernobyl, reflecting a sustained engagement with Russian literature, politics and public life.
As an educator, Gessen is known for his commitment to students and for bringing professional practice into the classroom. He teaches core reporting and narrative writing courses and developed the seminar “Trumplandia,” which examines the cultural and political forces shaping contemporary life. He also leads the Delacorte Lectures, convening journalists and editors for conversations about the future of the field.
