Cynthia López, an Emmy, Peabody and duPont-Columbia Award-winning media strategist, and former Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, will be the next executive director of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT). She will succeed Terry Lawler who concludes her remarkable 21-year tenure on January 1, 2019. Announcement was made by NYWIFT president Simone Pero and the organization’s 18-person board of directors.

In her new role as executive director, López will lead NYWIFT initiatives and oversee daily operations, alongside the organization’s board of directors, including advocacy, fundraising, programming, special events, membership, and outreach. The organization’s most recent signature initiatives will continue under López’s direction including NYWIFT’s From Script to Pre-Production Workshop, Women Filmmakers: Immigrant Stories, and The Writers Lab for women screenwriters over 40, funded by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Besides serving as the steward of New York City’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, Lopez was EVP and co-executive producer of the award-winning PBS documentary series, American Documentary | POV and was involved in the organization’s strategic growth and creative development for 14 years. López is a founding member of the board of directors of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). She served on the board of trustees for the Paley Center, NYC & Company, Museum of the Moving Image and the Tribeca Film Institute Latin America Fund Advisory Board. She currently serves on the board of directors for Latino Public Broadcasting, Manhattan Neighborhood Network and Hunter College IMA Program.

“Women have repeatedly earned their rightful place in our society, government, media, and the economy. The recent electoral victories in Congress are exceptional examples, where, for the first time ever, more than 100 Congresswomen will be sworn in come January 2019. This is an inspiration to women in all areas of the film and television industry who are standing up for gender equity, equal pay, and safer work environments. I am primed for the challenges that lay ahead of us, while also galvanized by the secured victories, and look forward to developing new initiatives in support of women working in media,” said López. “I am honored to serve as NYWIFT’s new Executive Director and am eager to work collaboratively with its membership, corporate partners, board and staff, WIFT chapters worldwide, and the guilds to meet the complex demands of the digital media industry.”

The final Muse Awards under current NYWIFT exec director Lawler’s direction is slated for December 13, 2018. Honorees for the upcoming 39th Muse Awards gala, honoring women of vision and achievement both in front of and behind the camera, will be announced soon.