Alexis Wilkinson facts for kids

Alexis Wilkinson (born in 1992) is an American writer and comedian. She became well-known for her writing. She was the first African American woman to be elected president of The Harvard Lampoon. This is a famous humor magazine at Harvard University.

Alexis Wilkinson has also worked as a writer for popular TV shows. These include Veep and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She also writes for The New Yorker magazine.

Early Life and School

Alexis Wilkinson grew up in Wheaton, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She went to Nicolet High School. When she was younger, she enjoyed writing for fun. In high school, she even wrote a funny newsletter with her friends. But she didn't think of writing as a serious job back then.

She later went to Harvard University. She studied economics there. Her dream was to write for television. During her first year, she joined the writing team of The Harvard Lampoon. When she was a junior, she was chosen to be the president of the magazine. This was a big moment because she was the first African American woman to hold that position.

Her Career

Right before she graduated, Alexis Wilkinson sent copies of The Harvard Lampoon to Harvard alumni. She was looking for job opportunities. One person who received it was David Mandel. He was the showrunner for the TV show Veep. He hired Wilkinson to join the writing team. She was the only person of color in the writers' room at that time.

In 2016, Wilkinson left Veep. She then joined the writing team for the TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Later, she decided to stop writing for TV shows. She wanted to focus on writing her first book. She also helps companies with their advertising campaigns.

Alexis Wilkinson has written for many well-known publications. These include Time, Vulture, The New Yorker, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle.

In November 2019, it was announced that Wilkinson wrote an audiobook. It is called The Co-Founder. This story is about two women who start a business. They hire a man to help them sell their product to investors in Silicon Valley. This audiobook is also being made into a movie.

Awards and Nominations

Alexis Wilkinson has been recognized for her writing work.

• 2017 – She was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award. This was for her work on Veep.
• 2017 – She was also nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety Special. This was for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards.
• 2018 – She won a Writers Guild of America Award for her work on Veep.