Joel Fagliano

Joel Fagliano (born 1992 ) is an American puzzle creator. He is known for his work at The New York Times, where he writes the paper's Mini Crossword. From March 14 to December 29, 2024, Fagliano served as the interim editor of The New York Times Crossword while editor Will Shortz was on medical leave.

Early life and education Fagliano grew up in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a Jewish family with two brothers. He enjoyed puzzles as a child, began completing the New York Times crossword puzzle regularly during his freshman year of high school For college, he moved to Southern California to attend Pomona College, where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in linguistics and cognitive science.

Personal life Fagliano lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. His hobbies include playing chess and basketball, watching sports, and jogging.