As the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) embarks on a search for a permanent executive director, the nonprofit writing organization has named Michelle Aielli interim director.
Aielli’s appointment follows the retirement of executive director Cynthia Sherman, who had been involved with running AWP since September 2019 when then executive director Chloe Schwenke was fired. Sherman has been part of AWP since 2012 and at the time of her appointment as interim managing co-director with Diane Zinna, had been director of conferences. Sherman was later named sole executive director.
Aielli is a book publishing veteran, spending the bulk of her career at Hachette Book Group. Most recently, she was VP and publishing director of the Hachette Books imprint at Hachette Book Group. (Hachette Books was dissolved in HBG's companywide reorg in July), where she comanaged the publishing process for the imprint’s annual list of over 80 frontlist titles. Previously, she served as the imprint’s associate publisher and executive director of publicity, as well as director of publicity for Little, Brown and Company, among other roles within HBG and other publishing houses.
Prior to being named interim director, Aielli had been an AWP board member since 2020. “I’m honored to be AWP’s interim executive director,” she said in a statement. “As a member of the board of directors, I had the privilege of working closely with AWP’s hardworking staff and board to uphold AWP’s mission in support of writers and the organizations that serve them. Observing she has dedicated her career to amplifying writers and their work, Aielli added that "I look forward to continuing that work at AWP, identifying opportunities and developing new initiatives for our community amidst an ever-evolving literary landscape.”
AWP chair January Gill O’Neil said she is confident Aielli’s background is just what the association needs while it conducts a national search for a permanent director. “Michelle’s leadership and dedication to elevating writers will ensure that AWP remains a vibrant and supportive community," Gill O’Neal said. “We are excited for this next chapter and all the possibilities it holds for our members and the literary world.”
