The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) has appointed Michelle Aielli as executive director, effective July 1. Aielli had served as interim executive director since September 2024, when her predecessor Cynthia Sherman retired. Sherman had served in the role since 2019.
A book publishing veteran of over 25 years, Aielli previously served as VP and publishing director at Hachette Books; prior to that, she was publicity director at Little Brown and Co., also under Hachette Book Group. In addition to roles at Penguin Random House and HarperCollins, Aielli has spoken at several publishing courses, including the NYU Summer Institute and Harvard Business School, and managed publicity campaigns for Elin Hilderbrand, James Patterson, and Jonathan Safran Foer, among others, per a press release.
The AWP board of directors voted unanimously to approve Aielli’s appointment. “Michelle has shown outstanding leadership, skill, and commitment throughout her time as interim director and her service on the board of directors,” board chair January Gill O’Neil said in the announcement. “I’m excited for the new path forward under her guidance.”
AWP, a professional association for creative writers and writing programs, is best known for the AWP Conference and Bookfair, which is attended by thousands of writers and publishing professionals and hundreds of book fair exhibitors each year. Aielli said in a statement that she intends to hold down the fort in a “rapidly shifting cultural, political, and technological landscape,” adding: “I am dedicated to ensuring AWP remains a source of support and connection for writers, writing programs, and the broader literary community.”
