Meet the AWP Staff
Cynthia Sherman
Executive Director
Cynthia Sherman joined AWP in 2012 as the Associate Director of Conferences & Bookfair Manager. In 2019, as the Director of Conferences, she presided over the Portland AWP Conference, the most successful in the organization’s history. Cynthia has over twenty-five years of experience in meetings and exhibits management. She was awarded the Certified Meeting Professional designation from the Events Industry Council, which recognizes expertise in the meetings industry. She continues to bring her ability to listen, analyze, and lead—thoughtfully and enthusiastically—to her leadership of the organization. Cynthia looks forward to building a more welcoming and inclusive community.
Senior Staff
Annette Bousquet
Director of Finance & Operations
Annette Bousquet is a strategic and tactical financial leader with over twenty-five years of financial, accounting, and operational experience. She has driven the success of large and small enterprises, including for-profits, nonprofits, start-ups, and multimillion-dollar businesses. After a twelve-year career with Bank of America in San Francisco and London, she moved to India to build the microenterprise and microfinance capacity of a local poverty program. Upon her return to California, she became the financial leader for two international nonprofits and multiple social enterprise start-ups. Annette has a BS in international trade and an international MBA. She has a passion for traveling internationally, exploring trails near and far, sea kayaking, and being carried away by works of fiction and poetry.
Colleen Cable
Director of Conferences
Colleen Cable earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Maryland, where she worked as an events planner for the admissions office. She also worked as a program coordinator for Gettysburg College’s Center for Public Service and as a volunteer for the Maryland Writer’s Association. She writes fiction.
Miranda González
Director of Membership Services & Publications
Miranda González holds an MFA from the University of Texas at El Paso and has taught English in various capacities throughout the course of her career. She joined AWP in 2020 and now serves as the director of membership services, where she strives to connect both institutional and individual members with the resources they need to thrive. She enjoys meandering in the company of a good audio book and writes fiction in her free time.
Juanita Lester
Director of Communications & Technology
Juanita Lester earned an MA in publications design from the University of Baltimore and a nonprofit marketing and strategic communications certificate from Arizona State University. She joined AWP as their first director of social media and has over ten years in leadership experience. Juanita is now the director of the AWP communications department, managing a team that oversees all digital and social media communications, graphic design and branding, and year-round Virtual AWP programming. Juanita hopes to complete her own novel one day. She loves music, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Staff
Rachel Balzano
Communications Manager
Rachel Balzano is a Brooklyn-based writer who earned her BA in English and a minor in writing from Ithaca College. She has a background in copyediting and a lifelong love of reading. She’s passionate about connecting with people through literature, oat milk lattes, and the fact that Paddington 2 should’ve won an Oscar.
Claire Chambers
Marketing Project Coordinator
Claire Chambers earned her BS in English Composition from Towson University in 2019. She has a background in customer service, hospitality, and e-commerce industries. In her free time, Claire enjoys singing, making playlists, hiking, and attending vintage clothing expos.
Sara Elbayya
Graphic Production Designer
Sara Elbayya graduated from Marymount University with a bachelor's degree in graphic design. While studying at Marymount, she was fortunate to be given the opportunity to design large school publications such as the literary arts magazine and the school newspaper. Before coming to AWP, Sara interned as a graphic designer at the National Air and Space Museum and worked with a Palestinian jewelry boutique called Canava as their graphic designer and social media manager. When she is not designing, she can be found binge-watching Netflix dramas or traveling with her family.
James Tate Hill
Senior Publications Editor
James Tate Hill is an author, editor, and educator with graduate degrees in creative writing from Hollins University and UNC Greensboro. His memoir, Blind Man’s Bluff, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and his fiction debut, Academy Gothic, won the Nilsen Literary Prize for a First Novel. He has edited fiction, essays, reviews, and interviews for a number of literary magazines, most recently Monkeybicycle and Literary Hub, where as a contributing editor he wrote an audiobooks column. Born and raised in West Virginia, J.T. currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and loves it when you include alt text with your images.
Sharon Hennessy
Accounting Assistant
Sharon has a vast amount of experience with various kinds of bookkeeping such as cost, accrual, cash, and inventory accounting. With many distinct positions such as retail, property management, manufacturing, legal, and service industries. She has taken the H&R Block course and some real estate courses, along with some college accounting courses and is QuickBooks online certified. Her interests are in puzzle solving, travel, and good mysteries.
Kevin Hon
Web Project Coordinator
Kevin Hon completed his MSE in computer science at John Hopkins University. He has many years of experience as a software engineer focused primarily in the education industry. In his free time, he enjoys reading, jogging, and playing tennis.
Autumn Hutson
Member Services Coordinator
Autumn Hutson earned her BA in English with a creative writing concentration from George Mason University in 2020. She had a fiction piece published for the first time in 805 Lit + Art the following year and hopes to have more work out in the world soon. Autumn's interests include reading fiction, visiting art museums, and discovering new music.
Claire Johnson
Bookfair Manager
Claire Johnson is an Oregon-based literature enthusiast who earned her BA in English and a minor in business administration from the University of Oregon. During her studies, she was a member of the sports marketing club and managed her first spa. Her dedication to hospitality and helping others relocated her to Florida and then to Texas to work for the largest global hotel chain. Growing her expertise by working in multiple hotel departments (sales & events, accounting, front office, and spa), she developed her extensive knowledge of customer service. With her experience as a general manager and Leadership Engagement Award winner, Claire prides herself on supporting others and creating meaningful experiences for those around her.
Aubrey Kamppila
Conference Events Manager
Aubrey Kamppila earned her BA in English with a writing concentration and a studio art minor from Gettysburg College in 2018. Before joining AWP, she worked as an editorial intern for the Friedrich Agency, the Gettysburg Review, and the Studio Potter journal. In her free time, she paints, hikes, and writes poetry and creative nonfiction.
Abhishek Khadka
Senior Web Developer
Abhishek Khadka completed his bachelor’s degree with a major in computer science and a minor in mathematics from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Before joining AWP, he worked as a web developer for Wells Fargo and UBS. He is planning to get a master’s degree in data science and cybersecurity. In his free time, he loves to cook, travel, play guitar and drums, ski, hang out with friends, and play soccer.
Tynae Quince
Membership Assistant
Tynae Quince earned her BS in management and economics from Coppin State University. She has a background in finance and customer service. She is a major foodie that loves trying new foods and loves to help others. When she is not busy being a mom, she enjoys traveling and binge-watching her favorite shows on Hulu.
Sierra Shirk
Conference Assistant
Sierra Shirk earned her BA in English and minors in creative writing and editing in 2021. She has a background in communications, administration, and publication. She’s passionate about her large collection of houseplants, her '96 Ford Bronco, and learning new art forms—currently crochet and silversmithing. Sierra writes creative nonfiction.
Micaela Tore
Program Manager
Micaela Tore completed her MA in Literary & Textual Studies in 2019 at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She has a focus in poetry, but loves reading fiction and nonfiction as well. She is passionate about connecting with others through literature. In her free time, Micaela loves to cook, bake, knit, and visit local coffee shops.
