Writers & Books Names New Executive Director Michael Solis to Succeed Alison Meyers on September 29, 2025.

Rochester, NY—Writers & Books, Monroe County’s premier home for the literary arts, has

hired Michael Solis of Brooklyn, NY, to succeed Alison Meyers, who will step down from

her role as Executive Director on September 29, 2025. Michael brings to the organization

nearly 20 years of global experience in human rights, humanitarian response, and social

impact. With 12 years in senior leadership roles, he has worked across grassroots

organizations, international NGOs, and the United Nations system to champion equitable,

locally led solutions. Most recently, he served as an expert advisor to the UN’s International

Organization for Migration (IOM), advancing the global localization agenda. Michael is a

Princeton graduate, Henry Luce Scholar, and George Mitchell Scholar, who holds masters

degrees in International Human Rights Law and Gender & Development Studies. A member

of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, the International Society of Latino

Authors, and the Publishing Triangle, he is the award-winning author of Deficient (2023), a

queer young adult sci-fi novel exploring identity, difference, and resistance. His writing has

appeared in The Atlantic, HuffPost, and Oxford University Press; and he has taught creative

writing workshops to youth in Honduras, Kenya, Ireland, Nepal, and the United States. Learn

more at https://michaelsolisauthor.com.

Michael Solis’s appointment reflects Writers & Books’ commitment to continuity, inclusion,

and growth. Board President Christine Eichelberger says, “We look forward to welcoming

Michael to Rochester, confident that he possesses the requisite experience, knowledge, and

passion for our mission to navigate Writers & Books’ next chapter at a time when

opportunities and challenges abound in a rapidly changing world. His impressive skills will

build on over six productive years with Alison at the helm. During her tenure, which included

shepherding the organization through the impacts of COVID, we saw significant growth in

audience engagement, community partnerships, support from area foundations, and staff

professionalization. Two significant brick-and-mortar projects she stewarded include the

launch of our indie bookstore Ampersand Books in 2020 and a six figure upgrade to our Gell

Retreat campus in Naples, completed in 2024. We are deeply grateful for her exceptional

leadership.”

Alison Meyers writes, “I’m very pleased to hand the baton to Michael Solis, knowing that he

will inherit a high-achieving board of directors and staff. His energy, intelligence, and fresh

perspectives are certain to advance Writers & Books as a greater Rochester resource and

consequential player in the literary landscape.”

“I’m thrilled to serve as the new Executive Director and to join the vibrant Rochester

community,” says Michael Solis. “Writers & Books brings together so many of the things I

care about—literature, creativity, people, and social impact. As a writer, I know the power of

stories to connect, heal, and transform. And as someone who has spent nearly two decades

in humanitarian and development work, I understand the importance of celebrating diverse

voices and lived experiences. I’m excited to collaborate with the talented team and

dedicated board to honor Writers & Books’ legacy, while ushering in a bold, inclusive, and

innovative new chapter.”

Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, promotes reading and writing as

lifelong activities for people of all ages and backgrounds to enrich their lives and the

intellectual, social, and cultural vibrancy of their communities. The organization engages

youth and adults with the literary arts through writing workshops, readings, presentations,

and intersectional activities. Writers & Books owns and operates Ampersand Books, an

in-house independent bookstore, and Gell: A Finger Lakes Creative Retreat, sited on 24 acres

in Naples, NY. To learn more, visit www.wab.org.