Sony Ton-Aime

He/Him/His

Michael I. Rudell Director of Literary Arts

Education — Programming

About Sony

I am the Michael I. Rudell Director of the Literary Arts at Chautauqua Institution. As such, I am responsible for the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), the Writers’ Center, and the Poetry Makerspace. My position offers many perks, such as meeting and holding insightful conversations with the best writers in the country. But my favorite is the chance to go into the community and share the love of writing with people of all ages and walks of life.

Prior to my time here, I was the accounting supervisor at Citadelle Manufacturing S.A. in Haiti, a graduate fellow at the Wick Poetry Center, and the program coordinator at Lake Erie Ink.

Why did you choose to work at Chautauqua? What do you like about working at Chautauqua?

From my first visit to the Institution in 2018, I knew that I wanted to work with the staff, the patrons and the authors I met that summer. I like the close-knit and supporting environment here and our patrons care for the Institution mission.

Current and Former Volunteer or Board Roles

• Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc., member of the Board of Directors
• CavanKerry Press, Board Member
• Building a Haitian Creole/English course on Duolingo with some friends, volunteer
• Teach one or two classes every year for the Stop The Hate essay competition organized by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, volunteer

Personal Interests

Photography, hiking, reading, soccer, Formula 1