About Us

The mission of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures is to connect celebrated authors with the community, elevate civic discourse, and inspire creativity and a passion for the literary arts. Our commitment to knowledge, learning, integrity, and artistic excellence guides and informs our work. We endeavor to inspire members of diverse communities by providing opportunities to experience authors who speak on issues that reflect our values such as justice, compassion, civic responsibility, acceptance, courage, and equity.

Our Story

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures was launched with a lecture by Pittsburgh native Annie Dillard on September 16, 1991 at The Fulton (now The Byham) Theater in downtown Pittsburgh.

Over the years we have connected thousands of Pittsburghers with iconic authors including Kurt Vonnegut, George Plimpton, Margaret Atwood, Edward Albee, John Updike, Alice Walker, Tom Wolfe, Jamaica Kincaid, Arthur Miller, Amy Tan, August Wilson, Susan Sontag, Spalding Gray, and E.L. Doctorow, just to name a few! (See the list of previous speakers.)

We now present five signature series and partner with area schools and non-profit organizations to maximize the impact of visiting authors to our region.

Our Board

Our volunteer board members bring diverse skills and backgrounds (and their passion for reading) to the stewardship and oversight of a sustainable Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures.

OFFICERS

President

Laura Mullen

Lawyer

Vice President

Balaji Srinivasan

VP, Product and Research & Development, Gimmal

Treasurer

Lissette Silverio

Entity Accounting Leader
Dow Chemicals

Secretary

Robert M. Turner II, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Urology
University of Pittsburgh Physicians

DIRECTORS

Meredith Cohen

Author

Nicola Foote

Dean
University of Pittsburgh, Honors College

Kathryn Harrison

Counsel
Campbell & Levine, LLC

Virginia Jaramillo

Former VP of Transformation
Omada

Marya Sea Kaminski

Former Artistic Director
Pittsburgh Public Theater

Sydney Normill

Associate (Litigation and Antitrust)
Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney

Gail Pesyna

Retired
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Laurie Miller Stephens

Librarian and Bookseller

Adam Szymanski, CFA

Vice President
Guyasuta Investment Advisors

Kiya Tomlin

Entrepreneur and Designer, Owner
Kiya Tomlin

Tahirah Walker

Assistant Professor
Point Park University

Gabriel Welsch

Vice President of Marketing & Communications                                 Duqesne University

EX OFFICIO

Sony Ton-Aime

Executive Director
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures

Our Staff

Our talented staff members apply their passion, expertise, and enthusiasm to achieve the dynamic goals of the organization.

Sony Ton-Aime

Executive Director

Charles Legere

Development Manager

Christine Weber Rivera

Programs & Events Manager

Our Volunteers

Our dedicated volunteers offer much-needed support at our events, greeting our patrons, providing directional assistance, and working alongside staff at our Box Office.