Administrative Staff:
Dr. Carolyn Wisniewski, Director (she/her)
As an administrator, teacher, and scholar, I’m committed to the learning that takes place during the one-to-one teaching of writing. Before joining the Workshop as its Director in 2015, I worked in four university writing centers, an athletic tutoring center, and a non-profit community literacy center. I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in persuasive writing, public writing, writing research methods, composition theory and pedagogy, and writing center theory, research, and practice. My recent research focuses on two areas: (1) response to student writing and (2) modes of writing center tutorials. My work examining how language ideologies affect TAs’ and tutors’ values and practices for responding to student writing has appeared in publications like Research in the Teaching of English and Journal of Response to Writing. My co-authored research (with a team of writing center consultants) comparing face-to-face and synchronous online tutorials has appeared in The Writing Center Journal, and I have begun a follow-up study comparing experiences across in-person, live online, and asynchronous online tutorial modes (currently under review). Language(s): English
Kim S., Office Support Specialist (she/her)
I am here to welcome you to the Writers Workshop! I am available to answer questions, help schedule appointments, and direct you to resources to help you with your writing. If there’s something you want to know more about, I will find the answer!
I work for the Center for Writing Studies and the Writers Workshop providing marketing and management support as they help the entire campus with various writing-related needs. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management (with a minor in Entrepreneurship) from Eastern Illinois University, and an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Lake Land College. I’ve held previous positions in banking, retail, and even a haunted house (despite this, I still move through them as quickly as possible!).
I have little free time due to my many roles as mom, wife, home manager, and parishioner. When I do have time to relax, I find myself catching up on my ever-growing YouTube “Watch Later” list or pursuing creative outlets including writing, reading, graphic design, and organizing spaces in my home. Language(s): English
Megan Cole, Associate Director (she/her)
I have been teaching and working with student writers here at UIUC for 9 years, first as a PhD student in the Literature program and now as a Lecturer in the English Department. I especially enjoy helping writers discover their unique voice, experiment with different genres, and develop writing habits and values. My literature research focuses on gender and sexuality in eighteenth-century British literature, and I have also been a part of research projects studying composition courses and library instructional resources here at UIUC. When not talking about writing and reading, I enjoy watching sports, working jigsaw puzzles, and planning my next big travel adventure. Language(s): English
Antonio H., Assistant Director (he/him)
Marina T., Assistant Director (they/them)
I am a PhD and MSLIS student in Information Sciences with a background in English and Creative Writing. For my PhD, I research the advertising and marketing of American youth literature, and for my MSLIS, I focus on media literacy and research services for all ages. At the Writers Workshop, I support writers and consultants in finding their best practices for writing, research, and communication at Illinois. Languages: English, Brazilian Portuguese (heritage speaker)
Maddie N., Office Assistant (she/her)
Hi! I’m Maddie and I am pursuing a dual degree in Accounting and History. I’m looking forward to another great semester at the WW and interacting with our patrons! When I’m not at the WW or class, I love to go on walks around campus, binge-watch shows with friends, or re-read my favorite books. Language(s): English
Mariah C., Office Assistant (she/her)
Hi! My name is Mariah and I am a junior on the pre-law track. I’m majoring in History with minors in Legal Studies and Political Science. In my free time I love to read, watch new movies, and spend time in the sun! Language(s): English
Martha S., Office Assistant (she/her)
I’m a political science major with a minor in classics. I love reading, thrifting, and spending time at the beach! In the future, I hope to work in the public health sector as a policy analyst. Language(s): English
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Consultants:
Arianna G. (she/her) English & Advertising
I am a junior majoring in Advertising and English! This is my second year as an undergraduate consultant and I am passionate about helping students during every phase of the writing process. Whether you’re coming in with an ICT application, personal statement, or research paper, I look forward to working with you! Language: English
Ava W. (she/her) Masters of Accounting Science/Tax & Data Analytics
I have 2+ years of tutoring experience focused on personal statements (including ICT applications), job application materials, and business writing. I enjoy helping students throughout the personal statement process (brainstorming, outlining, drafting, etc.) and perfecting their resume/cover letter for job applications. No matter where you are in the writing process, I look forward to giving you guidance and confidence! Language(s): English
August H. (they/them) Anthropology/American Indian Studies
August is a PhD Candidate in Anthropology. Their ethnographic work examines multispecies communities at wild animal sanctuaries, and the ethics of captivity and interspecies care. August holds BAs in Philosophy and Sociology and a Graduate Minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies. Their writing practice is highly interdisciplinary, drawing from literary criticism, ethology, zoology and other natural sciences. Prior to graduate study, they worked in the labor movement and nonprofit world, which also gave them experience in technical and grant writing. August particularly enjoys consulting with, and learning from, writers with disabilities and neurodivergent writers. Language(s): English, Spanish (academic)
Bill S. (they/them) Social Psychology
I have three years of experience tutoring from my undergraduate, where I majored in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies and earned a minor in Creative Writing. I have taught Social Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, and Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. I specialize in research writing using APA style and also enjoy consulting on short fiction and personal statements for applications. I have also submitted a Master’s thesis in social psychology and reviewed for several psychology journals. Language(s): English, Spanish (conversational)
Casey R. (she/her) Civil & Environmental Engineering and Computer Science
I am a 4th year PhD Candidate in Civil & Environmental Engineering and a Masters student in Computer Science! Between my undergrad at Purdue University and grad school, I have worked on many engineering journal papers, conference papers, technical reports, class projects, research presentations, and research posters. I’ve also been a TA for several engineering courses and have experience with data analysis and visualization and preparing application materials, such as fellowship & personal statements, resumes, cv’s, and cover letters. STEM writing is my specialty, but I’m happy to help writers from all disciplines! Language(s): English
Daniel R. (he/him) History
I have over five years of experience as a teaching assistant in the history department, where I have overseen students of all academic levels in both small and large class sizes. In addition to being a teaching assistant, I have worked as a tutor for both high school and college ESL students, helping them navigate the challenges of academic writing. I also have experience writing grants in my capacity as a union organizer. Language(s): English, Spanish
Devin E. (he/him) Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Eda Y. (she/her) MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL)
I have three years of experience supporting international students in ESL writing, with my own research focusing on identity (re)construction and immigration. I enjoy working with students on essay structure, sentence clarity, and overall unity and coherence. I can also provide guidance on specific types of writing, such as argumentative essays, problem analysis essays, annotated bibliographies, compare/contrast essays, and rhetoric and argumentation. Language(s): English, Turkish
Ekangika M. (she/her) Neuroscience and Political Science
I am a junior majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Political Science. I have experience with research-based writing in the sciences and the humanities and enjoy engaging with diverse genres and disciplines. I’m eager to work with you at any stage of the writing process. Whether you’re drafting a personal statement, developing a research paper, or exploring a new idea, I am always happy to listen and look forward to helping you achieve your writing goals! Language(s): English
Emily M. (she/her) Communication
Emily is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication studying intimate relationships, health, and technology. Emily has taught CMN 111/112 and CMN 338, and she has experience with a wide variety of writing tasks, including structuring persuasive arguments, technical academic writing, and writing for a public audience. Journals that have published her work include New Media & Society, Health Communication, and the International Journal of Cultural Studies, and Emily frequently writes blog posts for Sex & Psychology. Although Emily is happy to assist with any writing need, she is best-equipped to help students in the social sciences and humanities. Language: English
Fin M. (they/them) English/Writing Studies
Fin is a Ph.D. student in Writing Studies, specializing in multimodal writing, digital communities, and game studies. At UIUC, they have taught Rhetoric classes (RHET 105, 101, and 102) and Writing Across Media (INFO/WRIT 303), as well as teaching for the Illinois Scholars Program. Their goal is to ensure that writers leave their appointments more confident and comfortable in their writing, ready to revise and improve their project for their specific goals and purposes. Language(s): English
Gabriella H. (they/them) English, MFA in Creative Writing
I am an MFA candidate in Creative Writing, specializing in fiction. I have previous experience supporting writers and researchers as a teacher of RHET 105 here at UIUC. My personal writing experience involves not only creative work, but also extensive work in multimodal forms (including social media), literary criticism, persuasive essays, anthropological research, healthcare communications, and other standard professional communications. I believe writing is a process, and I’m here to help you at any step along the way! Language(s): English, French (intermediate)
Graciela B. (she/her) History and Latina/o Studies with a minor in Spanish
My previous tutoring experience consists of being a peer tutor during my junior and senior years of high school. I also served as an editor for the Undergraduate History Journal at Illinois during my freshmen year! I have experience proofreading essays and applications for a variety of fields but have the most experience in the humanities. I have much practice analyzing and incorporating sources and writing argumentative papers. I enjoy brainstorming and helping others verbalize their ideas. Language(s): English, Spanish
Hannah C. (she/her) English/Literary Studies
I am a Ph.D. student in Literary Studies, and I am also pursuing an Asian American Studies minor. My research areas surround Asian American Literature and Poetry as well as Disability Studies. I have previous experience tutoring, teaching Rhetoric 105, and working as a teaching assistant for Intro to Asian American Studies. I am familiar with personal statements, resumes, and papers in the humanities. I can also help with revising creative works, such as poems and nonfiction pieces. As a tutor, I aim to help writers during any part of their writing process and to discover their writerly voice. Language(s): English
Hector I. (he/him) Major: Aerospace Engineering, Minor: Materials Science and Engineering
Hilary M. (she/her) Music
Hilary is a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology who specializes in writing about music and sound. She enjoys all stages of the research and writing process and has years of experience tutoring STEM students in writing in the humanities. As a tutor, teacher, and learner, Hilary is especially interested in understanding and utilizing diverse learning processes, especially for students with cognitive disabilities. Language(s): English, French, Tibetan
Kendra W. (she/her) Institute of Communications Research
Hi! I am a doctoral student pursuing a degree in Communications & Media. My research focuses on Black popular culture and media representation using ethnographic and qualitative methods. I approach my research from a humanities perspective. I have experience teaching Public Speaking, where we create oral essays. These skills translate over to written essays as well. I enjoy reading papers in the humanities and social sciences! Language(s): English
Kirsten J. (she/her) Library and Information Science
Hello! I am a second-year student in the Master of Library and Information Science program. I graduated from Illinois with my B.A. in English in the spring of 2024, and I have been tutoring at the Writers Workshop since the spring of 2023. I’m most familiar with social sciences and humanities writing, though I also love working with writers on personal statements and application essays of all kinds. I’m excited to help you become more confident in your writing skills! Language(s): English
Lydia O. (she/her) Dual degree in Speech and Hearing Science (AHS) and Spanish (LAS)
Hello! I am an undergraduate writer and researcher pursuing a dual degree in Speech and Hearing Science as well as Spanish. I have extensive experience tutoring English composition for both native and non-native writers. I’d be more than happy to assist with research, argumentative, and expository writing, from brainstorming to final drafts. I also enjoy working with application essays, resumes, and cover letters. I am open to writers from all disciplines and love working with ESL writers! Language(s): English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, a little Mandarin (but not much)
Lyric R. (she/her) Major: Journalism, Minors: Political Science and Studio Art
Hi, I’m Lyric! I’m a sophomore majoring in Journalism with minors in Political Science and Studio Art. In high school, I worked as a writing center tutor, supporting students with everything from personal statements to creative writing. As a consultant at the Writers Workshop, I have experience helping writers with ICT applications, class papers, presentations, and more. No matter where you are in your writing process, I’m eager to work with you to develop your ideas and bring them to life! Language(s): English
MacKenzie G. (she/her/ella) PhD Student – Comparative and World Literature
I have five years of experience working at two different Writing Centers (Wright State University and the University of Maryland) as well as several years in independent writing consultation, and I particularly love to work with non-native English speakers! As an undergraduate student, I earned a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language, and as a Master’s student I spent a semester upgrading my Center’s training materials on explaining grammar to students. I am fascinated by the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of grammar in written communication and love explaining these concepts to students (or anyone else who will listen). Language(s): English, Spanish
Macy H. (she/her) Psychology, Brain & Cognitive Neuroscience, Integrative Biology & Music
I have experience as an editor in many genres, but primarily in academic research and journalism. I currently work as the Editor-in-Chief for the Undergraduate Neuroscience Journal, which focuses on IB, MCB, Bioengineering, and Psychology research writing. I have written, edited, and presented research through lab positions at both the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience lab and the Dolezal Bee Research lab. I love to read and write all genres, and I’m eager to work within any discipline! Language(s): English, American Sign Language
Maris D. (she/her) Veterinary Medicine/Program in Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Biology
Omar H. (he/him) Sociocultural Anthropology with minor in LLS
Peizhen W. (she/her) English
I (she/her) am a Ph.D. student in English Literature focusing on Digital Humanities (Literature + Programming), Science Fiction/Fantasy, Fan Studies, etc.. I hold a B.A. in English Literature from Tsinghua University. I have tutored in academic writing for five years, and have taught 100 and 200 level courses in writing and literary studies at UIUC. My research fields are highly interdisciplinary, and I am happy to work with students from humanities, STEM, fine arts, and other areas. Language(s): English, Mandarin Chinese
Sarah O. (she/her) Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience
My name is Sarah and I am a fifth year PhD student in the Cognitive Neuroscience program! I have 4 years of experience working with students on their writing, including second language writing. I especially enjoy working on research proposals, application pieces (e.g., personal statements, CVs), and manuscripts. One of my strengths is helping students emphasize the most important points in their writing. I am excited to work with writers in any specialty! Language(s): English
Serena N. (she/her) English with minors in Political Science and Legal Studies
Hi! I’m a junior undergraduate student majoring in English with minors in political science and legal studies. This is my second semester as a consultant for the Writers Workshop. I have experience assisting with all parts of the writing process for course papers, application essays, and more. I especially enjoy assisting with brainstorming ideas. However, whether you’re outlining or making final edits, I look forward to helping you feel confident and supported throughout your writing journey! Language(s): English
Valerie R. (she/her) Curriculum and Instruction