Our Fall 2009 Staff:

Jo Ann Bamdas

Need help getting started with your reading and writing assignments? Then come see me. I love to brainstorm for ideas, plan, and organize. And if you want to develop your thinking, reading, and writing skills, I have experience teaching reading and strong reading practices. Reading and writing are processes. I can help you unravel the mystery. As a Ph.D. candidate in the Educational Leadership program, I work comfortably with graduate students, faculty, and staff on graduate level reading, writing, library database researching (especially concept papers, literature reviews, methodology, findings and conclusions), and with APA documentation. I look forward to working with you!

Debra Blizzard

I specialize in analyzing and writing about literature, dramatic literature, and poetry. I can also help you with grammar, ESOL problems with grammar, and APA style.

Cristine Busser

Struggling to put your ideas on paper? Not quite sure of how to begin? If you need help with brainstorming, organizing your thoughts, or simply breaking down an assignment in order to better formulate a thesis, I can help. I specialize in developing thesis statements and enjoy using proper grammar and punctuation in order to accentuate ideas and style. As a Secondary English Education major, I also have experience with lesson plans and thematic units.

Dustin Clark

Aside from common writing concerns, my specialties include dealing with creative narrative and editing for length. I can offer insights into writing for the media, writing with effective organization, and writing for unusual projects. I am very comfortable in conversations concerning work at any stage of the writing process.

Kimberly Copeland

Writing can be difficult at any or all parts of the process. Having trouble getting started, don’t know what you should include in a paper, or unsure how to move forward with a rough draft? I am happy to guide you through any stage of the writing process. I am also quite familiar with MLA citation and can provide assistance with fixing and avoiding common grammatical errors.

Mark Fedderman

I have a background in English and communication and, as such, I am well suited to help you through any phase of the writing process. My specialties include textual analysis of poetry, prose, and film. I am currently working on my thesis and completing my Master’s degree in communication with an emphasis on film and multimedia studies.

A.J. Ferguson

I am skilled at helping writers from a variety of disciplines at any stage of a project. My specific areas of interest are: persuasive essays, literary theory, and creative and business writing. I also have experience with assisting applicants with both letters of intent as well as personal summaries for either awards or fellowships.

Betty Feuerberg

I enjoy close reading. A thorough understanding of the text is imperative to the writing process. It is also important to organize ideas in a meaningful way when composing a paper; for example, effective openings and closings act as bookends to introduce and summarize main ideas in an essay.

Kristina Harper

If you're feeling overwhelmed by an assignment--no matter where you are in the writing process--I can help. I am happy to help you find a thesis statement that fits your goal and to help you organize your thoughts so that your writing becomes more effective. I welcome writers that would like help with APA, MLA, and Chicago style formats.

Avia Huisman

Need help with keeping your paper on track? Not sure what is on topic and what is just empty fluff? No problem. I will help you learn how to streamline your paper and verify that you have understood the requirements of the assignment. While I am comfortable helping students in any major, my background is in Psychology and Biology, so Science majors may find me especially helpful (particularly if you are using APA format for the first time).

Heather Murphrey

I can help elucidate seemingly abstruse poetry, and offer close-reading strategies so as to examine the language of the poem. I also have a talent for finding patterns in literature and can offer guidance in this highly creative realm.

Mark Owen

I am a PhD student in the Comparative Studies program and have subject expertise in economics, business, history, and art history. Sentence level writing has not come naturally to me, so I have developed strategies and techniques to improve my writing skills in that area. I believe that this makes me especially attuned to those who struggle with writing. My strengths include brainstorming for and outlining a coherent paper as well as planning, conducting, and organizing research.

Terrie Romano

I am happy to help you with any aspect of your writing. I specialize in philosophical writing and in balancing textual analysis with personal reflection. Writing for philosophy courses is challenging, yet rewarding. The initial stage of writing your paper may seem daunting. I can help you generate ideas through brainstorming and then help you to focus your ideas and produce a well-thought-out paper. You may have a paper that is in the final stages. I can help you to recognize parts of your argument that may need strengthening. Please make an appointment with me. I am looking forward to working with you.

Myrna Santos

I am an ESL/EFL/ESOL Specialist. I enjoy helping non-native speakers master the skills of the English language. I also specialize in grammar and sentence structure. I like to make learning grammar enjoyable and my approach is to present the parts of speech or the components of a sentence in the form of the pieces of a puzzle. Reading comprehension is my third specialty. The importance of reading proficiency, both in speed and understanding, cannot be overemphasized. Good reading comprehension is the key to success in all subjects.

Ashley Santy

Sometimes the most difficult part of the writing process is getting started. I am able to help students with building basic skills as writers, understanding confusing writing assignments, brainstorming useful ideas, and formulating thesis statements that aid in providing cohesion and focus to their entire papers.

Sara Sparer

Having trouble reaching page length requirements or understanding a difficult reading? Maybe you're just feeling "stuck" in your writing? If you are looking for help in any of these stages in your writing process, I'd be delighted to work with you. I can help you come up with new ideas, understand complex readings, and enhance the structure of your writing. I am also conversant in both APA and MLA formats and can assist you with in-text citations and bibliographies. I have been serving clients at the UCEW for two years and am currently completing my Master's degree in British literature.

Robert “Bobby” Wicks

I know how to pull the relevant information from a dense article, essay, or other reading and then organize it effectively for research papers. Knowing how to frame an argument and what points to hit allow a paper to really flow, and I believe I can also help with that process.

Niki Wilson

My particular writing strengths lie in the following areas: developing close-reading strategies to unpack difficult readings; generating and organizing ideas; developing and supporting a thesis statement; and utilizing good grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

Lauren Wood

I am comfortable working with students from all disciplines at any stage of the writing process. My specialties include assisting students with disabilities, simplifying an assignment, brainstorming for ideas, formulating and expanding upon a thesis statement, and organizing ideas into a cohesive and effective work. I am also familiar with APA and MLA styles.  If you need assistance with these areas or any other writing difficulty, feel free to make an appointment with me.