Ali Hunter '10
As a senior political science major, I have extensive experience with papers and proposals on international relations and government. I have also had the pleasure of writing papers that have to address extremely broad topics in a short, concise response, so I know how to cut down ideas and reorganize arguments to verbalize thoughts in a shorter space. I especially like CORE and comparative papers but also find it extremely interesting to work with other kinds as well, especially if I am not familiar with the topic or concept. Hope to see you soon!
Conor Tucker '10
I am an enthusiastic writer and debater interested in the social sciences. I enjoy rhetorical studies and love to engage students in discussion of their writing topics. Holding firmly to the maxim that all writing is argument, I encourage students of all disciplines to engage themselves in constant discussion with their readers. I emphasize content, form, and persuasiveness over grammar and strict conventions of style, remembering the Churchill quote: "Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put."
Courtney Walsh '10
As a senior psychology major, I have had much experience writing at the college level as well as in the natural sciences. I especially enjoy creative writing and literary analyses. I really like helping people in any stage of the writing process; I particularly enjoy, however, helping people with structure, clarity, and crafting strong topic sentences. By the way, I have an addiction to semicolons. Besides working at the Writing Center, I am involved in various social justice/volunteer organizations on campus and in the Newman Community. I would love to continue my passion for writing post-graduation in some capacity. I am planning to teach English abroad and then go to law school to pursue public interest law.
Grace Baik '10
I am a senior majoring in neuroscience and minoring in economics. I hope one day to go to medical school (knock on wood). Until then, I’ll keep writing lab reports, scientific papers, budget proposals, what-have-you. I’m best at helping with structure and flow; my goal is to have every paper that I go through (with you) have a coherent thesis and logical argument sequence. I am also analytical with thesis statements in general: Are they good? Do they make sense? Are they too obvious? I hope to see you soon! [Abroad fall 2009]
John Paul Ortiz '10
Looking back at my Colgate experience, I believe that knowing how to write is a skill that has played a central role in my ability to communicate effectively with others, shaping the manner in which I form proper and logical arguments. As a Spanish major and philosophy minor, I am familiar with a broad scope of academic topics; I feel comfortable working with students on papers in virtually any subject area (my favorite punctuation is the semicolon). I will be applying to law schools for the fall 2010 semester and ultimately I hope to work in the public service and international sectors.
Kate Gundersen '10
I am a senior double majoring in French and sociology. On the road to that random combination, though, I've taken all kinds of classes, so I have experience with all kinds of papers! I especially like to help clients "get to the bottom" of what they're really trying to say in a paper. Finding that main idea (your thesis!) always helps to improve the structure and clarity of your writing, and ensures that your unique voice and ideas shine through. The Writing Center is such an amazing Colgate resource and I absolutely love working here, so come check us out!
Katherine DeVries '10
As a senior English major with a concentration in creative writing, I have experience writing analytical and comparative papers as well as fiction and nonfiction creative essays. My strengths include improving organization, cohesiveness/flow, and thesis construction. Besides working in the Writing Center, I work in the admission office, write for the newspaper, and lose at IM softball.
Kathleen Cooney '10
I enjoy working in the writing center because I always find the sessions interesting and engaging. As a senior psychology major and religion minor, I love working with people and listening to their unique thoughts, ideas, and concerns. My goal for each session is to help you to feel confident about your work. We will read and discuss your paper together until we both think it makes good sense.
Maria Kryachko '10
I’m a senior majoring in biology and minoring in environmental studies. I enjoy analytical writing across disciplines. Although I study mostly natural sciences, I can help with assignments in humanities and social sciences as well. In any case I will do my best to help you with your papers and realize how exciting writing can be. I also love the outdoors, books, and music.
Max Counter '10
I am a senior majoring in Spanish and religion, but my interests also include peace and conflict studies, philosophy, and anthropology/sociology, to name a few. I know what it's like to stress over writing a paper. I also know how helpful it is to talk to someone about brainstorming ideas, content development, and organization -- all of which are writing aspects I'm eager to address with other students.
Samantha Horn '10
I am a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in educational studies. Although I like working with students at any stage in the writing process, I especially enjoy working with a student at the beginning stages of a paper and then helping with the more developed product in a subsequent session. My goal is to ensure that each person leaves with a coherent argument and logical flow. If you're overwhelmed by college writing, I'll set you up with some tea or hot chocolate, and we'll work on your concerns together. Hope to see you soon!
Andrew Atkinson '11
I am an international relations major and a Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies minor, but I have experience writing about a wide variety of subjects. In focusing on analytical writing, I like to concentrate on honing a strong thesis and ensuring that every piece of an essay furthers that argument. I also emphasize clear and simple language. Most importantly, I enjoy working with writers to discover their own unique and engaging style.
Emily Steiger '11
I'm a junior English major and I'll probably add an international relations minor at a later date. I love everything about the English language so my favorite papers both to write and to help others write are literary and poetic analysis, though I'm more than happy to help with anything. I love absurdly long sentences, obscure words, and the gratuitous use of semi-colons; outside of the Writing Center, I'm a proud member of Model UN and Delta Delta Delta. Someday I hope to own a Saint Bernard. [Abroad fall 2009]
Jackie Gerson '11
I am a junior biochem major with an environmental studies minor. I have experience writing for a variety of disciplines and can help you with papers in both the humanities and sciences. I enjoy writing and want to help you avoid stress over assignments –- no matter the stage of your writing. I can help you brainstorm ideas for a prompt or, if you have already written a draft, to focus on logic, argumentation, and style. My favorite writing style is creative fiction, and I hope to someday become a children’s book author.
Lauren Kerby '11
I'm a junior majoring in religion and minoring in Greek, and I love working on close analysis of a text. I always try to choose precisely the right word for whatever idea I'm expressing in my own writing, so I enjoy figuring out the reason behind an author's choice of a particular word or phrase. I am also more than a little obsessive about grammar and a firm believer in the Oxford comma. After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in religious studies and eventually teach.
Lisa Mischianti '11
I am a junior double-majoring in Spanish and English, so I have written my share of papers. I like to be sure that pieces have a clear, encompassing focus or thesis. I also want to see an organizational structure that creates a framework for the argument and allows every element to tie back meaningfully to the thesis. I have a lot of experience in tutoring, so I'm very comfortable collaborating one-on-one with people and I look forward to helping writers be the best they can be and produce their finest work!!
Steffi O'Brien '11
I am a junior majoring in geography with a music minor. Nonetheless, I have experienced the writing process across many areas; my academic interests spread across the social sciences, humanities, and the more environmental side of the natural sciences. I love to help create and question ideas, and my focus in writing includes using simple, elegant language and smooth transitions to make sure my arguments come across strongly and clearly. I'm excited to help you with your writing, whether you are brainstorming topics, organizing ideas, or going over final drafts for cohesiveness and clarity. You are always welcome to come in for a productive, enjoyable session!
Jackie Wakeen '11
I'm an English major and a possible psychology minor. Despite my natural inclination towards literary analysis papers, I have a passion for creative writing pieces as well. As I emphasize the necessity of clarity, I spend a lot of time with structure/organization of essays and clarity of sentences. My mantra is "omit needless words" (from Strunk and White's Elements of Style) and I keep this in mind as I read through every essay (and when I write my own!). However, I especially enjoy helping people develop voice in their writing, and I encourage them to let their personality come through in every piece. My favorite part about my job is meeting new people every day and experiencing their unique perspectives and writing styles. Besides working at the Writing Center, I also play club soccer and club frisbee. [Abroad fall 2009]
Emily Cozzi '12
I am a sophomore still trying to choose a major, although I'll probably end up doing sociology with a history minor. I've loved writing, especially creative writing, ever since I was a little girl. In both high school and college, I've had a lot of experience writing both research and analytical papers, as well as more creative assignments (those are my favorites). I know all too well how difficult it is to sit down and work on a paper when hours of blissful procrastination seem so much more appealing, so if you're having trouble getting started, I can definitely sympathize and I am more than willing to help. I love talking through ideas with people and working to find ways to expand them. I also think that one of my personal strengths is making sure a paper really flows. I am really looking forward to working at the Writing Center!
Natalie Gaugh '12
I am an English major and creative writing minor. My experience with Speech & Debate has helped me to appreciate the importance of writing as communication — in conversation, we want our ideas to be as clear and well presented as possible, and formal essays deserve the same consideration. I enjoy working with both creative and analytic work, and I understand that strong writing can lead to success in all areas of study. In addition to a passion for perfecting the logical flow of ideas in a paper, I also have a love for moose and dachshund; so feel free to chat with me about these furry creatures before or after a session!
Kerry McGrath '12
I'm a sophomore political science major and probable writing and rhetoric minor. I love discussing either of these subjects, but I also love working on papers that deal with topics I know absolutely nothing about. I have something of a compulsion to explain myself about fifty different ways in the same paper, much to the chagrin of my professors; if you have this problem, too, I'd be more than happy to help you condense your ideas and make your paper more concise!
Joshua Smeltzer '12
I'm a sophomore English major, though the majority of my research is in social theory. My favorite part of writing is developing analytic arguments and exploring the relationship between two seemingly opposed positions. I try to follow the maxim "write right, write tight," though it's certainly easier said than done. If I could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, I'd go to Sweden.
Will Younger '12
I am a sophomore planning to major in religion and minor in classics. Regardless the topic, my favorite part of the writing process is discovering where I stand in relation to my subject matter. I think this is probably the most important part of the writing process, as well as the real value to writing about the texts you read. This is definitely something I can help you with in the early stages of planning your paper, so feel free to come by whenever!