Tutors

 

 

 

Bridget  

Junior

Animal Science  

An avid lover of all things animals, art, literature, and science, Bridget has always felt a strong calling to the veterinary world. Bridget works as a technician at a veterinary hospital in Derby CT . She spends her days playing with her three dogs, Peanut, Maple, and Macho, feeding her chameleon, Leo, and lounging around with her kitten, Suki. When she is not working or studying, you’ll find her reading outside, spending too many hours on TikTok, or trying to befriend the next animal she sees.  

 

 

 

Charlie 

Senior

 

English/American Sign Language Interpreting 

Charlie is an avid writer, reader, and enthusiast of language in all forms, and is excited to have the opportunity to tutor with the Writing Center. He is a published author of short fiction and adores the written word, and would be happy to work with writers on both academic assignments and creative projects. Outside the center, you may find him working with the ASL Club as their secretary, ice skating, writing, or flying through books. Charlie is fluent in English and advanced in American Sign Language, and is happy to work with any Deaf or hard of hearing individuals who would prefer to use ASL during a tutoring session.

 

 

Colman

Senior

Economics/Chinese

Colman is a third-year returning tutor at the Writing Center. Last fall, he studied in Singapore where he was able to immerse himself in the local culture and travel around Southeast Asia. Having studied Mandarin for several years, he also spent a summer living in Suzhou, China for an intensive Chinese language program. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on language and communication, which he brings to his work at the Writing Center. Outside of tutoring and schoolwork, Colman enjoys reading, hiking, and watching the Mets. Going into senior year, Colman is looking forward to his last year tutoring as he completes his Honors thesis. 

 

 

Connor 

Senior

English / Psychological Sciences 

I am from Orange, CT, who transferred here from UConn-Stamford—though my background is mostly a mist and the present is a pocket of clarity. We will have a wonderful time “writing” your wrongs and working through the writing process. You can think of me as a lovable mother figure working with you to organize your closet—I might not wear those fishnet stockings anymore, but you wear whatever you are comfortable in! I enjoy creative writing and reading literary fiction—especially short-form prose and joke books. Over the summer I had a transcendental experience working as a TA for ENGL. 1004 at UConn-Waterbury through the CAPS program. Other than what you might expect from a writing tutor, I get my silly little kicks from nature and physical activities, such as, but not limited to, weight training, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, sightseeing, and skiing.

 

 

Eunice 

Junior

Psychological Sciences / Asian American Studies

A true Jersey girl, Eunice is passionate about all things related to socio-cultural psychology, developmental psychology, and mental health. Outside of the Writing Center, you can find her singing in her a cappella group The Hus-Keys (haha get it), promoting HuskyTHON as a Captain on the DEI Committee, drawing portraits somewhere on campus, or working on her research. Eunice finds joy in talking to her plants, curating exceptional playlists, and quoting random Tik Tok audios. 

Eunice is also able to speak Korean and Spanish and would love to talk with others who are willing and able to speak these languages as well! 유니스는 한국말로도 편하게 개인교사를 할수있고 UConn에서 항상 다른 한국 친구들을 찾고있어요! También, Eunice puede hablar y dar clases particulares en espanol. Ella siempre está buscando oportunidades para hablar en español con otras personas y aprender más sobre español.

 

 

Jackson

Senior

English / Linguistics/Philosophy

What is linguistics, if not English that satisfies the Q requirement?  Jackson doesn’t mind the redundancy—he gets a kick out of grammatical pedantry, achingly accurate word choice, and essays shaved down to the character limit.  Outside of the Writing Center, Jackson can be found working in libraries, beholding large trees, or decrying Grammarly.  He likes music, he likes books; as of right now, his favorite composer is Rachmaninoff and his favorite novelist-poet is Atwood.  Though a self-admitted monoglot, Jackson enjoys working with writers who are looking for guidance in navigating the perilous waters of professors’ expectations for academic writing.

 

 

 

Kayleigh 

Senior 

Political Science and History/French 

Originally from Albany, New York, Kayleigh could not be happier exploring all that UConn has to offer. As an avid writer for Her Campus at UConn, she is passionate about writing articles regarding the current state of the world as well as what’s happening here in Storrs. In her free time, Kayleigh enjoys watching nostalgic movies, practicing French, spending quality time with friends, and visiting museums. 

 

 

 

 

Liliana 

Senior

Molecular and Cell Biology / Psychology

A lover of all things from arts to science, Liliana is always looking for new ways to entertain her curiosities—her favorites: calligraphy, photography, and finding new puzzles/logic games. Aside from being a writing tutor, Liliana is also a research assistant in two labs where she helps conduct clinical (focus: cancer/eating disorders) and social (focus: sexuality/human rights) psychology research. In her free time, you can find Liliana seeing a show (she loves going to NYC), hanging out with friends, or looking for the next best place for açaí bowls! 

 

 

 

Melisa 

Senior

Political Science/Pre-Law

Cowtown holds a special place in Melisa’s heart not only because it is where she goes to school, but also because it is where she calls home. Her real name is Melisa, but she is often called Mel. Being only an arm’s reach away from her family at school is one of her favorite aspects of being at UConn. Melisa has always been captivated by the inner workings of politics and law, hoping that one day her passion and dedication will lead her to study law full time in law school. On campus, she is a part of a sorority, alongside being an AAC mentor, a member of Law Society, Women in Law, and America Reads. Melisa is fluent in Turkish as well as English and is willing to work with writers in both languages. In her free time, you can find Melisa at the gym, jamming to music of all sorts, skiing down the slopes, or grabbing coffee with her friends! 

 

 

 

Vashonti

Junior

Secondary Education/English

You can usually find Vashonti on campus reading a novel, drawing, or waiting for her coffee in the crowded Student Union Dunkin. She has previously been a mentor at UConn’s Academic Achievement Center and with First-Year Programs as a First-Year Experience Mentor. English has always been her favorite subject and she plans on sharing her love for literature and writing with her future students. She is always ready to help someone with organizing and brainstorming thoughts for an assignment.

 

 

 

Cawley

Sophomore

Political Science

Cawley is a passionate student with a great appreciation for the literary arts. She enjoys reading and writing for her classes about politics and pursuing a future in law, and in her own free time. For example, you’ll find her writing articles on a broad range of topics such as social commentary and entertainment for Her Campus at UConn, an online magazine. Outside of her spark for writing, she loves music, watching movies, going to the gym, and much more. Cawley is ecstatic to be a part of the UConn Writing Center this year. 

 

 

 

Erin

Sophomore

English and Human Rights

Hello! I am an avid reader (mostly fiction) and a thorough writer. I am more than happy to help you with all of your writing needs, though I would say I specialize in editing and organizing essays. I am a strong believer in having an outline before starting a writing assignment. I am almost fluent in French and a beginner in Spanish; essentially, I love languages and plan to use French and Spanish in a future career in immigration law! In my spare time you can find me sewing, playing flute, Irish dancing, and drinking copious amounts of caffeine!

 

 

 

 

Rebecca

Senior

Secondary English Education/English

As a life-long lover of learning, Rebecca is pursuing a career in secondary English education where she hopes to impart a love of reading and writing onto her future students. Originally from Danbury, CT, Rebecca has found a home at UConn through her roles as a Major Experience mentor, First Year Experience mentor, and as president of Circle K International, a volunteer organization at the Storrs campus. When she’s not editing papers, she is likely sipping on coconut coffee, listening to 80s music, or reading anything by James Baldwin.

 

 

 

Donal

Sophomore

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Donal is a nature loving student of science who rediscovered his love for writing here at UConn. A proud Irish immigrant, he spent most of his childhood in Massachusetts but will still talk your ear off about the beautiful Emerald Isle. When he is not in the Writing Center, you can find him in the climbing center (working or climbing), out for a hike, or reading. Apart from the dense texts of his major, Donal loves poetry and creative writing and is always happy to read others’ personal writing projects.

 

 

 

Gaby

Sophomore

Linguistics/Psychology, German, and Spanish

I speak German and Spanish and would be happy to help anyone with assignments in those languages. Outside of the Writing Center you’ll probably find me in the library, laying out in the sun somewhere on campus, or hanging out with friends. In my free time I enjoy traveling, cooking and baking, meeting new people, and doing crafts. 

 

 

Anthony

Junior

Computer Science and Engineering

Anthony is a Junior at UConn Storrs, and a Computer Scientist and Engineer in training. Seeking to bridge the gap between the computational aspect of STEM and the literary analysis portion of writing has led him to pursue a tutoring position at the Writing Center, which he is truly grateful for. When he is not focusing on writing or math, he is procrastinating. He prefers to do so by either going out and trying new foods with his siblings or going on trips with his pals. While he is proficient in speaking English, Anthony is able to understand French and is happy to assist French speakers the best that he can.

 

 

Sara

Senior

Psychological Sciences / Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Previously a Writing Tutor and a Writing Fellow at UConn-Avery Point, Sara is excited and committed to help students on their journeys to grow as writers and creative young adults at the Writing Center. As a result of exhibiting passion towards intersectional issues, such as the healthcare rights of women and marginalized communities, she desires to pursue a career in public health. Sara has also been described as a “social butterfly” and a “dad friend” by family & friends due to effortlessly connecting with people and providing a comfortable, welcoming space. Outside of academia, she has interests that will 100% be rambled about without hesitation. As a music enthusiast, particularly in the punk-rock/indie scene and Taylor Swift’s discography, Sara designs Spotify playlists for every month of the year, event, mood, genre … anything — you name it! Her downtime often looks like binge-watching Gilmore Girls (#teamJess), going out to restaurants & coffee shops with friends, and collecting plushies/stuffed animals! 🙂 

 

 

Jorge 

Senior

Physiology and Neurobiology 

Jorge is a pre-medical student from Puerto Rico with hopes of pursuing a career in trauma surgery. As an undergraduate researcher on campus, he spends many hours working on a research project involving viral neuroanatomical circuit tracing of inputs to the lateral amygdala in rats. When he is not studying or digging through research papers, you will find him playing pool, drinking coffee, playing video games, or listening to music. Additionally, Jorge is fluent in Spanish and is thrilled to tutor in said language if anyone wishes. He also would be pleased to share his pre-medical experience and advice with other aspiring pre-meds. 

 

 

 

Sofia

Senior

Political Science / Human Rights

Sofia has always had a love for writing spanning from critical analysis essays to policy memos. As a student with a passion for public service, she enjoys focusing on politics through her own writing, but she is passionate about helping students of all disciplines with their writing assignments as well. Through her academics and double major, Sofia has a concentration in global affairs, as she hopes to pursue a career in international development policy. When she is not in class or at the Writing Center, Sofia gives back to the community as a member of the CLAS Student Leadership Board, as well as by volunteering with City Harvest and The Borgen Project. For fun, she loves to help take care of plants with the Horticulture Club, play tennis, traveling to new places, and go for long runs around campus. 

 

 

 Matthew

Junior

Psychological Sciences 

Formerly a tutor at the Avery Point Academic Center, Matthew is ready to help anyone improve their writing skills and explore where to take their piece of writing. He has an interest in helping those who experience mental health difficulties, and he has recently been working with younger neurodivergent students with social-emotional difficulties. Growing up around nature, Matthew loves to explore the wilderness, bike around, and relax in nature. Outside of the Writing Center, he enjoys playing the piano, taking photos, watching older Disney and Studio Ghibli films, and re-watching episodes of New Girl. He is new to the Storrs campus, so he is excited to see what it has to offer (although he will miss his two Huskies back home).

 

Receptionists

 

Ruth
Receptionist/Social Media Chair
Junior

Psychology
Hi! My name is Ruth Salazar, and I am a sophomore majoring in Psychological Sciences. I am from Bridgeport, CT but originally a New Yorker. I love reading in my free time, taking hikes, and hanging out with my dogs. I hope to become a children’s therapist in my hometown in New York.

 

 

 

Chelcy  

Senior

Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) 

Born in a Refugee Camp in Thailand, Chelcy immigrated to the United States in 2013. Since then, Chelcy has been in Connecticut. She enjoys traveling and exploring various parts of Connecticut. She also likes to read and listen to music. Chelcy wants to work in Public Health in the future. Her goal is that one day, she will be able to go back to the refugee camp where she was born and help people who are in need help. Chelcy speaks both Karen and English and is happy to speak with writing center visitors in either language.

 

 

 

 

Clarna

Senior

Communication 

Clarna is from Bridgeport, CT.  She enjoys traveling and trying new outdoor activities. She has two dogs and enjoys spending time with them. Clarna enjoys event planning and has been involved with organizing fundraisers. She is on a career path of marketing or being apart of a radio station. 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayvona  

 

 

 

 

Noemy 

Junior 

Finance 

Noemy is from Ecuadorian descent and is a first-generation college student. She enjoys traveling, going to concerts, hanging out with friends, the gym, and playing rugby. Speaking of rugby, she is currently a flanker and treasurer for the UConn Women’s Rugby Team. You would most likely find her at the library with her Dunkin, the rec center, or the business school. A fun fact about her is that she has gone skydiving in Long Island. She is fluent in Spanish and always available to help anyone who comes to the Writing Center!

 

 

Natali

Junior

Psychology 

Natali is a first-generation student who enjoys reading and is passionate about child development. She is the secretary for the Mexican Student Association at UConn and a PRLACC METAS mentor. Natali usually spends her days in the library studying with friends and sipping on an iced vanilla chai latte. In her free time, she can be found napping, scrolling endlessly through TikTok, or binge-watching a new show on Netflix. She can also gladly assist anyone speaking Spanish! 

 

 

 

Graduate Tutors

 

JD

Graduate Student

Ph.D. Candidate, Molecular and Cell Biology

JD is a science writer and educator with a passion for making complex scientific concepts simple and engaging. He has contributed to SciShow & co-authored a series produced by Crash Course and the American Public Health Association called “That’s Public Health.” At UConn, JD has taught BIOL 1107 and the UConn MCAT Prep. Course. During his MPH, JD interviewed science journalists so he could create a guide on how to talk about public health to people outside the field. JD brings his experience teaching and communicating complex scientific ideas to the Writing Center where he strives to help people in any field accomplish their writing goals. When he’s not at the Writing Center, JD enjoys long bike rides, rock climbing, juggling multiple audiobooks, writing letters to Congress, crafting annual playlists, and heating his apartment one batch of bread at a time.

 

 

Baaqeyah

Graduate Student

Ph.D. Student, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Baaqeyah is a Ph.D. student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. Her research interests include developmental biology, vertebrate evolution, molecular biology, and genome evolution. Baaqeyah currently explores the phenotypic effects of genome evolution in salamanders. She is passionate about intersectional feminism, equity in education, and justice. An explorer at heart, Baaqeyah is always looking for the next adventure. In her free time, you can find her reading, traveling, and cuddling with Mendel, her three year old cat.

 

 

 

Anh

Graduate Student

Ph.D. Student, English

Anh is a Ph.D. student in the English Department. Anh was raised in New York City and has loved to write since she was a child. At UConn, she studies graphic narrative, Native American and Indigenous storytelling, and creative writing. Anh is also passionate about teaching First-Year Writing and broadening students’ horizons. In her free time, you will find her volunteering, taking dance classes, preparing various pasta and udon dishes, and chatting with her mom over FaceTime.

 

 

Lizzy 

Graduate Student

MA, Public Administration

As a recent 2023 graduate, Lizzy is excited to continue tutoring at the Writing Center for her second year as she navigates the master’s program at UConn Hartford. Starting this year, Lizzy will be working as a policy and advocacy intern at Community Partners in Action for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation services. During her free time, Lizzy enjoys nature walks, learning new languages, and traveling. This past summer, she was able to visit her loved ones in Puerto Rico and cherish the sights and sounds of the island. Lizzy is also happy to interact with others in Spanish and is always looking for the opportunity to practice French!

 

 

 

 

Mckenzie

Graduate Student

Ph.D. Student, English

Mckenzie is a graduate student in the English department studying the Gothic novel. She also works with the First-Year Writing program and has a lot of experience working with students in FYW classes. She is from Saratoga Springs NY, and has lived in Burlington, Vermont and New York City. She loves reading, especially spooky stories and fantasy novels, and is training for a 10K. 

 

Graduate Administrative Staff

 

 

 

 

Emery

Assistant Director

Ph.D. Candidate, Education

New to Connecticut, Emery grew up an hour from Yellowstone Park in the mountains around Bozeman, Montana. He has taught first-year writing courses at Montana State University where he earned both his BA and MA in English Literature, further fostering a life-long urge to read anything he can get his hands on. Emery has also worked as a freelance writer in a variety of genres, including co-authoring episodes for the YouTube show Study Hall, a collaboration between Crash Course and Arizona State University. More recently, Emery worked as the lead writing tutor at the College of Western Idaho, where he had the opportunity to participate in several regional conferences. His current research is on the intersection of post-secondary reading education, alternative literacies, and disability studies. When not on campus, Emery is typically out hiking, hanging with his two cats, or brushing up on his painting skills.

 

 

Sheryl 

Assistant Director 

Masters in Public Health

Sheryl is a first-generation immigrant from India who is an UConn alum (2022). She is back at UConn pursuing her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) to learn more about the healthcare system and how she can better help her future patients as a doctor. In her undergraduate years, Sheryl was an FYE mentor and a SRA and loves to support students of all ages and backgrounds in their time here at UConn. Sheryl is excited to be part of the Writing Center and expand her skillset to help students be more confident in their writing abilities. During her free time, Sheryl loves to travel, workout, hang out with her friends, and learn about new cultures and languages. 

 

Administrative Staff

Tom Deans
Director, Writing Center

I divide my time between the Writing Center the English Department, where I teach undergrad and grad courses in writing studies. Before coming to UConn in 2005, I was founding director of an interdisciplinary writing program at Haverford College, and before that was on the faculty at Kansas State. I co-edit the Oxford Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines and have published academic books and articles on a variety of topics, including community-based writing, writing across the curriculum, writing centers, science writing, prose style, early modern literature, and representations of literacy in sacred texts. Lately I’ve also been thinking about AI and writing. I collaborate with colleagues across UConn to improve how writing gets valued and taught here and I’ve worked with Ugandan universities on building writing programs there.

 

Alex Menrisky 

*on leave Spring 2024*

Associate Director, Writing Center

In addition to working with the Writing Center, I’m an Assistant Professor in the Department of English, where I teach undergraduate courses and graduate seminars in environmental rhetoric, literary environmentalism, and writing. Previously I taught first-year and advanced research-based writing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and tutored in the writing center at the University of Kentucky (where I also taught multimodal and community-based writing). Before (and while) I pursued my MA and PhD in English, I worked as a journalist and copywriter for several small-town newspapers, trade magazines, and even the federal government. Since then, I’ve published books and journal articles on a variety of topics, including US environmentalism, identity, psychoanalysis, local food, and more. In all cases, one of my goals—for my own writing and also my teaching—is bridging the gap between academic and general audiences, “translating” complex ideas and arguments for a wider readership. In many ways, that’s what a writing center is all about: figuring out, together, how to best communicate ideas with a variety of different people!

 

 

Margaret Bugingo 
Educational Program Coordinator, Writing Center

Margaret Bugingo is a rhetorician with 9 years of experience teaching first year writing and technical communication. Her most recent work includes a 9-month Fulbright ETA award, where she built and directed the first documented writing center in Rwanda, which later evolved into a multi-year collaboration that included a community book project. Bugingo previously worked in writing center administration at Boise State University and in the fall of 2022 began working as the educational program coordinator for the writing center at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Bugingo earned her MA in rhetoric and composition from Arizona State University in 2012 and her BA from the University of Connecticut in 2009. Bugingo is passionate about writing center work as well as international collaborations. She has a TESOL Certificate and has worked with multilingual students from South Sudan, Bosnia, El Salvador, Bangladesh, and more. In her free time, she has served on committees for Neighbors’ United: Adult Refugee Collaborative of Boise, The International Visitor Leadership Program, an educational international exchange organized by the U.S. Department of State, and ran the YALI, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program. Bugingo is an aspiring multilingual— she is actively learning Spanish and Kinyarwanda, and in her free time, she dances salsa, kizomba, and zouk.

 

 

Kathleen Tonry 
Associate Director, Writing Center

I joined UConn’s faculty and the Writing Center in the autumn of 2005 after earning my doctorate at the University of Notre Dame. My dissertation, on early print and late-late medieval literature, continues to inform my teaching and research in the English Department. My passion for very old books is only half my story, however.   On the way to my graduate degree I taught English at the University of Central Bohemia, worked in Ireland herding goats, and on the editorial staff at HarperCollins in New York. When I did arrive at graduate school to study medieval literature, I also found myself drawn to the work going on in writing programs, and particularly in Writing Centers. In the room that housed the Writing Center at Notre Dame I discovered a rush of interesting conversations all going on at once – from philosophy to history to physics – and all somehow related to writing. I realized I had found a kind of secret that was trying not to be a secret: Writing Centers are these wonderfully intellectual, interdisciplinary spaces, sometimes hushed, sometimes raucous, always engaging, and I was hooked. I spent the last year of my degree finishing my dissertation and working on a Writing Center project that fostered a high-school/university partnership in South Bend. I feel fortunate to be a “free-range” medievalist, with opportunities to think about the role of writing across the full breadth of the curriculum. I primarily focus on our undergraduate staff and tutoring services – precisely the place where I first heard the buzz of ideas that turned out to be about students and writing. I hope you’ll come in with your own questions, ideas and writing: we’ll talk.