The Consultants

 Aaron

Aaron is a master’s student studying linguistics. He enjoys researching how the mind processes language. This is an exciting field of study in his view because of its connections to psychology and mathematics. As a consultant working in the writing center, he believes in uplifting individual voices and preserving the writer’s agency and autonomy during the writing process. He is open to working with all kinds of writing, and he is especially interested in any kind of writing that analyzes language and text, from literature to linguistics and beyond.   

 Abby

Abby (she/her) is a first-year PhD student in the Writing and Rhetoric program at George Mason. She comes from a Writing Center background at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she consulted with writers across many disciplines and programs. As a consultant, she believes in the importance of collaboration in the Writing Center and is eager to work with a variety of writerly voices and composing processes. Abby greatly values learning from writers and the rich conversations they bring into the Center. She is happy to consult with writers in any genre, and specializes in Literature Reviews, Persuasive Essays, and Critical Analysis papers. During her MA program, she wrote her thesis about rhetorical listening in the Writing Center, a concept that promotes a genuine openness to and understanding of writers’ perspectives. Continuing this research, she hopes to implement these concepts into her work in the Center to ensure it remains a strong institutional support to our writers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going on nature walks, and reading Jane Austen.   

 Amaiyahmonet

Amaiyahmonet (she/her) is an undergraduate student majoring in English with a concentration in linguistics and a minor in international and comparative studies. Her interests include international policy and ensuring Black girls’ experiences are not ignored when creating policy and implementing laws around the world. She enjoys legal writing, research papers, technical writing, annotated bibliographies, and rhetorical analysis. She is most excited to work with writers from different majors and learn about their fields while consulting. Outside of her time focused on school, she dedicates a lot of her time doing advocacy, activism, and organizing work with non-profits and organizations. When she has time, she enjoys doing makeup as an MUA. She also enjoys dancing, as she has been dancing since she was eight years old.

 Amy

Amy (she/her) is a first-year MFA candidate in fiction. Although a northeasterner at heart, she received her BA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Richmond. Her creative works focus on Asian adoptees, the act of self-definition, and how fantasy and supernatural elements function as symbolic modes. Amy believes no writer is ever truly finished developing their skills and sees every session as a learning opportunity. She hopes to create a space where writers feel comfortable sharing both their best and messiest drafts. She is experienced in literary analysis, research papers, and creative works, but she is open to helping writers across disciplines. In her free time, she can be found reading, crocheting, and drinking iced coffee (which she will be bringing to sessions).

 Angela B

Angela is a PhD candidate in the Cultural Studies department. Here in the Writing Center, she consults with advanced graduate students working on their theses and dissertations. Angela has taught in the Integrative Studies department for four years, focusing primarily on visual culture and society. Her dissertation research involves understanding the intersections of fanship, digital community, and merchandise. She has completed fields (qualifying exams in the form of extensive literature reviews) in culture & political economy and digital communities. Angela holds an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has presented work in the forms of papers and presentations at the Mid-South Sociological Association Annual Meeting and at the Southern Sociological Association Meeting. At the Mason Writing Center, she supports graduate writers working on their thesis, dissertation, and other academic projects. Angela is a tabletop gamer, trained in sword fighting, a violinist, and avid consumer of mass media.

 Annah

Hi! I'm Annah, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Music Education, along with taking courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). I believe everyone's experiences and opinions are unique; writing is an outlet for everyone to express themselves and should not be restricted by societal norms — exactly why I love to consult with argumentative/persuasive writing and personal statements. I am multilingual myself (English and Bulgarian, along with intermediate Spanish), so I am more than happy to work with anyone who uses other languages to communicate their ideas. When I'm not in the center consulting, I spend time with my family & friends, as well as listening to all types of music!

 Ben

Ben (he/him) is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in data science with a minor in sports analytics. Coming from a military family and having the opportunity to travel the world, he views writing as a reflection of personal experience and a way to engage with a writer’s purpose and audience. He has published articles for Mason Votes and The Fourth Estate, focusing on students’ perspectives on the 2024 presidential election, as well as student involvement and identity. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, watching sports–especially basketball and baseball–and playing pickleball.

 Candice

Candice (she/they) is a first-year student in the MFA Creative Writing program (Fiction). She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a Philosophy minor, an M.A. in Psychological Research, and a Ph.D. in Psychology (Cognitive-Behavioral Neuroscience). Before joining the Center, she worked at Mason as a psychology instructor and academic advisor. Outside the Center, she helps neurodivergent writers improve their writing and how they show up to the work. Candice enjoys working with writers across disciplines and cultures, and believes in holding space for all writers to find their voice and build skills that foster independence. She has experience writing across academic and creative formats, including research-based and literary projects. As a writer, she's drawn to genres spanning character-driven stories to philosophical and scientific inquiry. In her free time, she enjoys reading, scenic walks with a latte in hand, and spending time with her family and menagerie of animals.

 Ella

Ella (she/her) is a first-year MFA student in creative nonfiction. She received a BA in English from Utah State University, where she worked as a Writing Fellow and Tutor for a variety of classes across subjects. Through this experience, and working as an Undergraduate Research Fellow, Ella has become well-versed in learning about different genres and helping writers with creative, research-based, or other assignments. Ella believes there is no one way of being a writer and that “good” writing is about the process—not the product. As a consultant, she aims to help students maintain ownership of their writing while learning tools to succeed at any stage of the writing process. In her free time—when she’s not reading or writing for class—Ella can be found in ballet, going out with friends, or complaining that she doesn’t actually have any free time.

 Emma

 Georgia

Georgia (she/her) is a first-year MFA candidate in creative nonfiction at GMU, and is looking forward to this next chapter of literary collaboration! She graduated from Gettysburg College with a BA in English with a writing concentration and a neuroscience minor, and has experience as a biology tutor and fitness instructor. Georgia views writing support to be a two-way street; it is an action that benefits and opens the mind of both writer and consultant, regardless of major, genre, and form. What she values most in the sharing of writing is a sure sense of safety and respect for everyone involved. Georgia loves seeing the intersection of the arts and humanities with the sciences in the writing world. Her interests include explorations into nature, relationships between pet and parent, the uncanny in the world of horror, and all plants under the sun.

 Hanna

Hanna is a first-year MFA candidate in poetry with a bachelor’s in English from Longwood University. She has served in both peer tutor and leadership roles at Writing Centers within the Virginia Community College System. She also has experience tutoring chemistry, entry level math, and French. Her multidisciplinary background means she’s excited to work with writers in any genre, especially workplace and technical documents, rhetorical analysis, and even document design. Hanna believes that prioritizing the development of the writer is essential to learning, and learning should be applicable to different contexts and disciplines. Every now and then, she enjoys dancing, playing piano, baking, or achieving a higher proficiency in French. She looks forward to assisting you in your learning process at the Writing Center!

 Harper

Harper (she/her) is a first year MFA creative writing student with a nonfiction concentration. She has a BA in creative writing and literary studies from Marshall University, where she developed an interest in flash and speculative nonfiction, literary journalism, Appalachian studies, and women’s regionalist literature. She has worked as a reader and editor for various literary magazines and presses over the past four years. Beyond creative writing, Harper likes to write (and read!) research essays in the humanities and social sciences and loves working with a wide range of disciplines and genres. She believes that writing is a craft and hopes to help other writers find joy in the process rather than the final product. In her free time, you can find Harper partaking in her secondary craft: crocheting!

 Irha

Irha (she/her) is a second-year graduate student majoring in English with a concentration in Linguistics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pakistan, where she double majored in Literature and Linguistics. After completing her undergraduate studies, she taught English in her home country for two years. She is a multilingual speaker, fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, English, Pakistan Sign Language, and is currently learning Spanish. Her research interests lie in sociolinguistics, particularly focusing on code-switching behaviors in bilingual speakers. She aims to explore how language choices reflect identity, power dynamics, and community belonging. Irha is passionate about cooking and is a self-taught photographer. She loves watching K-dramas when she isn't busy with graduate school or working at the writing center.

 Janalyn

Janalyn Miklas is a PhD candidate in the Linguistics program, studying acoustic phonetics and speech science. Her dissertation research looks at pronunciation variation among first and second-language Turkish speakers. Her research uses quantitative and computational methodologies using corpus and self-collected data. She has also done previous work that included qualitative methodologies. She holds an M.A. in English with a concentration in Linguistics from George Mason University. At the Writing Center, Janalyn serves as the Graduate Writing Coordinator, working with graduate students on theses, dissertations, and other academic projects. She has experience writing funding proposals as well as preparing conference submissions and manuscripts.

 Jasper

Jasper (they/them) is a first-year MA Literature student, joining the program after completing their undergraduate studies in Creative Writing at GMU. Having grown up in NOVA, they’re familiar with everywhere from Woodbridge to Silver Spring, and they would be happy to recommend local spots. In their undergraduate program, they were heavily involved in academic and personal workshop programs, actively seeking opportunities to share feedback between peers. Through this web of experience, they have developed an eye for revision details and will always aim to give fellow writers advice they can take beyond the classroom. Jasper’s range spans everything from critically analyzing 16th-century literature and academic argumentative essays to proofreading and worldbuilding high-fantasy creative works. Though they’re now primarily studying in the Literature department, they will always accept an excuse to talk about fiction, queer lit, and alternative storytelling.

 Jonathan

Jonathan (he/him) is a first year grad student pursuing an MFA in fiction. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing and journalism from Utah State University. Having worked in both political and journalistic settings, Jonathan has extensive experience in research papers, news writing, and public relations writing. He also spent his teenage years learning how to code, so he's well versed in the more technical types of writing, too. When his thoughts are hard to translate aloud, Jonathan loves how writing helps him understand himself and communicate with others. He also believes the best writing is done together, and that through teamwork and experience, anyone can become a great writer. Outside of consulting, you'll find Jonathan reading poetry, hitting the gym, and obsessing over a new favorite album.  

 Kendall

Kendall is a PhD student in the linguistics program. Her research uses computational linguistic methodology and quantitative analysis to research questions involving the intersection of language and media. She has presented work on how fans use the language of their fandoms and on multilingual students' university writing experiences. She has a master’s in linguistics from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree in communication and media studies from Old Dominion University. She also has a background in education, teaching multilingual students in Fairfax County. At the writing center, Kendall specializes in helping graduate writers with theses, dissertations, proposals, and publication-bound papers.

 Kevin

Kevin (he/him) is a first-year MFA Creative Writing student with a concentration in Fiction. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern California in pharmacology so he understands organic chemistry and physiology lingo. Although he was raised by parents who exclusively speak Spanish, English is still his first language because of his older brother. Kevin believes that writing is an intimate process and that sharing a draft is extremely brave. He has volunteered with 826LA where he supported high school students in writing personal statements for college. As a writer, suspense, horror, and coming-of-age stories are some of his favorite genres. His random assortment of bird knowledge comes from being an  ornithology assistant at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles for two and a half years.

 Kitty

Kitty (they/them) is a first year MFA Creative Writing student concentrating in fiction. They’ve spent the past two and a half years working in library administration in Southern Maryland. Kitty is multiply neurodivergent, has a learning disability, and came close to flunking high school, informing their unique approach to assisting writers whose needs educators may struggle to meet. In their role as an undergraduate writing tutor, many multilingual and/or disabled students mentioned they had sought out Kitty specifically for their supportive and nonjudgmental consulting style, as well as their upbeat and offbeat philosophy toward language and composition. When not writing or consulting, Kitty can be found talking about their top-of-mind special interest, a category which includes marine biology, Tove Jansson’s Moomin series and its adaptations, and Pauline Oliveros’s musical concept of “deep listening.”

 Mathieu

Mathieu is a first-year MFA candidate in fiction who received his BA in English with a minor in creative writing from the University of Richmond. After years of peer-reviewing academic writing, from political science and philosophy papers to English essays, he is thrilled to transition into a formal consulting role with the Writing Center. Mathieu is interested in a wide range of writing and genres, and he believes everyone has a story to tell. He also has a soft spot for apocalyptic literature, character-driven storytelling, and poetry. When he isn’t writing or reading, Mathieu can be found at a movie theatre devouring buckets of popcorn (usually before the movie begins), watching ice hockey (Let’s Go Rangers!), or playing video games with rich open worlds and unpredictable characters (Fallout, Metro, and more). Mathieu is excited to welcome you to the Writing Center, and he is looking forward to a great year! 

 Maxime

 Paige

Paige is an undergraduate in the Honor’s College majoring in Criminology, Law & Society with a minor in Forensic Psychology. Last year, she wrote her literature review on the effectiveness of different resources that are offered to inmates with mental illnesses. She also has a background in writing articles for a NJ defense attorney’s website. She believes that writing is form of self-expression and self-advocacy and wants to help others view it in the same manner. Aside from writing, Paige enjoys wandering around the aisles of Target and binging different tv shows. 

 Presley

Presley (he/they) is a first-year MA candidate in literature. During their BFA in creative writing here at Mason, they worked as a peer consultant over the last two years. In addition to their experience with writing poetry and short stories, Presley is well equipped to handle any academic writing situation regardless of the discipline or genre. For him, writing is not simply words on a page, but rather the very means in which we communicate our ideas with one another. They understand that writing is not everyone’s preferred activity but is willing to help anyone with whatever the assignment is. Presley’s goal as a writing consultant is to help build the writer’s confidence within themselves by listening to their concerns and working with them on their goals. When they’re not swamped with schoolwork, they enjoy reading graphic novels, playing indie games, and thinking too much about tattoos.

 Rachel

Rachel (she/her) is a first year MFA candidate in fiction at George Mason University. She is from Ohio (the Cavs can win again). Her time at the University of Virginia led her to major in English with a creative writing concentration as well as a second major in Psychology. She minored in American Sign Language. For the past three years, Rachel taught science for Cincinnati Public Schools in general education and multilingual learner classrooms. She also coached track and cross country. Within her classroom and during her time as President of the Writer’s Club at UVA, she hosted many writing workshops. Rachel believes writing should be a process of adventurous learning(s) and looks forward to supporting writers gaining confidence in the craft. A lover of running, ranch on pizza (Midwest vibes), and hiking, Rachel is excited to start a new journey at the Writing Center at GMU!

 Sahar

Sahar is a first-year MFA student in Creative Writing concentrating in poetry. Sahar earned their BA in Political Science and International Politics at GMU's very own Schar School, so they have first-hand experience across various levels of Mason’s vertical writing curriculum, including ENGH 302 and writing intensive courses like the Honors Seminar (GOVT 491). They're happy to assist with writing in any discipline and/or genre, including but not limited to literature reviews, policy papers, analytical writing, and research papers. Sahar's philosophy is to meet every writer where they're at, regardless of skill level or background. They bring experience working with neurodivergent writers and multilingual writers (আপনি কি বাংলা বলতে পারেন ?) Outside of Mason, they are passionate about youth development and enjoy working as a private tutor with K-12 students. Sahar looks forward to seeing you in the Writing Center! 

 Shannon

Shannon (she/her) is a first-year MFA Creative Writing student with a concentration in Creative Nonfiction. Originally from Smith Mountain Lake, VA, she received her B.A. in Writing and Rhetoric from GMU. She has since worked as an admissions counselor, an editorial coordinator for a scientific journal, and most recently as a writing tutor, helping high school students through all stages of the college essay-writing process. She is familiar with many genres of writing, including argumentative essays, creative work, cover letters/resumes, and personal statements. Shannon is deeply passionate about accessibility in education and fostering a sense of curiosity about writing regardless of genre or discipline. Her favorite part of working with writers is helping them find confidence in their voice and individual writing process. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors.

 Stephanie

Stephanie (she/her) is an undergraduate student in the B.A. English program with a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric and a minor in Professional and Technical Writing. She has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. Before focusing on her writing studies, Stephanie worked for Boeing as a stress analyst and procurement agent for aircraft manufacturing programs. In her role, she wrote memos, emails to colleagues, managers, and C-suite executives, and analytical reports. She also worked briefly at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as an aerospace technologies patent examiner where her duties included researching prior art and writing non-conformance reports to help an applicant understand whether they meet the standards to patent their invention. Both roles required documentation, process reflection, and writing and speaking to specialized yet diverse audiences across institutional hierarchies. Stephanie’s strengths include interdisciplinary thinking, translating technical ideas for broader audiences, analytical organization, rhetorical awareness, helping writers clarify complex ideas, and bridging technical/nontechnical communication. The intersection of engineering and the law in her research has led her to pursue and achieve an OSCAR grant for the Summer Intensive program. Her project examines how shifts in genres can obscure perceptions of risk and safety, especially when the impact of risk changes from a technical point to a procedural one. As a consultant, Stephanie enjoys helping writers think critically about organization, audience awareness, and clarity. Her goal is to attend law school. So, she has taken legal writing and research-based courses to refine her skills, such as proposal writing, research papers, and personal statements for upper-level academic work. Outside of the Writing Center, Stephanie enjoys outdoor adventures with her two Labrador retrievers, Bailey Blue and Dakota Rose.

 Sydney

Sydney (she/her) is an undergraduate Honors College student at George Mason for a degree in civil engineering. Her main interests lie in the structural, land design, and construction branches of civil. Despite not pursuing any degrees in literature, she does enjoy research papers and technical writing. Sydney loves that she is breaking the “engineers can’t write” trope! Some of her favorite sessions include creating outlines, discussing how to maintain writer voice, and essay structure. Numerous research classes have taught her methods for organizing notes and sources, which built her reading and writing repertoire. While she tries her best to read scholarly literature, her guilty pleasures lie on YA and mystery shelves of a book store. Outside of school, Sydney enjoys crocheting, motorsports, anime, and collecting. One might say she is a materialist…