Writing Center Staff

I am a proud CSS alum, and I'm thrilled to be back on campus supporting writing and learning of all kinds. After CSS (BA in English '06), I completed my Master's in English at UMD in 2008 and my Ph.D. in English Studies at Illinois State University in 2013. I spent the last ten years working with writers in UMD's Academic Writing and Learning Center and teaching a variety of upper- and lower-division writing courses. I've worked with non-native speakers of English, students of all ages and backgrounds, and programs/faculty from STEM to humanities to the arts. I've worked with writers on writing everything from emails to manuscripts for publication. I adore helping faculty and students from all disciplines find their writing confidence. My research interests include the author L.M. Montgomery, women’s life writing, writing and writing center pedagogy, and children's and adolescent literature.

I am also working on writing across the curriculum (WAC) initiatives. Watch out for announcements for future workshops and drop-in sessions! I am available to work with individual faculty or programs on how the use/teach/infuse writing in their courses. Get in touch at ewoster@css.edu!

I’m a Duluth native and completed my undergraduate degree down the street at UMD. I went on to earn my Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri in 2015. While there, I fell in love with the socratic work of writing tutoring. In 2024, after over a decade of working with the University of Missouri’s Writing Center and three years at Hamline University to assist in redesigning the first-year writing curriculum, I joined Jessica’s team in the Center for Academic Success to help revamp and revitalize the Writing Center’s services. When I’m not nerding out over equitable writing pedagogy, I'm most likely rewatching The Office or binge watching Australian reality television.

Hi, my name is Arissa 😃! I'm an out of state freshman from South Carolina, and my major is psychology. I have always had a passion for writing as long as I can remember, and I have a special talent for asking good prompts and questions to help the writing in you get flowing. It's OK if you feel as if you're not the best writer coming into the Writing Center because as long as you can hold a 10-minute conversation, you can write a 10-page paper, I promise!

Most of my work for the Writing Center will be based in the library, and you can absolutely still approach me in the library for a session, no problem!

Favorite Topics: social justice, personal stories, creative writing–fiction (I love reading about other students' fictional work!)

Consulting Strengths: brainstorming ideas, organization/Structure, argument development, integrating sources, revising for clarity and cohesion (flow)

Writers should meet with me if they want help with being pointed in the right direction, given ideas about how to make their work stronger and more detail oriented, if they need help lengthening a paper, and if they need help to bring out more emotion into a paper.

I love to help students start or polish their essays during any stage of their writing. While I’ve primarily taken English courses, I enjoy getting to read a variety of course papers and discussing topics with others. 

Favorite Topics: anything in the health humanities world, English, and religious studies

Consulting Strengths: early-stage idea development, working with outlines or other ways of organizing information, cheerleading / promoting confidence in writers

Writers should meet with me if they would like to discuss their ideas, need help organizing, developing a thesis, or even a final read through for grammar, spelling, and clarity. 

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Hello! My name is Isabella Brama. I am a senior double major (Biology & Psychology) and double minor (English & Chemistry), and I am currently applying to grad programs in public health! I play on the women's hockey team, am in my second year as a Dignitas TA, and love reading, writing, and making art.

Favorite Topics: Social justice, public health, research, and scientific reports. I like learning all about what other people at the college are getting up to!

Consulting Strengths: early-stage idea development, talking out ideas, working with outlines or other ways of organizing information

Writers should meet with me if they want help with organizing their thoughts and leaving with a clear plan ahead of them. My job is to help writers feel more confident about their writing — style, organization, sentence structure, citations, etc. — so that their ideas shine through. If writers are struggling to start a paper because they are worried about their writing or they don't know where to start, I can help with that!

Hello! I'm a sophomore Nursing major with minors in Psychology and Outdoor Education. I'm also involved in the Honors program, Outdoor Pursuit, and Book Club. In my free time, I love exploring new places, going on adventures with friends, and reading just about anything I can get my hands on. I’m passionate about writing and see it as a powerful tool for clear, effective communication. I'm excited to work with you on whatever writing projects you're tackling!

Favorite Topics: anything that you're working on!

Consulting Strengths: brainstorming, breaking down assignment prompts, big-picture revision, revision for clarity/cohesion (flow)

Writers should meet with me if they want help with talking out ideas and brainstorming, strengthening structure and organization, integrating sources smoothly, or revising for clarity and cohesion. I’m especially helpful for writers who have ideas on the page and want support refining, reorganizing, and polishing their work. I'm always happy to read whatever draft you've got on the page and help you to get your work across the finish line!

Hi, I'm Kyle. I'm a second-year English education major. I enjoy reading, writing, being outside, and watching hockey. I look forward to hearing different perspectives and collaborating on them to build a strong case. 

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