So—what is a "student writing assistant"? Who are these students who will listen to your questions about your essays and work with you to come up with answers? In some colleges, they’re referred to as "peer tutors," in other schools, as "peer consultants." We chose the term "student writing assistants" to identify ourselves: we’re students, like you; we’re interested in the possibilities and processes of writing, and we have prepared ourselves to be useful to you, the writer.

Seven student writing assistants (SWAs), who are experienced at writing academic papers in a variety of disciplines, are here to respond to the individual needs and concerns of student writers. SWAs for the Fall 2007 term include:

Alex Cartland likes peering into tea cups, stories, poems, questions of identity, personal and collective memories, and the other sides of things.  As a New College student, she spends a lot of time looking through pixilated space and windows facing the Bay.

Michelle DiPietro, a fourth-year Medieval Studies student, is currently writing her thesis on the cosmos as seen by the people of medieval Ireland. Her writing interests include short and extended fiction, especially Fantasy writing, but she loves working with all kinds of academic writers too. She uses lists to think, write, and fix things. She probably submitted this blurb an hour before it was due.

Caitlin Kindervatter-Clark will soon be finishing up a literature thesis on Alice Munro. She lives with a one-eyed dog named Gus in a house by the bay. She writes short stories and plans to pursue an MFA in fiction next year.

Melissa Jacobowitz is a fourth-year student concentrating in Russian Language and Literature.  She is drawn to creative nonfiction, short stories, poetry, and clear and graceful academic writing.  Currently, she is writing her thesis about Jewish-Russian identity and internalized anti-Semitism in Isaac Babel’s short fiction.  She is unsure what will come next.  She seeks student writers who want to dig deep into their work and aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty.

Laura Hampton is a fourth year student concentrating in literature. She particularly enjoys writing short stories, drawing, playing the piano, and lying face down on her carpet. She is currently writing her thesis on the relationship between life and fiction in Vladimir Nabokov’s short works.  Seeking a student writer who is equally fascinated with the power of writing and can handle multiple cats.

Kathleen Maxwell is a second-year student with a possible AOC in chemistry/applied math.  She is also interested in literature and biology.  She enjoys running, riding her horse, and playing the piano.  In her spare time, she practices handstands and makes soup. Seeking a student writer who is engaging and interested in learning.

Maya Praff is a second year student with an AOC in mathematics (but don’t worry, she is still able to write words). She is extremely interested in languages and literature, and enjoys doodling and eating mustard in her spare space and time (of which she has very little!). Seeking a student writer who is determined, not afraid to ask questions, and eager to learn.

Campus writing consultant Jan Wheeler contributed to the creation of a writing center at New College, and she oversees activities at the center.

WRC Assisant Director Alexis Orgera likes to organize files, make blogs and websites, and enter lots of names and numbers into databases. She also write poems and loves a good writing workshop. She's really adept with sticky notes.