VWC Peer Consultants
Hello! I’m Jillian Alden (she/her/hers), an aspiring Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Drama Therapist out of Antioch Seattle. I grew up in Oregon and through a long series of life events, moved to Tacoma, WA where I eventually attended the University of Washington and completed my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. When I’m not learning and working from home, I enjoy performing as a murder suspect with the Murder Mystery Company out of Seattle, and hopefully I will get to enjoy this again when the world feels a little safer from COVID-19. I love dogs, sunshine, tattoos, food, creative arts and building relationships over a cup of coffee. I also love watching the transformative process that happens through writing revision. I am excited to witness your journey and help you feel increasingly confident and proud of your own work!
Hi! My name is Rachel Altman. I was born and raised in New York City and am a student in AUNE’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program. I earned my Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Richmond International University in London. I am a published author in Frontiers in Psychiatry and have experience in writing academic papers, case conceptualizations, research papers and psychological assessment reports. Thank you for trusting me in helping you navigate your way through the academic writing process. I look forward to getting to see the world through your unique perspective.
Casey Buonocore is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. Prior to attending AUNE, she earned her B.A. and M.A. in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. She loves music (particularly musical theater) and is incredibly passionate about helping others – especially her peers in the Writing Center!
Hey-o, I’m Morgan Chester, and I am a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at Antioch University Seattle. As a recent Texas transplant, I love the contrast of being surrounded by progressive thinkers and actual trees, and I am happy to call Washington my new home. I am an artist, avid gamer, and a full-time nerd. My interests include astronomy, paleontology, cooking, and travelling, but one can often find me at home curled up with my cats, Taliyah and Lulu. I look forward to connecting with writers across Antioch and work as a team to navigate the world of writing.
Hiya! My name is Iris Chiang (she/her/hers) and I am a clinical mental health counseling and art therapy student at Antioch University Seattle. I was born and raised in New Jersey. Since graduating high school, I have also lived in Nashville, India, and Hawai’i. I am an avid traveler and I love painting murals. I’m always down for a good hike and camping under the stars. I am so excited to connect and create with you at the VWC!
Greetings! My name is Catherine Cougan (she/her/hers) and I am currently earning a master’s in Education in Antioch’s Seattle program. I have had the honor of working with the all ages music community in Seattle for several years, where amplifying underrepresented voices and stories remains the main goal. I have always loved a good science phenomenon as well, which led me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in oceanography. Covid times have gifted me with what feels like unlimited time to fuss with pottery creations in the garage, so watch out, I might talk your ear off about glaze dynamics or something should you let me. I’m enthusiastic about helping students express themselves, and sincerely look forward to supporting writing needs how I can in addition to learning from VWC visitors!
Hello! I’m Madison Dell, and I’m in the Couple and Family Therapy program at Antioch University Seattle. Before coming to Antioch, I lived in Vermont where I completed my B.S. in Community and International Development at the University of Vermont. Besides working for the VWC, I also teach yoga and lead workshops on breath and meditation. I am passionate about mountain biking and rock climbing and am excited to see what outdoors opportunities Washington has in store! I look forward to not only supporting other writers, but also to learning from my peers and continuously improving my own writing.
Hello, I’m Julie Fortney. I am in the graduate program at Antioch University in Seattle for Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Art Therapy. I moved to Seattle from Virginia where I had lived nearly all of my life. I love to travel; so far I’ve made it to Europe twice and hope to visit Peru or Singapore soon. I like caving. You haven’t done it right if you didn’t get any bruises. I also like tattoos. I currently have 7 and am hoping to get many more. I’m looking forward to advancing my education and having new experiences at Antioch.
Ashley Forwood is a student in the International Sustainable Development and Climate Change program. She is from Mobile, Alabama and has a degree in Environmental Economics and Management from Mississippi State University. She enjoys all forms of exercise ranging from yoga to crossfit, and she loves to travel, garden, and paint in her free time. Ashley is passionate about the future of our environment, and she’s excited to help other students bring their passions to fruition through the Writing Center.
Hello, my name’s Rachel Frank and I’m a clinical PsyD student at Antioch University New England. I earned my BA in Psychology from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and MSc from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I’ve worked as a Research Assistant in many labs, including positions at the UMASS and Dalhousie University, across an array of subjects. I love writing in all forms and understand the anxiety that can get wrapped up in sharing writing with others. I’m just here to say, that’s okay! Thank you for taking that vulnerable first step and I can’t wait to get to know you better through your writing!
Hello, my name is Alexandra Frederick (she/her/hers), and I am a Clinical Psychology PsyD student at Antioch University New England. Before attending Antioch, I received my M.A. in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, and my B.S. from the State University of New York at Cortland in Psychology. I have worked as both a Research Assistant as well as a Teaching Assistant and enjoyed making connections with students in many different settings. I look forward to providing support, as well as learning from others and improving my own writing.
Hello! My name is Tiare Gill, and I am in the Urban Environmental Education graduate program at the Antioch Seattle branch. I was born and raised on the island of O’ahu in Hawai’I, but moved to Tacoma, Washington about 6 years ago to pursue a BS in Biology and Environmental Policy. My connection to writing center work started in undergrad, where I served as a writing advisor and academic consultant. I am constantly amazed by the diversity of writing forms and styles, and I value spaces that facilitate the exchange and growth of ideas. I hope that the Virtual Writing Center can become that space for you, and I look forward to connecting with you through your writing soon.
Hi! I’m Greer King (they/them), and I’m currently in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Antioch Seattle. Before attending Antioch, I completed a BA in psychology with a minor in women’s studies at Seattle Pacific University. I grew up in Washington and love the PNW. When I’m not doing school or work-related things, I love spending time outside, writing poetry, journaling, walking, hiking, spending quality time with friends or family, and watching too much Netflix/YouTube. I also love getting tattoos and piercings. I hope to one day open my own counseling practice and specialize in working with the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m super excited to be a part of the Virtual Writing Center team and to get the opportunity to work with my fellow students!
Hi, I’m Vero Lecocq, and I’m working toward my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Drama Therapy at Antioch University Seattle. I grew up in Colorado, which is where I first discovered my love of literature and theater. I attended college in New Hampshire and double-majored in Theater and Linguistics modified with French. After graduation, I taught in the Marshall Islands, then worked as a tutor for some years. My path then led me here to Antioch and the Virtual Writing Center, and I am ecstatic to be supporting my peers on our shared journey with the written word.
Hi! My name is Melody Rossiter (she/they), and I’m studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Art Therapy at Antioch University Seattle. I have two cats, Delilah (pictured) and Thea (not pictured). In my spare time, I like listening to music or podcasts while working with some of my favorite art media: pen drawings, mixed media/collage, and bookmaking. I also enjoy creative writing and have two very rough first drafts of novels; but roughness is just part of the process, and one of my favorite things about writing is witnessing the growth that occurs between revisions.
Hi there! My name is Amanda Timm and my pronouns are she/they. I’m currently pursuing my MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at AUS and certificate in dance/movement therapy at AUNE. I’m from Minneapolis where I currently live but I spent 11 years in Chicago where I studied dance and directed my own project-based dance company. I traveled for about 5 years around the US, Oceania, South East Asia, and South Asia, living and working in places like Maui, Australia, and India where I taught English and provided support for ASL writers. I’m involved in many community-based projects and I’m excited to expand my network by supporting and learning from my VWC peers.
VWC Staff
Hello and welcome to the Virtual Writing Center! I’m Anne Maxham, and my official title is Director of Writing Support for Antioch University. I came to Antioch University Seattle in 2000 as a faculty member in the School of Education in a program that genuinely reflected AU’s commitment to social justice through offering a rigorous BA + Teacher Preparation program for Seattle area para-educators. Through the past few years, I’ve moved into more administrative work in developing writing support and programs at AUS with the past four years focused on developing virtual writing support across the five campuses. I am proud to be a part of a team deeply committed to support Antioch University writers wherever they are.
Hi, I’m John Dunham, the Director of the Virtual Writing Center. In addition to working in the VWC, I direct the campus Writing Center at Antioch New England. I started writing as the son of an editor, attended Marlboro College and enjoyed the school’s rigorous writing standards, and worked in the AUNE Writing Center during my graduate work. I have studied History, Writing, Linguistics, Asian Studies, Environmental Studies, and Social Justice Advocacy, which gives me a broad knowledge base and appreciation for multiple kinds of writing. I also worked for five years in Wilderness Therapy with at-risk youth in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where I learned many of my tutoring and coaching skills. I’m delighted to continue helping Antioch students develop their writing, thinking, and learning skills.
Working for the VWC
The VWC hires current Antioch students from any campus who are enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral degree program and have a work-study award for the current academic year. Typical appointments are 10 hours per week for a minimum of one year, renewing on June 30 (the end of the Academic Year), and all work-study positions within the VWC pay at the same rate. The VWC does not close for quarterly or semester breaks except for Winter Break, between the second-to-last week of December and the second week of January.
Job Description: A VWC Peer Writing Consultant’s primary responsibility is to review and respond to student writing submissions. The Writing Consultant must have a strong proficiency in writing and facility with online communication. The consultant should be an effective collaborator and communicator, interested in supporting other AU students’ growth as writers, and interested in joining the conversation about composition/writing center theory and practice. The majority of the work of the VWC is responding to writers’ submissions and contributing to the VWC community.
Peer Writing Consultants are responsible for monitoring the online queue for writing submissions and responding in a timely fashion. The Consultant begins with the oldest submission and provides feedback according to VWC protocols. Written responses are based on a hierarchy of needs: first, alignment with the assignment; second, higher-order concerns such as organization, information development, focus, and integration of source material; third, suggestions for lower-order concerns such as sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and syntax. In certain circumstances, the Consultant is advised to confer with the VWC Director or Coordinator before responding.
Additionally, the Writing Consultant may confer with other students through synchronous virtual meetings. These meetings are scheduled on request, and each Peer Consultant will provide potential days during their normal shifts that they could also be available for a virtual session. The same protocols apply to these sessions, as well as additional elements for an effective in-person response.
The Consultant’s remaining responsibilities involve professional development through reading resources available on the VWC and Consultant Sakai sites. Consultants also engage in monthly conversations with other consultants during staff meetings and regular one-on-one meetings with the VWC Coordinator. Most consultants are also engaged in other ancillary projects related to resource development and writing for the VWC Newsletter. Consultants are paid for all professional development time in addition to their shifts monitoring the VWC queue.
Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Adhere to established protocols of responding to student writing
- Monitor the VWC queue for writing submissions
- Respond to new writing submissions in a timely and appropriate fashion
- Assist in developing new materials and resources
- Participate in monthly staff meetings and stay current with required readings
- Represent the VWC on campus when needed
- Consistently read and respond to work-related emails
- Contribute to VWC newsletter
- Communicate and schedule work and absences with appropriate lead time
- Make up for any missed meetings through written engagement with meeting minutes.
Consultant Learning Objectives:
- Develop skills for offering authentic written feedback that fosters writers’ growth
- Deepen understanding of writing as an epistemology and cognitive process
- Acquire insight into the expanding frontier of online learning
- Practice reading written work and providing valuable feedback
To inquire about available positions, please e-mail us at [email protected].