VWC Peer Consultants
VWC Staff
Working for the VWC
VWC Peer Consultants
Hello! My name is Tammy Cloutier, and I am a doctoral student in the Environmental Studies program at Antioch University New England. I love to write and enjoy the editing process as well. It may sound odd, but correcting student papers as an adjunct instructor was kind of fun for me! When I’m not working on school assignments, I love to spend time with my family (which includes my dog of course!), read, and get outdoors. I look forward to working with you at the VWC!
Hi! I’m Jackie Eppinger and I am in the Clinical Psychology graduate program at Antioch University in Los Angeles, specializing in Child Studies and LGBT-Affirmative Psychology. I’m also a professional painter and enjoy working in theatre in addition to seeing as many shows as I can. I have a sweet cat named Stache (because he has a mustache!) that I am completely obsessed with. In my spare time I do volunteer work with LGBT youth and teach theatre at my local high school. I worked at the writing center at my undergraduate college and am happy to be part of the VWC team!
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.
Hello, I’m Teresa Hoffman, and I’m currently in a Clinical Psychology PsyD Program at Antioch University New England, but in my first life I was a software engineer. I’ve never really thought of myself as a writer, however I am a voracious reader and I love wrestling with new ideas and trying to make sense of things. I’m fascinated by how we use language to communicate. I am grateful for all the hours other people have donated to the improvement of my own writing and I hope I can pay it forward.
Kambra Johnson is pursuing her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Antioch Seattle. A native Washingtonian, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her partner and their two exuberant dogs. She also enjoys leather-working, horseback riding, gardening, yoga, and tackling DIY projects around the house. A lifelong baker, she has been known to barter with homemade pastries. Writing has always been an area of interest, and she enjoys working as a Peer Consultant at the VWC.
Hi! My name is Katie Kibler, and I’m an Environmental Studies Doctoral Candidate at Antioch University New England. I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and I served two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa (where I continue my dissertation research). I live in New Hampshire, where I’m also a Minute Clerk for the City of Keene. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time writing! It took me a long time to become a confident writer, through constructive feedback and critiques of my writing by mentors and professors I respect. I had a hard time not internalizing criticisms of my writing for a long time; still, gradually, I learned the value of those critiques for my learning process and professional development. Now, I enjoy the challenge of improving my writing based on my knowledge before I share it with others. I enjoy being a writing tutor because it allows me to help students learn to be better writers, which was a transformative experience for me. Besides writing, I also love my nine-year-old Chihuahua, Trinket, I enjoy coloring for stress relief, yoga, gardening, and sewing (I just finished my first quilt!). I’m looking forward to finishing my dissertation this year and spending time learning from all of you!
My name is Alena Rogers, and I am in the graduate Couple and Family Therapy program at Antioch Seattle. I enjoy reading, music, road trips, getting outside, and having adventures with my sons and our dog. During my undergrad at Evergreen State College Tacoma, I explored grassroots journalism and creative writing, while also learning about academic writing styles. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the VWC, to get the chance to read what my peers are writing in their programs, and to be able to learn from this experience. I hope that my feedback is helpful along the way!
Andrew Rogers likes to write. No, seriously. He is one of those people. He loves the art of words on the page. Trained as a narrative non-fiction journalist, Andrew specializes in finding the beating heart of a story. He takes that approach when reading other people’s papers or supporting them to discover and make meaning. For the last six years, he has taught personal and professional development skills to college students at universities in the region. He also likes mental health counseling, which is a good thing, since he is currently pursuing his Master’s degree through Antioch Seattle.
Hi, my name is Madeline Schmitt, and I am currently working towards my Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Drama Therapy at Antioch University Seattle. I am originally from South Dakota where I earned my undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Psychology with an Arts in Healthcare certificate. I worked at my previous school’s writing center and thoroughly enjoy reading papers covering any and every subject! I am one of those people who find all topics fascinating, so I love my job at Antioch’s VWC!
Hello! My name is Sarah Smith, and I’m in the Couple and Family Therapy program at Antioch in Seattle. I spent several years working in orphanages in developing countries before moving to the west coast. Living in other cultures opened my eyes to the vast array of creative and beautiful ways there are to look at world and to articulate the human experience. I’ve always loved writing- as well as listening to (or reading) other people’s stories. Working at the VWC is an awesome opportunity to use my passions to help those in my academic community. I know that I personally benefit from the input of others after working on a piece of writing for hours. It helps me step outside my own head and get more perspective on how my writing is perceived by the reader. When I’m not reading psychology books or writing research papers, I explore the outdoors as much as possible!
Kylie Steele is in the Urban Environmental Education MAED program at Antioch University Seattle. She started her first major literary piece in 4th grade, a murder mystery, and has been in love with the writing process ever since. She is a true lover of learning and is excited to partner with students to strengthen their writing (and her own in the process!). She received her BA in Communications from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, where she trained in journalistic style writing and learned the art of grammar by studying French. She believes stories and voice are the most powerful weapons in sharing one’s experience and healing the world. When she’s not studying, reading, writing or working on your paper, you can usually find Kylie playing outside, exploring, or picking up a new hobby, Lindy Hop anyone?
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 Coordinator for the VWC. 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.
In addition to teaching a variety of writing courses at all grade levels, Steve Brown founded and led The Bishop’s School’s Writing Center and Student Writing Assistance Team. Steve has studied at Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking and was a fellow of the San Diego Area Writing Project. In 2006, he completed a graduate program in documentary writing at the Salt Institute in Portland, Maine. In 2010, Steve enrolled in the Center for Creative Change at Antioch University, Seattle, graduating in 2011 with a MA in Whole Systems Design. He has worked with the Virtual Writing Center since 2010.
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 circumstance, 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 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 vwc@antioch.edu.