Meet Our Consultants
Writing Center Director: Kalo Clarke
Writing Center Consultants, Fall 2009
Lauren BlakesleeI am a second-year Master's in Literature candidate, with interests in twentieth-century Modernist American Literature. I moved to Boston from northeastern PA in 2008, where at Lafayette College I studied English and Spanish--whenever I wasn't in a boat, that is. I rowed competitively on the crew team for four years, regattas taking me up and down the east coast, and even to the Head of the Charles right here in Boston. I am a great lover of dogs, an amateur hiker, and a perpetual reader of Hamlet. I am also excited about my first semester in the Writing Center this fall!
Laura BostonI am a fourth year English major and Secondary Education minor in the undergraduate program at Northeastern. In addition, I am an honors student and a Presidential Scholar. It is my goal to become a high school English teacher after graduation! I work in an educational setting with K-8 students during the academic year, and have recently passed the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure in the subjects of English and Communications/Literacy. In my spare time I enjoy watching the Food Network. More specifically, I love watching Paula Dean (and appreciating her creative uses of butter). I am extremely familiar with many of the required English courses at Northeastern, having taken several of them myself. I know that this will come in handy while working with my peers in the Writing Center!
Mark HevertI am a 21 year old English and Philosophy double major from southern Massachusetts and am incredibly excited to begin my first year in the writing center. While I am not a Ph.D. candidate and have never taught a course, I do have a genuine passion for writing and teaching, and have aspirations of becoming an English professor. I truly enjoy tackling the challenges of the writing process and hope to share my excitement and knowledge of this process with anyone who needs help. When I’m not in the writing center, I love playing metal with my band, reading and writing poetry, scuba diving, playing soccer, and cooking.
Elizabeth HopwoodI was born and raised north of Boston and received my B.A. in English from Connecticut College. After a short stint in the publishing world, I received my M.A. in English from Salem State College, where I stayed on as a part-time instructor. I’ve taught College Writing, Basic Writing, Composition courses, and, most recently, ENG 1111 here at Northeastern. I am a first-year Ph.D. student interested in nineteenth century American literature, American studies, Catharine Sedgwick, and foodways in literature. Hobbies include running, television, pizza, Trader Joe’s, and shameless celebrity gossip.
Steven KapicaThe fall semester of 2009 marks my tenth year teaching college composition. For seven of those years I worked at a community college in North Carolina. Before coming to Northeastern, I was a teaching assistant, a writing center tutor, an adjunct instructor, a full time faculty member, and a department chair. Through it all, two things have remained constant: I love writing and I love teaching writing.
My academic interests include critical and cultural theory, modernism and postmodernism, and American postwar ideology, specifically iconography and the construction of femininity. In addition to these interests, my work history has ignited a desire to explore how Web 2.0 continues to change and shape the writing classroom.
Shun KiangI am a first-year PhD student in literature at Northeastern. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to Florida soon after the Handover in 1997. I did my undergraduate work at the University of Florida and later went to Stetson University for my M.A. I joined the English Department at Daytona State College in August 2007 and had taught developmental writing, freshman composition, and literature survey courses for the next two years. My research interests are broad and varied, including late Victorian literature (E. M. Forster and Henry James are some of my favorite writers), Asian-American literature, post-colonial theory (I always say “yes” to Edward Said), and identity politics. E. M. Forster once wrote, "The fact is we can only love what we know personally. And we cannot know much." In many ways, that’s the kind of attitude with which I approach reading, writing, and the study of literature. I am excited to be studying here at Northeastern, and I look forward to working with students in the Writing Center this semester.
Aparna MujumdarAparna Mujumdar is a PhD candidate in the English Literature program and a senior teaching assistant. She has taught both Freshman college writing and AWD classes at Northeaster University. Her areas of interest are Postcolonial Literature, Anglophone Literature, Critical Theory and Narratology. She is currently working on her dissertation.
David OberBorn just a little ways east of Cleveland (mere minutes away from “Calvin and Hobbes” creator Bill Waterson), David spent the best days of his youth viewing the elephants at the Cleveland Zoo, visiting the Cleveland Art Museum’s hall of armor, and climbing the stegosaurus outside the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. When he wasn’t visiting museums he would while away the hours watching his favorite cartoons, including Gummi Bears and a little known gem by the name of Exosquad. After graduating high school he attended Wittenberg University, a small school of little more than 2,000 students. In college he majored in English with a concentration in both literature and creative writing and became heavily involved in the school radio station, reviewing albums and publishing a weekly newsletter called The Tympanum. He didn’t watch much television in college but he did become obsessed with Twin Peaks more than a decade after its cancellation. Currently he is a graduate student at Northeastern University and looks to specialize in 19th century American Literature as well as post-World War II film.
Victoria PapaI’m a first-year Ph.D. student at Northeastern, and I’m originally from Albany, NY. I have a Master’s degree in English from the University at Albany, SUNY and a Bachelor’s degree in English/Education from Saint Anselm College. My scholarly interests include Modernist literature and Cultural Studies. I’m looking forward to putting my own writing and teaching experience to good use in the Writing Center this semester. My aim is to guide you in honing your own skills as writer to produce a successful paper.
When I’m not reading, writing, or teaching, I enjoy exploring Boston, doing yoga, eating good food, and relaxing over tea at cafes.
Megan PowersI’m a senior English major with a Sociology minor, graduating in May. I’m from the small mountainous town of Sparta, New Jersey. You might be shocked to find out that there are mountains in New Jersey – we actually have a lot more to offer than just pollution and a turnpike. Upon graduating, I’m not totally sure what I want to do with my life but law school might be in the near future. I enjoy baking cupcakes, doing crossword puzzles, and taking photographs. I hope that my wide variety experiences as an English major will aid me in being as helpful as possible.
Jefferson RiordanI took a BA and an MA in English Literature at Boston University and UMass Boston respectively, while intermittently gallivanting in hinterlands and megalopolises with guitar and drumsticks in hand. I am now a PhD student in Literature, with particular interests in American and British Modernism/Postmodernism, as well as in the expressed conflicts between religious and scientific dialectics in the modern and postmodern eras. I have taught college English, music English, and tavern English, and I prefer all three. I have an inspirational 5-year old son and a joyful 1-year old daughter.
Amanda RunyanI am a first year English PhD student at Northeastern, and I just moved to Boston from Chico, California. I love talking to students about their writing - I taught Academic Writing at Chico State in a pilot program with the Northern California Writing Project, and I am now teaching College Writing at Northeastern. In my free time I love watching America's Next Top Model and (in California) floating down the American river.
Jenna SciutoI am a first year Ph.D. student at Northeastern. Originally from Rhode Island, I got my undergraduate degree at Brown University and a MA in English from Boston University. I have taught English to middle school students in the suburbs of Paris, and I am currently teaching English 1111. My research interests include Twentieth Century novels, Irish Literature, and the idea of the Global South. In my free time, I love to run outside, travel, and check out the live music scene in Boston.
Kate SimpkinsI received my BA from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA in Creative-Writing (English) and French (double major). I have two MAs: one from The City College of New York (English Education) and New York University (Humanities & Social Thought). I'm pursuing my PhD in Victorian Literature here at Northeastern, and before moving to Boston from NYC, I had been teaching English and mentoring teachers of reading and writing for seven years.
James StrausI am a fifth year English Major here at Northeastern with a minor in History and am very excited to begin working in the Writing Center for the first time. I spent a year and a half as a Mechanical Engineering major at Northeastern as well and I bring that valuable experience with me wherever I go. Graduating in May, I intend to continue following my passion for the English language and pursue a Master’s in Literature, eventually leading to a Ph.D. focusing on the movement of the genre of science fiction in today’s society of ever shifting boundaries. Currently I also work for Borders Bookstore in Braintree as well as a Text Conversionist in Northeastern’s Disability Resource Center. In my seemingly short time here I have been part of the Northeastern Choral Society, NUHOC, and I try to keep up with Boston’s ever changing poetry scene. I also thoroughly enjoy art of many forms and spend a fairly large amount of time visiting museums and educating myself in art history. I have no doubt that I will be able to help my peers whip their writing into shape in the Writing Center as I have had to do many a time for myself.
Kate TempletonI’m a third-year PhD student in English literature at Northeastern. Originally from sunny Florida, I’ve lived in Boston for nearly 10 years. I have a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a MA in English: Issues in Modern Culture from University College London. I’ve taught College Writing as well as Advanced Writing in the Disciplines. My academic interests include Modern American literature and the intersection of literary and visual culture. This is my 4th semester in the Writing Center. When I'm not on campus, I enjoy watching Mad Men, running, yoga and surfing.
Ethan WhittetI’m a first-year Ph.D. student, originally from the coast of New Hampshire and more recently from coast of New Jersey, where at Rutgers University I earned my MA in English, taught first-year writing, and worked in the campus writing center. In fact, I’ve been working in college writing centers since 2003—not a bad streak. Before that, I made ice-cream, stirring in chocolate chips and big chunks of Heath bar. For years my favorite breakfast has been an egg on rye toast. I also enjoy crossword puzzles, probably more than I should.
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