Jenna Zulauf...
... is completing a double major in Psychology and Sociology at SVSU. She recently completed a semester abroad at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia, and she is also a mentor in the SVSU Writing Center, work that led to a presentation at a professional conference of educators last year.
“Working for the Writing Center is wonderful. The opportunity came about after my freshman English class, when I won Third Prize for an essay that I submitted to the Freshman Writing Awards.”
“After much encouragement from the Writing Center Director, Diane Boehm, I started as a mentor in my sophomore year. My work there ultimately led to a presentation at the International Writing Centers Association Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
Jenna’s presentation allowed her to apply the skills she had been learning in her psychology and sociology classes to her work tutoring student writing.
“I looked at the idea of how the physical space of the Writing Center’s location affects how students perceive the process of writing instruction, and how they experience it as well.”
In addition to her work with the Writing Center, Jenna was also excited to be able to spend a semester abroad studying in Australia.
“I can’t think of an experience that would have better complemented my studies in psychology and sociology than the courses I took in the Psychology of Physical Activity and Australian Sociology.”
“I learned that psychologists and sociologists do things very differently than they do here in the United States, and it was a wonderful learning experience to be able to look anew at my chosen disciplines through the eyes of another culture.”
The semester in Australia was not all studying, however. Jenna spent a weekend in Kangaroo Valley as a volunteer for a project that is helping to restore the state of the indigenous vegetation in the valley, and remove all the non-native vegetation that has accumulated.
Upon returning to SVSU this semester, Jenna is excited to be starting as a Club Red tour guide.
“I’m very excited for the chance to get to know the incoming freshman class. I can remember when I first started here how shy and introverted I was. SVSU really gave me the confidence to strike out and do things on my own.”
“Everyone at SVSU – from the staff of the Registrar or Financial Aid or Housing – is very caring. I consider SVSU my home now.”