Writing Center Staff / Tutors

Appointed Director of the University Writing Program in 1995, I laid the groundwork for the SVSU Writing Center, which opened in 1996 and moved to its current Zahnow location in 2007. We have a history of excellent service to the University community, and I've been privileged to work with exceptional tutors and Coordinators!

I am also Director of the Saginaw Bay Writing Project, and coordinate the Faculty/Staff Development Calendar, the Faculty Summer Institute, and the Braun Writing Awards. I teach a variety of writing courses, from English 111 to upper-level electives.

I am returning to the Writing Center Coordinator position after serving for two years as the First Year Writing Program Coordinator for the English Department. I am very pleased to be back in the Writing Center, working with such gifted and talented mentors. I have been a Lecturer in the English Department for twelve years, teaching general education literature courses and freshman composition. I've also been lucky to be involved in several service learning projects, including art and writing workshops with Saginaw High School and collaborations with Bay City Central High School's Writing Center.

When I'm not in the Writing Center, you can find me at home. I enjoy playing long games of Risk with my 14 year old son, Gabe (I almost always lose); listening to my 17 year old daughter compose songs on the piano (they sound good to me, but I'm tone deaf); and walking my large golden retriever, Aslan (he's on a diet, but he still weighs 120 pounds).

I'm going into my third year here at SVSU, and after a long, yet fun time here, I've decided to major in Nursing and minor in Political Science. When I finish, I'm hoping to further my education by getting a Master's. For now, I spend my life at school in classes and organizations. I've just finished my work in the Honors program, I'm a Foundation Scholar and EAA of Student Association, and I've written for The Valley Vanguard. Last spring break I went to Florida with Alternative Breaks on the Disability Awareness trip, which was amazing. This year I'm very excited to be a site leader of the Environment trip-I get to travel to Guatemala to build wood stoves to prevent deaths due to smoke inhalation.

I am originally from St. Clair, a small town near Port Huron. While I'm at home, I work as a waitress at a local restaurant called The Voyageur, referred to by locals as "Club V." In my spare time, I love to be with friends and family, dance, bike ride, kayak, rollerblade, and sing (especially karaoke).

I’m a sophomore majoring in Professional & Technical Writing, with minors in Creative Writing and Graphic Design. After twenty years in the Navy, I’m really enjoying being a student again. I firmly believe we should never stop learning.

My husband and I grow and sell sustainably raised fruits and vegetables along with grass-fed beef and pastured poultry. Being out in the country gives me lots of time for contemplation and writing. I’ve recently become a member of Cardinal Ink, because I enjoy seeing what others are writing and to help my own writing improve.

I am a senior, majoring in English Education. I'm pursuing minors in Chemistry and Creative Writing. I began informal tutoring after my high school graduation. I live in my home town of Bay City, and I work in Saginaw as a UAW autoworker. I have had the opportunity to live out of state and to travel abroad. I come from a large family, and I enjoy spending time with my younger brothers and sisters.

When I have the luxury of free time, I look forward to seeing films, reading fiction, writing, and playing golf and tennis. I like to attend campus and community events, so look for me and say hi. I love meeting new people!

I'm a junior majoring in Creative Writing--which I may expand to a double major including Literature--and minoring in Philosophy. I'm also a member of the Cardinal Sins staff and a member of the newly formed creative writing club, Cardinal Ink. I also recently came on to The Valley Vanguard writing staff.

Really, the only hobby I have (besides writing) is music. I like to learn songs and I've written some of my own, but my favorite thing to do with my instrument--be it guitar, bass, harmonica, etc.--is to jam.

I am a junior majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in English, Math, and Physical Education. I am currently a member of the University Foundation Scholars Program and the Women's Tennis Team. I am also a certified basketball official and lifeguard. Since I began college three years ago, I have utilized the Writing Center, and I look forward to helping others explore the writing process.

I grew up in Cadillac, Michigan. While I am not much of a winter person, I definitely enjoy my time spent on Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell in the summer months. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends playing games, watching movies, baking, traveling, and enjoying each other's company!

I'm in my second semester of Saginaw Valley, freshly transferred after a year at Oakland University. So far I love SVSU and am happily content to complete my Creative Writing major here. Post-graduation, I'd like to get into the editing field. I also have a passion for cooking and food, and if money allows, I plan to attend culinary school after I get my college degree and getting into food writing.

I grew up in Chesterfield, MI. I work in Mt. Clemens as a waitress and countergirl at Buffalo Wild Wings; I love my job. I enjoy visiting downtown Detroit, especially the DIA. I also really love winter, which I know is rare among native Michiganders.

In my free time I enjoy reading, playing basketball and volleyball as well as intramural walleyball here at SVSU, sleeping, cooking, MarioKart, lounging with my friends, and trying to become a better disc golfer.

I’m currently a junior here at SVSU with a nursing major/philosophy minor. The Writing Center has become my home-away-from-home and has provided me with many great opportunities. Outside of work and school, I spend my time enjoying music, books, friends and family. I most enjoy being an amateur guitar player and an avid disc golfer.

My life goal is to one day write the next great American novel, but I’d happily settle for a cartoon strip in a local paper. I’m grateful for the life experiences I’ve gained here at SVSU. Even though this university has been a perfect fit for me, I'll be excited to graduate and explore the world.

I am a theatre major here at Saginaw Valley. I do techincal theatre as in set construction, stage makeup, and stage managing. I am a Spanish minor but I will most likely be adding a history minor too. Next summer I plan to study abroad in Spain. I am a member of the Honors Program, NSCS, and Alpha Psi Omega, the drama fraternity. Right now I am in the process of becoming president of a new theatre RSO, Project Design Club, for sewing and costume design.

I grew up in Westland, Michigan, which is between Detroit and Ann Arbor. I spend my free time reading, hanging out with friends, working on theatre stuff, and attempting to catch up with TV shows. I am also a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of the Heart of Michigan.

My name is Virginia Blakely but I go by Ginny. I am majoring in Social Work and cannot wait to encourage change and understanding in order to make the world a better place for all those who reside here.

I am Co-President of the student organization Living Proud. In between writing papers and reading textbooks, I volunteer as a Big Sister and also am part of the Sexual Assault Response Team in Saginaw. My true nature and happiness is developed through volunteer work. The excitement of learning, along with music, movies, and video games gets me excited about the day. I am dying to move to a big city with people, lights, and street signs, although I am originally from a smaller town known as Holly, MI. recognized for the ski hill and annual Renaissance Festival.

I'm just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world. It is my third year at SVSU and I'm fresh off the boat from a semester abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia. I am double-majoring in History and International Studies with a Gender Studies minor. I absolutely love learning about people's lives and cultures (I've studied 4 languages: Russian, Arabic, French, and Spanish) and feel most at-home while traveling the world. (Besides Russia, I have traveled to the United Kingdom, Finland, Estonia, Greece, and Mexico with briefs stays in Belize and the Bahamas). I was born in Track Town, USA (a.k.a. Eugene, Oregon) but grew up in Coleman, Michigan. As fate would have it, I compete in the throws on the SVSU Track & Field team and love the never-ending challenge of self-improvement.

The Honors Program here at SVSU has e  nabled me to pursue my own undergraduate research, through which I am currently working on my honors' thesis regarding the history of Russian Women. I am associated with AIESEC (a student-run international exchange/ internship organization), the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, and the History and Geography clubs on campus.

I also have had the honor of taking part in Alternative Breaks which included a trip to Washington, D.C., to learn about urban poverty. My goal is to enter the Peace Corps upon graduation from SVSU and make a life out of helping people around the world.

I am a Sophomore here at SVSU, majoring in Secondary English Education with minors in Physical Education and History. I was born and raised in Eastpointe and attended East Detroit High School. After getting my degree here at SVSU, I plan to get a job teaching High School English and coaching Cross Country and Track & Field. Running is my first love, but after a brief injury-filled stint as a member of the SVSU Cross Country team, I'm focusing on putting my energies into different avenues, preferably ones that are easier on my knees.

On the rare occasion where I am not hampered by injuries, I enjoy working out and playing basketball, football, soccer, and ping pong. I play guitar and sing for two bands, and I especially enjoy writing songs. I love reading, writing, being spontaneous and ridiculous, and spending time with friends and family (and my dog!). I love to laugh, I love to travel, and I'm very excited about being a Writing Center Tutor!

My interests are varied, too much so to list here, but some of my very favorite activities include reading, singing, dancing (west coast swing in particular), learning the guitar, making home movies, and writing. I value my friends and my friendships more than almost anything, and I hope to make many new ones during my time at the Writing Center.

I am a second year Creative Writing/ Professional and Technical Writing major with a minor in Black studies. I was born and raised in Detroit, MI, and I thoroughly enjoy being involved in school and extra-curricular activities. I am involved in a number of RSO’s, including being vice-president of Cardinal Ink—the new creative writing club.

In my spare time I enjoy reading and writing poetry and short stories, listening to music, dancing, drinking orange juice, and eating almonds. I am currently in the process of submitting creative writing pieces to be accepted for publication, competing in West Coast Swing across the Midwest, and writing music as the lyricist in the worship band Fragrance of Life. I am passionate about ministry and encouraging myself and others to broaden their horizons.

Tutoring reminds me of the proverb my high school English teacher drilled into me: “you can give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Or you can teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.” As tutors, we are teaching others to fish. We could simply doctor students’ papers, as some believe is the purpose of the Writing Center, but that would accomplish nothing except a single meal. We are building the rods, rigging the line, and collaboratively choosing the lures that will catch the “fish” that those we tutor are looking for. A byproduct of what is caught is a good grade, but more importantly, we are placing the fishing rod in hands that will use it to their benefit throughout their college career and their lifetimes.

I am a second year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Oftentimes I am asked, “In what field of nursing do you plan on working?” This is a complex question as I am interested in working in obstetric, pediatric, and critical care units. While I am unsure of where it is that I will ultimately end up, I am eager to see where life takes me.

I was born and raised in Midland, Michigan, and attended the same school from preschool through high school graduation. While Midland Christian School was an incredible place to learn and grow into the person that I am today, it was a huge transition to come to SVSU after graduating with only twelve other students.

I am making the best of my time here by prioritizing academics, being involved on campus, and developing lasting friendships. I am a member of the Foundation Scholars Program, His House Christian Fellowship, and Music ‘n Motion (an RSO dedicated to West Coast Swing dancing). When I am not studying, attending Bible studies, or dancing the night away, I enjoy baking, reading, going for walks, and hanging out with my friends.

When I came to SVSU and sought the assistance of a geography tutor, I assumed that she would answer each of my questions, help me study, and send me off, hoping that I would ace the exam. Instead, she was the perfect example of what it means to be a tutor. My tutor explained concepts essential to understanding cultural geography and how to seek out answers for myself. She helped me attain study skills that would equip me for the future instead of merely for the test at hand. It is especially important to note that tutoring is a collaborative process in which the tutor and tutee maintain a dialogue, breaking down problems and allowing students to come to conclusions on their own. It is important for tutors to assist in crafting strong arguments instead of perfectly revised papers, and to help students learn how to learn. I too am a student, and always have room for improvement.

I am a Rhetoric and Professional Writing major with a minor in Graphic Arts. I have also just begun the process of earning a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).  My desire is to travel to Haiti, India, or China and teach English to children while working independently as a professional and technical writer - that is my wish anyway. I enjoy writing in many forms, and I am currently working with Dr. Keough as a copy editor for the Material Culture journal and on a novel.

I currently live in St. Helen, Michigan, but I was born and raised in Saginaw. I have also lived in Melbourne, Florida, and Ludwigsburg, Germany. I love to travel, and I have visited Hamburg, Germany; Coos Bay, Oregon; Jamaica; and the East and West Bahamas.  I have worked as a Children’s Ministry Director and have owned and operated a Licensed Day Care. I have three children, two-step children, and four grandchildren that are the joy of my life. I enjoy creating ancestral memory books and taking long, refreshing walks in the country.

Writing usually comes easily to me, much easier than talking (although, once I am sure about a subject and sold on the concepts, talking is really not that hard either). But writing carries a weight that speaking does not. Unless recorded, oral conversations can be dismissed or forgotten, whereas written correspondence, in whatever form, becomes archival – retrievable – available for further scrutiny. That truth hit home to me when one of my first college professors gave me a poor grade, not because he did not agree with my conclusions, but because I did not document my path to those conclusions. It was then that I realized that the writing process was more than just grammatical sentences with a conclusion – but a record of thought processes created for others to follow and understand.

I want to be a part of the Writing Center to learn a holistic approach to tutoring the writing process that will enable me to be a better writer and to assist others in that process as well. Having taught children for many years, I already know that there is no greater joy than assisting someone else in the learning process.

I am a Secondary Education student with a major in History and a minor in Physical Education; I am also working towards a Social Studies endorsement. I am in my third year at Saginaw Valley, but I also Muskegon Community College for two years.

When I am not in class or working, I am often coaching, whether it be high school baseball or middle school football--both of which are challenging and rewarding. I also enjoy watching movies and being active when the mood strikes.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to work in the writing center and to help develop writers, while developing as an educator.

I grew up in a small town roughly 45 minutes north of here called Beaverton. My graduation class was made up of a mere 86 students, so I know from experience that keeping a secret in small towns is nearly impossible! Surrounded by my friends, family, and a more natural environment, I grew to love and embrace nearly all those around me, as well as to develop a strong respect for and desire to be close to the environment and wildlife. I feel very blessed to grow up in such a small intimate area, and I believe much of who I am as a person is a direct result of growing up in Beaverton.

Currently, I am a Biology and Spanish major (where I am going with it, I am not sure). I am trying to make as much out of my college experience as I can, so in addition to working in the writing center, I am also a member of the biology club, Peer Health Educators, Dr. Lange’s undergraduate research group, and I live in the Global Community here on campus.

I consider it a great honor to be selected to work at the Writing Center.

I'm a fifth year student, majoring in Spanish for Secondary Education. In addition I am minoring in English and I am seeking an Endorsement in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).

Originally I am from Fenton, Michigan, and I love spending time with friends and family on the lake. On campus, you may see me in the Admissions Office. I have worked there as the Campus Tour Coordinator for three years, and I love working with prospective students and guests of the university. In addition, I am a member of the University Scholars Program and the Honors Program on campus. I am very excited to be a Writing Center Mentor and hope that I can help others!

I am currently a fourth-year student here at SVSU, and have loved my experience here so far!  I am a communications major with a management minor. I keep busy as a Peer Advisor, the president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club, Music'N'Motion and the Living Leadership Program, as well as staying involved in IM sports. Volleyball is my favorite, but I would never pass up an opportunity for basketball, as well as playing catch with a baseball or football!

My family is one of the most important aspects of my life, and I can never get enough time with my parents, siblings, and cousins! I grew up in Perry, Michigan, and was able to take hold of many opportunities that a small school system has to offer. Involving myself heavily in sports and after-school programs in high school kept me on the right track to stay active on campus as a college student, and I'm thankful for each and every experience! 

I love to tutor for many reasons. I used to become easily overwhelmed with large writing projects and assignments. After a few semesters of writing papers and getting help at the writing center, I was taught about developing and organizing my thoughts and ideas and then translating them into a well-written paper. Since then, I have become much more confident and comfortable with the writing process and my final result (ideally, a strong paper).

Because I am constantly learning myself, I feel tutoring will also give me more structure in my writing. I know the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else, so hopefully I will continue to greatly improve my writing skills! I expect to become a better writer as I help others, and am looking forward to that very much. I also love the idea of tutoring as it gives opportunities to truly help our peers. Writing in the university setting can be a daunting task, and I know the feeling of being completely overwhelmed with a lengthy or intricate writing assignment. Knowing I would be helping ease stress and tension while encouraging a healthy and structured writing process is a great feeling!

I am a Health Science major at SVSU.  My future plans are to go into Physical Therapy.  I injured myself in high school, which introduced me to the world of rehab and therapy.  Now I am in love with the field.  I am looking into minoring in Psychology, because how one repairs their body is truly dependent on the strength of their mind.  Plus, the psych classes are pretty cool :)

I am also a Foundation Scholar and though I would love to hop on a plane tomorrow and travel the world, I plan on studying abroad Spring of 2013.  I am a part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and plan on joining the Pre-Physical Therapy Club here on campus.  It will be cool to see everyone on the "other side of the table."