The Writing Center is staffed by graduate instructors and undergraduate peer tutors. Our graduate instructors have received highly competitive fellowships and assistantship awards that fund their work in the Center. Our undergraduate peer tutors have been nominated by Catholic University professors and then selected after a rigorous review and interview process. All Writing Center staff undergo extensive and ongoing training.

Writing Center Instructors

 

Annesley Anderson

Annesley Anderson is a second-year PhD student in the English Department who currently hails from Alexandria, Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter. She received a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University, and an M.A. in English from Boston College. Her research focuses on the early 20th century novel and the role of religion in literary modernism; she has also written on the use of creative writing exercises in Writing Centers. Her work has appeared in WLN: A Journal of Writing Center Scholarship, Twentieth-Century Literature, and Christianity and Literature. She has previously taught First-Year Composition (English 101) at Boston College and CUA. 

Caelan Elliott  

 

Caelan Elliott is an MA/PhD student in CUA’s English department. A Texas native, Caelan completed her undergraduate degree at Baylor University studying Great Texts and English, where she wrote for and edited several campus publications. Her writing has also been published by the Turkish Heritage Organization and The American Spectator. Before moving to D.C., she taught writing, literature, grammar, and poetry at Valor North Austin, a classical charter school. Caelan’s research interests include Modernism, contemporary Irish literature, and cross-cultural storytelling.

Writing Instruction Specialties: Structure and Outlining, MLA Style, English Literature, and Personal Statements.

 

Sophia Giudici

Originally from New Jersey, Sophia Giudici is a third-year Master's student in the English department. She received her B.A. in English Language in Literature from Fordham University and her Masters in Teaching (English K-12) from Montclair State University. Through her experience as a middle school English teacher, she enjoyed facilitating student-led editing and growth in the writing process. While her primary interest is Shakespeare, she is also intrigued by formal verse and epic poetry in every period of literature.

 

 

Emily Grace

Emily Grace is a 4th year Ph.D. student in the English department. Her research focuses on the intersections of modernist fiction and music in the work of James Joyce, Djuna Barnes, Ralph Ellison, and Toni Morrison. In addition to working in the Writing Center, she teaches University Writing in the Women's Leadership Program at George Washington University. She has previously taught ENG101 and served as a TA for ENG231/232 here at Catholic University.

Writing Instruction Specialties: Thesis Statements, Organization, Creative Writing, English Literature, and Brainstorming

 Bridget Matz

Bridget Matz is a Master's student in the English department. She grew up in nearby Virginia and received her B.A. in English from George Mason University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Her interests include medieval literature, the 19th-century novel, and the various developments of English literature and its genres through history. She is also a graduate scholar in the Institute of Human Ecology’s Graduate Scholar at CUA.

Writing Instruction Specialties: English Literature, Sentence Structure, and Argument Organization.

 

Sumeeya Chishty Mujahid

Sumeeya is a third-year doctoral student at the National Catholic School of Social Service. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from Hampshire College Amherst, MA, a master’s degree in Education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, and an Education Specialist degree in Community Counseling from The George Washington University, in Washington, DC. Sumeeya greatly enjoys teaching and has taught at a private middle and high school in Karachi, Pakistan, as well as undergraduate and graduate students at Hampshire college and Harvard University. She has taught a wide range of subjects-- English Language, English Literature, History, Sociology, Education, African and African American studies, and Women’s Studies. Sumeeya’s current doctoral research focuses on women of color and the emotional impact of institutional/systemic racism, and she uses the theories of intersectionality and feminism as her conceptual lens. Sumeeya loves reading (especially humor and feminist writers) and traveling (while eating all the delicious food the world has to offer along the way). She has visited over twenty-five countries, lived in two continents (Asia and North America), and visited all the rest except Antarctica--as she is not very fond of the cold. Sumeeya is excited to work at the Writing Center this year!

 

Justin Talkington

Justin Talkington is an M.A./Ph.D student in CUA's English Department. For a while, he has resided in Virginia. He attended George Mason University for his undergraduate degree. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a minor in Religious Studies (graduated with Honors). For the last several years, Justin has been developing his career in both education and teaching. His current interest is in Southern Gothic literature.

Writing Instruction Specialties: Concision, Argumentation, and Structure

 

Joseph Teti

Joseph Teti is an MA/PhD candidate in CUA's English department, whose research interest is Romantic deployment of Platonic and German philosophy. He is a DC native, but completed a BA in English at Hillsdale College, where he was also president of the philosophy honorary (ΦΣΤ), and led a poetry workshop, as well as too many book clubs. His poems have been published in numerous small, Christian journals.

Writing Instructions Specialties: Argument Condensation, History of Philosophy, English Literature.

 

Emily Turner

Emily Turner is an MA/PhD student in the English Department. Originally from Minnesota, Emily attended undergrad at the University of Mary in North Dakota where she studied English and history. Emily has worked in a variety of industries including marketing, archives, event planning, and table-top gaming. Before moving to D.C., Emily taught high school Language Arts in rural Minnesota and received a Graduate Teaching License through the College of Saint Scholastica. Her research interests include all things medieval as well as the tradition of the epic and Arthurian literature.

Writing Instruction Specialties: English Literature, Education, Prewriting and Argument Development, Citations

 

 

Undergraduate Peer Tutors

 

Elliana Arnold

Elliana is a junior English Secondary Education major with a minor in Writing. She is passionate about helping students and has served as a mentor through programs like DC Reads, the Washington English Center, and Teach for America. On campus, she serves as the Managing Editor of The Tower (student newspaper) and the Secretary of Redline A Cappella, and she is a member of the Honors Program, the Ultimate Frisbee Team, and the Cardinal Ambassador Program (Admissions). She loves traveling to new places, drinking chai while reading novels outside, and writing poetry while listening to music, and she is excited to help students become more confident writers!

 

 

 

Felipe Avila

Passionate about the power of language, Felipe brings a wealth of real-world communication experience to his role as a writing tutor. As Director of Communications for the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses, he's a dedicated advocate for healthcare professionals, amplifying their voices in critical conversations about abortion and maternal care. His journey in advocacy began with Students for Life of America, where he served as a prominent spokesperson. Felipe's work has placed him at the forefront of national media discussions, sharing insights on platforms like NBC News, Fox News, The Daily Wire, and Telemundo. His commentary has been featured in publications including National Review, The Daily Mail, and Inside Higher Ed. As a writing tutor, he empowers students to express their ideas effectively and persuasively, drawing upon his own experiences in advocacy.

 

 

Amelia "Millie" Bamsey

Amelia “Millie” is a junior from St. Paul, Minnesota pursuing an economics major with an English minor. On campus, she is an office manager for Residence Life and is a Cornerstone program scholar and mentor. She loves visiting art museums and reading books, especially autobiographies. Her hope as a Writing Center tutor is to help students feel more comfortable with and less intimidated by their writing assignments. 

 

 

  

 

 

Elly Beavers

Elly is a junior Psychology B.A. major, and she is pursuing a career in clinical psychology. She is a member of the Cornerstone Program, the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and the Psychology Club at Catholic. She is also a mentor for other students in the Cornerstone Program and the Psychology Club. She has a passion for writing, and she hopes to help many students grow as writers as a tutor in the Writing Center at Catholic. 

 

 

 

 

Mia Beldner

Mia is a junior double majoring in Politics and Psychology with minors in English and Philosophy. On campus, she is actively involved with the Mock Trial team, serves as the Managing Editor of Inventio, and works on the Leading as a Cardinal team. Mia loves reading, especially court cases and fantasy novels, and is passionate about all things law-related. After graduation, Mia plans to attend law school and continue exploring her interest in the legal field. As a tutor, Mia hopes to help writers grow more comfortable with the writing process and more confident in their writing skills.

 

 

 

Catalina Casarella

Catalina is a sophomore English major with minors in Peace and Justice studies and drama. Aside from the Writing Center, she is a part of the Campus Ministry Leadership team and the Honors Program. She loves creative writing, in particular poetry, singing and discovering new music. In the future she hopes to use her passion for writing to delve deeper as an artist in the written word, working either in journalism or publishing. She is passionate about the fact that writing can help people to better understand themselves. Catalina is excited to help students expand their ideas through discussing their writing and gain confidence in their work.

 

 

 

Bridget Farrell

Bridget is a junior English Secondary Education major who has spent several years tutoring students from first grade through high school. She is currently serving as the Sidewalk Co-Chair of Cardinals for Life and has acted in multiple CenterStage productions. Bridget is a proud Long Islander with strong opinions on New York pizza and Billy Joel (namely, that nothing can beat them). Ultimately, she hopes to become a high school English teacher and share her love of science fiction and Shakespearean comedies with her students. Expect to hear several bad jokes in your session with her!

 

 

 

Lydia Griffin

Lydia is a junior double majoring in English and Philosophy. With an adamant love of both literature and education, she hopes to become an English teacher post-college but only after a brief interlude of traveling. Having volunteered for the Special Olympics for nearly a decade, she plans to become certified in special education and to continue working closely alongside students with intellectual disabilities. With a deep respect and admiration for Thoreau, she intends to inspire the students she tutors to write “deliberately”, just as Thoreau advised all to live, and to foster a genuine appreciation for how writing connects all of us to the world, beyond merely the academic one, and each other.

 

 

Caitlin Hernandez

Caitlin is a junior Elementary Education major with a minor in Marketing. In addition to working at the Writing Center, she is a member of Redline A Cappella and the Filipino Organization of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). She is passionate about a lot of things, like playing the piano and eating coffee ice cream, but she especially loves writing and helping others. She can't wait to see all the friendly faces that pop into Mullen 219!

 

 

Eden Ingram

Eden is a Senior Media and Communications Studies major with a minor in Theology and Religious Studies. Originally from Northern Virginia, she is passionate about her faith and helping others. Eden has served as a Cardinal Service Corps Site Leader in Campus Ministry and regularly volunteers in CCD Sunday School classes at Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she serves as Corresponding Secretary and Historian. After graduation, Eden plans on going to grad school. Eden is looking forward to meeting and helping you succeed in the Writing Center!

 

 

Isaac Krom

Isaac is a junior philosophy and mathematics major. His study of two analytical disciplines influences his approach to writing, helping him to focus on structure and logical cohesion. Isaac is involved in the IHE undergraduate program, Take Note Acapella, and the Cornerstone Student Advisory Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Meisenhelter

Grace is a sophomore from West Chester, Pennsylvania pursuing a politics pre-law major with a writing minor in the honors program. On campus, she is a Women's Ministry Team Coordinator, CSC Service Site Leader, and SGA Catholic Values Associate Director. She loves lectoring for campus and Basilica masses, reading, and exploring DC. Her hope as a writing center tutor is to help students feel confident in their ability as a writer and love writing!

 

 

 

 

 

David Moretti

David is a senior English and Politics major with a minor in Irish Studies. Outside of the writing center, David is involved in the Orientation program and loves to read and play guitar. After graduation, he hopes to teach and continue studying English Literature. David can't wait to have positive discussions about writing and to help students in all phases of their writing process.

 

 

 

 

 

Trinity Ruiz

Trinity is a senior Philosophy Pre-Law major with minors in English and Theology. Outside of the center, Trinity is the Editor-in-Chief of CUA's undergraduate research journal Inventio. She also serves as a Cardinal Service Corps leader for Campus Ministry. Trinity is passionate about disability ministry and is a current intern for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability whose mission is to advance disability ministry in the Church. After graduating, she plans on pursuing a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology.

 

 

Sharon "Cherie" Sabini

Cherie is a junior from Springfield, Missouri, pursuing an English major with minors in Italian Studies as well as Peace and Justice Studies. On campus, Cherie is part of the Honors Program and the President of CUA’s chapter of HerCampus, a online national women’s journal. She is also the Vice President of the Italian Club and a site leader for Bethlehem House, a service site through Campus Ministry. Cherie loves to read just about any sort of fiction, but has a particular affinity for Austen’s Persuasion. As a tutor, she hopes to foster a connection with each and every individual she serves in the Writing Center, thus fostering more positive relationships between students and their writing on campus!

 

 

 

 

Kayla Thuel

Kayla Thuel is a senior English Secondary Education student with a minor in Music. She has several years of experience tutoring students in Pre-K through college across disciplines in both formal and informal settings. Off hours, she can typically be found studying on-campus, dabbling in one of her many art projects, or playing violin in the CUA Symphony Orchestra. Within the field of English, she particularly enjoys satire, argumentative essays, medieval and Romantic literature, and any writing that presents opportunities to learn about other students’ passions. If you want to get to know Kayla, she always appreciates new music recommendations; if you’re feeling especially bold, ask her about her favorite Roman emperor. 

 

 

 

Cynthia Vigna

My name is Cynthia Vigna, and I am a junior English major with a politics pre-law and sociology double minor. I am from North Jersey and have an adorable pitbull terrier named Muffin. I am part of the Campus Ministry Leadership team and enjoy participating in various service sites on campus and back home. One of my favorite forms of writing is poetry. I am very excited to help students grow and gain more confidence in their writing abilities.