Meet Your Writing Center Tutor

Major: English Education

Hey guys! My name is Emma and I’m a junior English Education major from southeastern Ohio. My home is in a little town that boasts many original, family-owned businesses–such as the local donut shop I worked at during high school. I love reading nineteenth century British novels (especially by Jane Austen), playing with dogs, and drinking chocolate milkshakes from Orion. When I’m not reading or writing, you can usually find me rocking out on the drums, shredding slopes on a snowboard, or playing soccer. Talking about writing and geeking out about grammar are my specialties, and I would love for you to join me to work on any projects or assignments you have!

Major: Professional Writing and Information Design

Hello friends! My name is Alease, and I am a senior Professional Writing and Information Design major. I’m from a little town near Richmond, Indiana that is more “in the cornfields” than Cedarville is! But I like it there because I have plenty of space to go for long walks, ride my bike, and garden. I also enjoy reading (classic literature is my favorite), knitting, playing the guitar, painting, and of course writing! I would love to help with your writing project no matter what stage of the process you are at. So, come meet me at the Writing Center, and we can work through the writing process together!

Major: Professional Writing and Information Design

Hi! I’m Emily, and I am a junior Professional Writing and Information Design major. Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, specifically creative writing. My favorite things to do include hanging and playing games with friends, reading romance or fantast novels, and writing stories. When I am not working on homework, you can find me curled up with a book or brainstorming my next creative writing project. I would love to work alongside you with any writing assignment you have to discover ways to strengthen your writing. I also love workshopping creative work so feel free to bring in any creative pieces as well! I am excited to meet you!

Major: Professional Writing and Information Design

Hi, I'm Brianna! I'm a senior Professional Writing and Information Design major from west Michigan. I love all things creative. In fact, some of my first memories involve making books out of construction paper and insisting my mailman check them out of my "library" (thoroughly terrifying him). Now, I spend my days doing professional writing, editing, and graphic design while buried under blankets (much less terrifying). I am also an advanced Spanish speaker. I would love to work with you on whatever assignment you have!

Major: Environmental Science

Hello, there! My name is Jake and I am currently a senior studying environmental science here at Cedarville. I love all things "nerd," including the writings of Tolkien and Lewis, or reading a good comic book or watching Star Wars. I love making music with my band on campus as well as by myself, and worshiping God through it. I find myself in the wilderness quite often, and I'd rather be exploring a National Park than doing homework. Don't tell anyone, though. I look forward to working with you on any type of writing assignment you may bring!

Major: English

Greetings! I’m Alayna Drollinger, a senior English major with minors in creative writing, editing & publishing, and history. I’m a lover of all things books and have worked at the Centennial Library here on campus for three years now (my favorite study spot is under the library stairs—the perfect mix of natural lighting and margin from humanity). Besides being a bookworm, I’m also a collector of empty notebooks and unused sticky notes, a mediocre watercolorist and margin doodler, and an amateur cartographer. I look forward to working with you in any step of the writing process, whether that be a school assignment or creative writing!

Majors: Professional Writing and Information Design, Spanish

Hey there! My name is Ellie, and I am a sophomore double major in PWID (Professional Writing and Information Design) and Spanish. I’ve loved reading since I was very young, and it was stories that taught me about the power of words to bring light and life–which is why I am so excited to work with you in the writing center! I love learning other languages (I’m a bilingual former MK), drinking tea while swinging in a hammock, and taking pictures of the sky, but working with words is my absolutely favorite thing to do, so stop on by with whatever creative, academic, or other pieces you’re working on!

Major: Social Work

Hello there! I’m Brook and I’m a junior social work major from Michigan! After graduation, I want to work in the mental health & substance abuse field. I love reading and writing fantasy/dystopian stories and I’m a huge Star Wars nerd. Although my favorite activity to do on breaks is leisure reading, I actually didn’t learn to read until I was almost 8. I’m also an avid runner who will never say no to ice cream! I have a creative writing minor so feel free to bring in any type of creative writing piece for us to look at. I would love to come alongside you with any writing project! I’m looking forward to tackling any kind of assignment with you!

Major: Linguistics

Hello friend! My name is Savannah Haines, and I am a sophomore majoring in linguistics with a concentration in TESOL and Spanish. I adore growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, playing any sport, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, swimming, traveling, learning languages, playing the ukulele, and writing with masala chai in hand. I have been writing creative stories since before I can remember. I cannot wait to delve into an assignment with you no matter what type of writing you are currently working on or where you are in the writing process! My greatest hope is that you will walk away from a session greatly encouraged and inspired to improve as a writer. So excited to meet you! Philippians 4:4

Major: Primary Education

Hello! My name is Hannah Jones and this is my third year working in the WC! Just a little bit about myself: I am an early education major with an art minor. Some of my hobbies include writing, reading, art, sewing, hiking, and camping. Some of my favorite things are Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, The Renaissance Faire, and history.

Major: English

Hello there! My name is Haley and I am a junior English major with a creative writing concentration. I'm from Maineville, OH. One of my grand passions is creative writing, and my all-time favorite trope is the Christ-figure. I'm also a total horse girl, and I love the thrill of riding and training horses. I dream of one day being a professional equine trainer and clinician! I am a lover of rainy days, and combined with a cozy coffee shop, you'll find my ideal writing nook. Although I haven't seen a whole lot of movies, I'm a total film-score nerd. I'll never pass up a good book, and my favorite genre is mystery/thriller (especially of the middle-grade variety). A fun fact about me is that I once made a fairy village in my backyard. I am so excited to be your WC tutor!

Major: Social Work

Hi! My name is Lydia Lancie and I am a senior social work major and studio art minor from Virginia! I have always loved to write and I would take a paper over an exam any day! Some of my favorite hobbies include crocheting, crafting, journaling, writing, learning languages, and spending time with my family and friends. My favorite movies include Tangled, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Enola Holmes, and Little Women. One fun fact about me is that I took Irish Dance lessons in high school. I enjoy formatting papers, especially in APA (and I’m very familiar with MLA), but I would enjoy working with you during any stage of the writing process!

Majors: Communication, Biblical Counseling

Hello! My name is Katherine, and I’m a sophomore studying communication and biblical counseling. I really enjoy hanging out with my friends, spending time in worship, and rock climbing! I’ve been passionate about reading and writing ever since I was very young, and one of my favorite things about writing is the process of describing ideas and emotions. I’m always amazed at how God gave us the gift of language to be able to connect with one another, whether through speeches, writing, or conversation. I’m always excited to see what my fellow students have to say at the Writing Center, and I look forward to helping you with anything in your writing journey, especially brainstorming and organization.

Major: Professional Writing and Information Design

Hello! I'm Sophia (Sophie) Monastra, and I'm a former environmental science major and current sophomore professional writing and information design major. I understand how frustrating writing can be and would much rather take an exam than write a paper, but that won't stop me from helping you write the best essay you can! Generally, if I don't know the answer, I can track down someone who does. I like workshopping creative writing (feel free to bring some). In my spare time I read and create comics.

Major: Nursing

Hey there! My name is Maren (I always tell people it rhymes with Karen) and I’m thrilled to be on the Writing Center staff this year! I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, which is pretty much the same as Cedarville minus a few cornfields. When I’m not studying for my nursing classes, you’ll find me relaxing with friends, practicing calligraphy, or preparing for a tournament with the Cedarville Speech Team. Of course, I also love expressing myself through writing! As Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug,” and I’m passionate about helping you find just the right words. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Majors: Linguistics, Spanish

Hey friends! I’m Micaiah and I am a junior linguistics and Spanish double major from southern Indiana. I enjoy competitive speech and debate, piano, reading, overthinking (well, I don’t really enjoy that but it happens anyway), 70-degree weather, and my dog, the last of which I have many pictures of if you want to see how cute he is. :) My favorite book is Heidi by Johanna Spyri; I love how well it evokes a charming and peaceful feeling. I’d love to work with you on whatever assignment you have!

Major: Political Science

Hello, everybody! My name is Ashley and I’m from northern Wisconsin. I am a junior political science major with emphasis in sociology and international studies, and I have an end goal of being a professor of sociology. I have many hobbies, with many being related to athletics, ancestry research, and creative writing. It took me a long time to develop a love for writing, but when I learned how to use it to communicate my own thoughts, I was hooked! I love learning other languages and am currently studying ASL (American sign language) and Korean with hopes of becoming an interpreter for churches and hospitals. I also enjoy helping others find and grow their own, unique writing styles. I am able to assist in MLA, APA, and Chicago style assignments, and I am so excited to work with you in the Writing Center!

Major: English Education

Hi! My name is Caroline and I’m a junior English education major. I’m super passionate about writing and helping people make connections between their brains and the paper. I love meeting new people and working with new clients! When I’m not tucked away in the Writing Center or working on homework, I usually find myself drinking some type of coffee and planning my next great creative nonfiction piece. My favorite books are the Bible, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. I am so looking forward to working with you and trying to muddle through all the gunk of writing so that we can leave with a piece that you are proud of! Please bring me any creative, academic, or undefined drafts; I love to work with it all!

Major: English

Hey! I’m Olivia Whitehead, and I’m a sophomore English major from Westerville, Ohio. I have loved reading since I was young (especially British Victorian literature like Dickens and Austen!), and I have grown to love writing just as much in the past few years. I also love music and have a minor in piano, and I think Rachmaninoff is one of the greatest composers of all time. Additionally, I enjoy travel and road cycling, and I look forward to working with you in the Writing Center!

Major: Linguistics

Hello! My name is Angela, and I'm a junior Linguistics major. I grew up as a missionary kid in South East Asia, and as a result, I developed a fascination for cultures and languages around the world. I also enjoy reading, coffee, tea, rock climbing, music, photography, and playing games with friends. I look forward to working on projects with you!

Major: English

Hello! I’m Grace and I’m an English major with minors in Creative Writing and Editing & Publishing. Some of my hobbies include writing poetry, painting with watercolors, and watching silly Minecraft YouTube videos. I grew up in western Maryland with Ohio-borne parents: a mom who taught me to love reading and history and a dad who taught me to be curious about creation and science (he tried teaching me to enjoy math… rather unsuccessfully). I love learning almost as much as I love writing, so whatever your paper is about, I would love to get excited about it with you. Hopefully, I can help you feel a bit of the writerly confidence that I believe we can all learn to experience.

Major: Professional Writing and Information Design

Hey there! My name is Abby Jo, and I’m a junior professional writing and information design major with a minor in women’s ministry. I’m a big fan of slow mornings, walks at sunset, and coffee with friends. My dream is to write theologically robust content for women that equips the local church and stirs individual hearts to desire more of Jesus. I love all things writing and ministry. We have a creative God who revealed himself to us through words, and writing is a way we get to reflect His image. Because of this, I’m passionate about writing well and coming alongside you as you seek to do the same. Whether you’re cleaning up a paper or struggling to begin, come and see me! I’d love to meet you wherever you are in the writing process.

Major: English

Hi, I'm Gabby! I'm a senior English major with creative writing and publishing and editing minors. As my collection of programs probably indicates, I love to write and talk about writing. But outside of my love for writing, I'm an enjoyer of tea, cheese (I'm from Wisconsin so I have a lot of opinions about the stuff), fantasy stories, otters, and anything yellow. When I'm not in the Writing Center, you can probably find me hanging out in Williams, attempting to climb a tree, or watching the geese. I'm looking forward to talking to you about any writing questions or concerns you may have!

Major: English

Greetings and salutations! I'm Emily, a senior English major with minors in creative writing and editing & publishing. I'm from a military family so I've moved around a lot the past twenty years, and even lived in Germany for 4 years! Clearly, I love writing, but my hobbies also include reading, singing, and overanalyzing any form of storytelling (books, movies, musicals, video games, webcomics, etc.). I'm a self-proclaimed tea connoisseur and em-dash enthusiast, and I aim to work with a publishing house as an editor after graduation. I'd love to help you with any of your current writing projects—whether academic or creative—so pop in for a visit and we'll tackle it head-on together!

Writing Center Director
Assistant Professor of English

As the Writing Center director, I would like to welcome you to the Writing Center. We are staffed by trained peer tutors who would love to sit down and chat with you about your writing! You will find our tutors to be easy to talk to and very welcoming. Just a bit about myself: Three of my favorite things are throw blankets, candles, and books. My husband, David, and I have been married for 26 years, and we have two adult daughters, Sophie and Natia. I began working with writers in 1999 and still find that work to be meaningful and fulfilling. Come visit us so you can find out what the Writing Center has to offer you!

Writing Center Administrative Assistant

Hi! My name is Rachel (Rathbun) Benefiel, and I’ve joined Cedarville’s staff as the Writing Center’s admin after two years of tutoring. I like strong coffee, dark chocolate, mango mochi, and every dog ever. (I will never not want to see your dog photos :) ) When I’m not working, I read, play the piano, or play board games and D&D. I love how much of a community the Writing Center is on campus, and I want to welcome you into that community! Feel free to stop by any time, if not for a session, then for candy and a good conversation with me or our tutors. We can’t wait to see you!