Meet our Staff

Dr. Trista Payte (she/her/hers) holds an Ed.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership and an M.A. in English, both from California State University Northridge. Before coming to Mt. SAC, Trista served as the Writing Programs Coordinator at California State University, Northridge where she also taught in the English and Humanities departments for over a decade. Her areas of specialization, passion, and interest include writing center theory and praxis, rhetoric and composition, writing across the curriculum, and anti-racist pedagogy. When she isn’t wearing her academic hat, Trista enjoys spending time with her two children, reading contemporary fiction and graphic novels, and hiking with her partner and her two rescue dogs.

Assistant Director, Dr. Nicole Blean (she/her/hers), holds an Ed.D. in Community College Educational Leadership and an M.A. in English, both from California State University Fullerton. For the past twenty years, she has had the privilege of serving and instructing Mt. SAC students, where she started as an adjunct faculty member. Her area of specialization involves employee mentorship and its connection to equity-minded leadership. As a previous participant in the IWCA and SanFACC Mentorship Programs, she is committed to supporting and connecting students, tutors, and employees to the resources they need for their empowerment. In her personal time, she is passionate about drum circles and dystopian literature.

Adolfo is a Mt. SAC alumnus who also received his B.A. and M.A. in English from Cal State Fullerton. He has tutored Mt. SAC students for the past 5 years and is excited to continue helping students here at the Writing Center in his Supervisor role. He also teaches Freshman Composition classes at Glendale Community College. He loves the world of academia, and his goal is to continue working in the classroom with students; he believes that knowledge should be shared and accessible to all. In his free time, he likes to travel to new places, exercise at the gym and outdoors, and discover new libraries to visit. Lastly, he is fluent in Spanish, as it was his first language.

Jackie is a Mt.SAC and CSUF alum who is now an adjunct English professor. She’s been helping Mt. SAC students in many capacities for almost 8 years now as she herself was a tutor, TC, and now a supervisor in the Writing Center where she enjoys creating and hosting workshops for fellow students. Even though she is an English major, she hopes to continue learning Spanish, French, and ASL. During her free time, she loves spending time with her dogs, Frida Kahlo, and Toni Morrison and taking Pilates.  Like most English professors and majors, during her downtime, she enjoys reading, and some of her favorite genres include fiction, horror, and memoirs. She enjoys binge watching shows and watching films—horror films especially. Jackie hopes to travel to different countries, particularly to Mexico and France.

Gabriell (they/he) is a member of the Writing Center support staff, receiving their M.A. in English from Kansas State University and their B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. Having worked at the Mt. SAC Writing Center since 2017 as both an In-Center tutor (IC) and a Dedicated Specialist (DS), Gabriell feels incredibly passionate about working with returning students, first-generation college students, and typically underrepresented student demographics in higher education. Their research interests include Filipinx American studies, Postcolonial Studies, Diasporic Studies, Cultural Studies, and Critical Theory. In their free time, Gabriell enjoys reading, playing video games, listening to music, and watching professional wrestling.

Sophia is a Mt. SAC, UC Berkeley, and CSUF alum who is currently an adjunct English instructor at Mt. SAC and CSUF. Sophia has been with the Writing Center since 2014 in various roles (from tutor to TC to social media & DLA specialist), and her career path into teaching has been shaped by the wonderful students, staff, and faculty she has worked with over the years. In her free time, she enjoys learning about astrology, finding new films/TV shows to watch, and listening to music. She hopes to continue traveling to new places and crossing them off her bucket list. Lastly, she speaks Spanish and loves Spanish language music (everything from Bad Bunny to Juan Gabriel).

Soo is a Mt. SAC and UCLA alum. She is a returning part-time Project Expert/Data Analyst at the Writing Center. She specializes in project management and data analysis and is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to identify patterns, trends, insights, and solutions. One of her favorite responsibilities as a part-time Data Analyst is to develop databases and reorganize data in a readable format. She is a coffee & tea lover and enjoys trying new cafés in LA, OC, and/or SF area. Also, she loves hanging out with her dog and cat.

Romina (she/her) is currently an English student at Mt. SAC who is planning on transferring in Fall 2027. She is working to be an English professor and would love to be an author one day. She has always had a passion for reading and writing and is excited to be able to help future students. She hopes to make them feel comfortable writing and expressing themselves! Outside of school, she loves to experiment with makeup, thrift, go on walks, and rewatch her favorite shows and movies. She also loves the beach, her friends, cats, and discussing potential tattoos.

Khiem (he/him) is an English major at Mt. Sac with future aspirations to become a literature professor. He is hoping that being at the WC will not only help with his journey, but it will also assist others along the way. Writing doesn't have to be intimidating; it can be fun! In his free time, he loves playing Tabletop with close friends. While many know the name DND, they play Pathfinder. Khiem enjoys writing short stories, and he has been dabbling in poems, particularly haikus. East/south-east Asian literature is something he is hoping to delve further into, another reason for him to brush up on his Vietnamese.

Matthew is pursuing a career in academia, as they currently attend the English Literature B.A. program at CSULB. They hope to refine their passion for developing critical-thinking skills and pedagogical practices that adhere to an individual’s writing style. Guided by the advice of CSULB mentors and the Mt.SAC Writing Center support staff, they develop their approaches of the explication and exegesis to various texts. Currently, they are learning German for future English graduate program literary analyses. Matthew enjoys reading some of his favorite works of world literature in his free time: The Epic of Gilgamesh, Separate Ways by Ichiyō Higuchi, and All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.

Lily V. is a returning student at Mt SAC, figuring out life. After some time exploring her interests, she's started studying in the Audio Arts program. If Lily could be anything, she'd be an artist. She'd learn everything and be nothing. Lily can be more notably described as a writer. Always thinking, always writing. Art is an expression, and a lifelong journey for Lily. She's grown to realize there is so much to gain from the writing process, seeing human expression through our minds. At the Writing Center, there is a dedicated space for her and any level writer to create together without judgment, with empathy.

Jordan (he/they) is an In-Center Writing Specialist at the Writing Center. They are currently taking prerequisites for Mt. SAC’s Nursing Program. Their dream is to work in the medical field in some capacity, as they love caring for others and keeping people informed about their health. Jordan likes to spend most of his downtime at the Pride Center; his research paper for English 1C was actually the Pride Center! They are very excited to work at the Writing Center, as they’ve had extremely positive experiences while informally tutoring their peers. In his free time, Jordan enjoys photography, reading, and playing games.

Heather is part of the MESA program. She is an aspiring Astronautical engineer pursuing a degree in Aerospace engineering. She started at Mt.SAC Spring 2026 and loves school. She is a retired rapper that had songs with Xzibit, Twista, and Krazy Bone. She used her writing skills to write bars and now is turning her skills to academics and is proficient in MLA format essays and critical thinking essays. She is also a master graphic designer and is great at PowerPoint presentations. She is a Rising Scholar and has over 4 years clean and sober. She has goals to transfer to Cal Poly or Cal Tech and work for JPL/NASA.

Milo (he/him/his) is a current Mt Sac student, studying English and communication. After graduating from Mt SAC, he plans on attending a four-year university, to obtain his bachelors, teaching credentials, and eventually a master’s degree. He aspires to become a high school English teacher. He is also a member of the Mt SAC speech and debate team and marching band. He's eager to help students figure out their own voice in their writing. If he's not at Mt SAC, he is working at the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Irwindale when it's in season! He also enjoys card games, like Magic: The Gathering and collecting comic books. "

Dominique is currently an accounting graduate student at CSUF. She has always enjoyed reading and writing, and as a tutor, she enjoys helping others build confidence and strengthen their own skills. She believes that learning is easier when students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes along the way. Outside of tutoring, Dominique loves movies and frequently goes to the movie theater. She also enjoys discussing movies and is always up for debating her latest watch. When she needs to decompress, she likes watching hockey, listening to music, or spending time with her dog, a pitbull that she recently rescued.

Jacob (He/Him) is a Mt. Sac Alumni who graduated with an A.A. in Psychology and an A.S.-T in Nutrition: Clinical Dietetics before transferring to Cal Poly Pomona. During his transfer process, he joined the organization Alpha Phi Omega (APO), the nation's largest LGBTQ+ represented co-educational service fraternity, founded on the principles of leadership, friendship, and service. APO provided a community where he could grow his leadership and commitment to advocacy, addressing health disparities through community service. The writing center has given Jacob another meaningful outlet to serve his local community, supporting fellow students in developing their voices as writers and navigating the challenges of higher education.

Lucia (she/her) is an English major and a writing specialist here at Mt.SAC. In her youth, she lived in Mexico for almost two years; marking Spanish as her native tongue and English as her second language. She aspires to be an English professor; striving to connect with her future students as well as many other people through not only her future classes, but her own professional writing work. Currently, she is working on a novel which has been in development over the course of two years now; relating to mental health awareness in ethnic communities. 

Tori (they/them) is an in-center writing specialist at the Writing Center. They are currently majoring in studio arts. Their goal is to be an art teacher at a high school, following the footsteps of teachers that taught them everything they know and giving back to their community. Working at the Writing Center will give them first-hand experience in working with others in a teaching environment and get them one step closer to their goal. Tori's hobbies include watching movies/shows, making art, going to concerts, playing video games, and hanging out with their cat, Lentils.

Bryn (they/she) is currently working towards an English Associates and hopes to pursue an M.A. in Library Science to work as a librarian. They decided to join the Writing Center team due to their passion for writing, which stems from a young age and a lot of reading. She enjoys "hearing" other people's personalities through their writing styles. They're also working with the Writing Center's lending library where students can check out books while in the center, so if you have any questions feel free to stop by the WC. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, crocheting, and playing video games. 

Caz they/them is a print maker, illustrator, ceramicist, drone operator, and graphic designer. They are a graphic design student assistant for ARTC 100. They started going to Mt.SAC in 2017 for graphic design but stopped for work. After a tragic event they realized they should do more with their life. They went back to Mt. SAC 2021 when the school reopened. They are very excited to work at the Writing Center, as In-Center tutor. They love the idea of helping students in a different subject, not just in graphic design. Caz loves reading manga, playing video games, and spending time with their girlfriend. 

Ezra (She/her) is a first-generation college student that’s majoring in English and working towards getting her AA-T degree. She plans to transfer to either Cal Poly or CSUF by 2027 in hopes of becoming a small writer or educator in the future! Besides reading, Ezra has a passion for movies so you may catch her at her local movie theater. If ever needed, Ezra is comfortable conversing in Spanish as well! She will do her best. While working at the writing center, Ezra hopes that not only will she learn how to help others but gain new skills that could be useful to her own writing knowledge.

Leslie (she/her) is currently an English major at Mt. SAC. Her future plans are to become a professor while also making time to write. Her interest in working for the Writing Center has stemmed from her two passions in life: writing and helping others. She hopes that through her work at the WC she can teach people how to properly communicate their ideas while building confidence that their ideas are important. Along with English she also speaks Spanish. Outside of writing she enjoys music, fashion, films, reading, and scrapbooking. If she’s not on Campus, she is spending time with her friends and family.

Kirby (she/her) is a second-year student at Mt. SAC, working to get her AA-T in Political Science; she hopes to transfer to a UC institution, eventually moving on to law school after obtaining her Bachelor’s in Political Science. The combination of her love for writing and her passion for teaching others has led her to the Writing Center; there, she serves as a DS for the Critical Thinking and Writing (Phil 9) courses. She hopes to provide support and help for any students that she takes on–connecting with students and helping them grow personally and academically. On campus, she is also involved in the ACES program. Outside of academia, Kirby can usually be seen reading comics or playing various video games–currently her video game of interest is Fallout 3.

Amber is in her final semester of the M.A. in English Literature program at Cal Poly Pomona, expected to graduate in December 2026. She received her B.A. in English Education and a TESOL minor in 2023, also at CPP. During the 2026–2027 school year, she served as a Teaching Associate at Cal Poly Pomona, running her own classroom for university-level Freshman English Composition. She enjoys working with students to develop ideas, brainstorm topics, further their skills, and engage with texts, and hopes to help students reach their goals while creating a comfortable learning environment. Outside of school, Amber loves reading, writing (she's authored 3 poetry books), spending time with her cat, visiting farmers markets, and traveling abroad.

Nomar is currently majoring in English to eventually transfer to a Cal State where he plans to get his bachelors and masters in creative writing. He wants to write novels and comics while also being an English professor (hopefully at Mt. Sac one day). Nomar loves writing and sharing his joy with others; he found working at the Writing Center to be a great way to do so. Helping others understand something that they might have trouble with is incredibly rewarding, as well as a fun way to do something good. During his free time, Nomar loves watching films like Zodiac, Shaun of the Dead, and the Dark Knight.

Anthony Arenas is a first-generation college student driven by a deep passion for helping others. As a Southern California native, he firmly believes that everyone has the strength and potential to break through systemic barriers. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. While attending CSULA Anthony plans to focus on creating his very own foundational theory called “Pedagogies of The Cell” (Arenas, 2026) which highlights non-traditional forms of knowledge cultivated in a six by ten prison cell through means of survival.  One fun fact about him is that he just fostered a dog named Muffin. Anthonys favorite slogan is "just for today". 

Ella (she/her) is currently a Human Communication Studies student in her last semester at California State University, Fullerton. She plans to attend graduate school to attain her Master of Arts degree in the aforementioned major. She hopes to become a communication studies college professor in the future. Ever since elementary, English and writing have always been one of her main passions in academia. At the Writing Center, she wants to provide a safe space for students who want help on their writing assignments. In her free time, Ella enjoys going to the movie theater, trying new sweet treat spots, and crocheting hats.

Ilene’s (she/her) major is psychology, but she is also pursuing AA-Ts in sociology, anthropology, as well as hope to minor in neuroscience. Amongst these pursuits, Ilene also holds a passion in English and reading, making her fond of tutoring and helping anyone be the best English student they can be. With that, Ilene’s all-time favorite book is The Picture of Dorian Grey. Upon graduation from Mt. SAC, Ilene hopes to attend University of Riverside to complete their neuroscience minor program with the goal to become a criminal psychologist. Outside of academics, she enjoys going to the beach, putting together outfits, and junk-journaling.

Drew (they/she) is a student and writing tutor at Mt. San Antonio College. They are currently studying English and philosophy. Drew intends to transfer to a university after finishing their associate’s degree. Their experiences with taking English courses and receiving writing tutoring inspired them to focus on literary studies and to work at the Writing Center. They value participating in and giving back to an educational environment that develops students’ critical thinking and writing skills. Being able to think for oneself is a vital skill for success in life. In their personal time, Drew enjoys listening to music of many genres and fancies the occasional walk outside in nature.

Aimee is currently a first-generation college student who is working towards her B.A. in English Education, and in the future gaining her M.A. in English to become a professor. She has graduated from Mt.SAC and during that time was able to find the right path for herself. She has always loved writing and helping people with their own writing projects, which sparked her interest to work as a tutor. She is excited to be able to help students with all their questions regarding writing, and she also loves to converse with anyone. In her free time, she enjoys being out with her friends and spending quality time with her family.

Loisa is currently pursuing her MS in English with a concentration in teaching English as a Second Language at Cal Poly Pomona, since she has a passion for languages and random linguistic trivia. She has studied Spanish for several years and is now working on her Mandarin Chinese. This love for languages has inspired her towards teaching English as a second language, which is what she hopes to do once she graduates. This inspiration also brought her to the Writing Center, where she hopes to bring the same passion to other students. In her free time, she also loves to game occasionally (not a lot of free time these days), practice latte art, and fish keep (guppies, two shrimps, and a snail).

Robert enjoys supporting as many students as possible at any step of the writing process because he understands how difficult it can be to write or excel in areas students are not confident in. He failed his first attempt at higher education and struggled the most with English. After a long break, he enrolled at Mt. San Antonio Community College and found support, and a mentor that cultivated his abilities. He eventually transferred to UC Riverside where he got his Bachelors in English. He is now pursuing his Masters in Rhetoric and Composition and TESOL Certification. When he is not working or studying, he is doing everything he can to do nothing.

Adrian (He/They) is a returning Mt. SAC alumnus, having recently acquired his B.A. in English from Arizona State University Online. During his time as a scholar at both Mt. SAC and ASU, his passion for helping peers find and refine their individual writing styles has steadily deepened as both an English Tutor and Writing Mentor, and he feels grateful for the chance at developing his skills at the Writing Center once again. His academic interests lie in the critical analysis of gender, queer, and feminist theories, while in his spare time he enjoys consuming fantasy and horror media through literature, film, and video games.

Delaney is a recent graduate, having gained a bachelor’s degree in English from CSFU. She is passionate about learning and the way writing enables us to absorb and work thorough information, as well as to make our voices heard. Delaney is inspired to continue their education every day, in small ways, but more specifically over the horizon with a teaching credential and master’s degree. They feel very at home in the WC and encourage others to carve out a cozy niche for themselves there, too! They may even spot Delaney there ready to help out. When not working or wrapped up in an Austen novel, Del is trying to get out of the city and listen to their CDs.

Giovanni has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and language from Cal Poly Pomona and has worked with several on campus programs such as Arise, Bridge, Tutor in the Classroom, and the American Language Department. Furthermore, working in the American Language Department has given Giovanni an opportunity to work closely with ESL students and learn various ways to help improve any student’s English and writing skills. His favorite thing about tutoring is helping students understand the writing process which is fundamental in all writing. Giovanni started a career path as a social skill specialist and behavior interventionist where he provides social and academic services to individuals with extensive support and needs. In his free time, Giovanni likes going to restaurants, sports, and local social events. 

After transferring from Mt. SAC and graduating from UCI with a B.A. in English, Juan joins the Writing Center as dedicated specialist (DS).  After being away from campus for so long, he is excited for the opportunity to return to his old stomping grounds to continue the path towards his career in teaching. Having always had a knack for writing essays, helping his friends edit their papers, and ghost writing break up texts, Juan decided to put his skills and B.A. to good use here at Mt. SAC! When he isn’t working, Juan is gallivanting around the city as a photographer or playing Pokémon. 

Aung is pursuing an M.A. in English with a specialization in TESOL at Cal Poly Pomona. He also works as a dedicated Writing Specialist at Mt. SAC, where he enjoys supporting multilingual students in developing their writing, speaking, and reading skills. As someone who is fluent in Burmese and English, Aung values multilingualism and strives to create welcoming learning environments where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and growing academically. Beyond tutoring and teaching, he enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and trying different foods. You may also find him stage managing or directing theater productions throughout Orange County. 

Paul (he/him) graduated from Mt. SAC with an AA-T in English, Philosophy, and Political Science. He’s currently attending UCR as a double major in Philosophy and Political Science and will transition to a master’s program in Philosophy of Language/Epistemology. As an enthusiast of argumentation and analysis, Paul seeks to help others cultivate their writing. He believes all students have brilliant ideas within them, and aiding in the application of these already existing strengths gives him a powerful sense of fulfillment. Aside from academic endeavors, he enjoys reading, writing, CRPGs, cats, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg. 

Gaby (she/they) earned their M.A. in English from CSUF with an emphasis in creative writing and poetry that interrogates the various ways mourning extends beyond the individual body into community, memory, and physical place. With help from the WC, she hopes to continue fostering a welcoming space that encourages Mt. SAC students to find their unique, unwavering voice through writing. In their free time they enjoy reading (modernist, gothic, contemporary) poetry and fiction, re-watching Fleabag, and skating in its various forms (roller blading, ice skating, etc.). She speaks both English and Spanish. 

Madisson is currently a second-year graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona, studying English literature and Rhetoric & Composition. In addition to her role as a student, Madisson also works as a writing center and embedded tutor at CPP. Inspired by her experience with CPP’s learning community, she hopes to remain in the world of academia as an English professor. At the Mt. SAC Writing Center, Madisson is excited to encourage technical and exploratory writing in safe and productive environments. Outside of the writing center and the English classroom, Madisson loves playing tennis with her parents, singing karaoke with her sisters, and trying new restaurants with her best friends.

Mateo (he/him) is a graduate student pursuing a masters in English at Cal State Fullerton, holding a B.A. in English from the same university. Prior to graduation, Mateo was in fact a fellow Mountie and is excited to return to the campus that offered him so much information and wisdom that he still carries to this day. He hopes to eventually become a professor of English and perhaps return to Mt. SAC once more to give back to the school he loves so dearly. Outside of the classroom, he is passionate about comic books, exercise, and occasionally partaking in a DnD campaign with his friends. 

Cierra (she/her) is a graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona working towards her M.A in English Literature where she earned her B.A also in English Literature. Cierra's passion is writing with four self-published books. In her free time, she loves to read and watch her favorite shows and movies. Her passion for reading, writing, and academia has led her to this position as a DS. In this position, she hopes to use her knowledge to help students grow in their writing and be confident as they continue on their college journeys. Cierra finds being DS very rewarding as she loves helping others discover their full writing potential. 

Claudia is currently pursuing her MA in English - Rhetoric and Composition with a secondary in Literature at Cal Poly Pomona. She aspires to be an English professor and looks forward to fulfilling her purpose in life: helping others feel empowered in their writing and to impact lives positively. Claudia is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is most excited about helping students succeed in their academics in this role and wants to support you in any way that she can! In her free time, she loves to cook, go on walks with her dog Cocoa, and serve at her church.

Sidney has been working at the Writing Center for about 7 years as a Dedicated Specialist. Previously a math major, he pivoted into English after working at the Writing Center showed him how intriguing discussion and deep analysis were. The various perspectives that can be grasped from one piece of media and how he can help a student create a cohesive argument is his joy in working here. He is currently working on completing his master’s at Cal State Fullerton. His focus ranges between African American literature as well as postmodernism. Besides being an English major, his hobbies include going to the gym, basketball, music, and mixology

Harrison Lee is an author who holds a MA in English from Cal State Fullerton and takes a special interest in the interdisciplinary crossroads of Tragedy, Dark Fantasy, and Philosophy. Both an avid reader and writer of Dark Fantasy stories, some of his works such as "The Queen of Blossoms" and "Lifetime's Journey" have been published or featured in Academic Conferences. When he is not reading or writing, Harrison can be found obsessing over TTRPG's, Miniature Painting, and Fencing. He often describes himself as, "A man who has spoken little but has written much."

Jimee (He/Him) is a graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona majoring in TESOL. He speaks English, Mandarin Chinese and Mongolian. He came to the United States as an international student and has lived in the San Gabriel Valley since 2013. He recently moved to North Hollywood, but the distance does not stop him from his desire to be a dedicated specialist at the writing center. He is dedicated to helping multi-lingual speakers reach their full potential by using their language repertoire. Besides being a grad student, teaching, and tutoring, he's also a professional photographer who specializes in headshots and portraits. 

Samantha, or Sam (she/her) is an alum of JC Fullerton and CSUF and holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Linguistics. Prior to the Writing Center, she worked as a writing tutor at the CSUF University Learning Center for three years. Now as a Dedicated Specialist she eager to learn more instructional skills that can be applicable to a future career as a professor (preferably in Linguistics) in her future. She is fascinated with Historical Linguistics but also has various interests, from video games, to books, to drawing, as well as attending concerts and events with friends in her free time. She is a proud cat mom of four kitties.

Joslyn (she/her) is a CSUF student pursuing her B.S. in business administration with a concentration in accounting. She received her AS-T at Mt. SAC in 2026. In her classes at Mt. SAC, English C1000 and C1001, she enjoyed the experience of collaborating with other students, progressing in writing, and making new friends which inspired her to become a tutor at the Writing Center. She hopes to continue learning and working with students and support their academic journey. Joslyn also studied abroad in London during Fall 2024 and was a recipient of the Gilman Scholarship. During her free time, she enjoys thrifting, trying matcha spots, and spending time with her sister and friends.

Maddy (she/her) is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a real estate focus at Cal Poly Pomona. She is a part of the EOP community at CPP and plans to join the business real estate club on campus in the fall. Maddy aims to create a welcoming environment for all students and wants to give them the tools they need in order to succeed with current and future writing aspirations. Maddy is excited to be Dedicated Writing Specialist this semester and personally help each student reach their academic goals. Maddy’s hobbies include horseback riding, crocheting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Ava is pursuing her major in English Literature at Cal Poly Pomona. Her goal is to become an English Literature Professor at a Community College and a published author. She has steadily been growing her collection of classic literature, with her oldest antique novels printed as early as 1875 and 1749. Over the last few years Ava has also been working on three main novels, a collection of poetry, and a children’s book illustrated by her younger sister. By bringing both an analytical and creative perspective to the Writing Center, she hopes to help others grow in their writing, and perhaps, learn a few things herself along the way.

Destiny (she/her) is a current CSUF student aiming for her BA in English. In addition, she is also studying Comparative Literature and Spanish. In the future, she aims to teach at the Community College level. In her free time, Destiny enjoys expanding her collection of books. She enjoys collecting books of all levels in both English and Spanish. Her hope is that one day she can share her collection with her family. Destiny is excited to meet a variety of students from a multitude of backgrounds. She hopes that her time spent with students can help them in a meaningful and significant way.

Jamie graduated in May 2026 with her M.A. in English from California State University, Fullerton. Her academic interests lie in the study of contemporary fiction. In her time at CSUF, she dedicated herself to working with incoming and prospective students through the Outreach department. Now a DS at Mt. SAC, she looks forward to creating a safe space for students where they can comfortably and confidently grow as writers. Outside of her work at the WC, Jamie enjoys writing creative pieces, reading books of all genres, and watching films. She can be found at the local library or movie theater. 

Jonavan (he/they) is a Mt.SAC alumni and recent graduate of Cal State, Northridge with a degree in Film Production with an emphasis in cinematography. He believes that writing can be synthesized with any other discipline to create a strong understanding of that discipline and is excited to work with students to help develop a strong understanding of writing. While he’s focusing on working in film now, Jonavan hopes to teach film in the future and help lead the next generation of storytellers. When he’s not tutoring or working on film sets across LA, he’s usually writing about films, shows, and games he’s engaged with or practicing his photography skills.

Rachel is currently an English major with a minor in TESOL and plans to graduate from Cal Poly Pomona in Spring 2027. She uses she/her pronouns. At Cal Poly, she is involved in Sigma Tau Delta. She is excited to work at the Writing Center because she enjoys helping students build confidence that extends beyond their academic lives. Through her work at the Writing Center, she looks forward to meeting new students and helping them achieve their goals. In her free time, Rachel has self-published six books on Amazon and enjoys weightlifting. In the future, she hopes to become an English professor at Mt. SAC.

Layal graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a master's degree in English. She’s had previous tutoring experience at CSUF’s writing center, and teaching experience by becoming a TA. Layal is fluent in two languages: Arabic and English, but she really loves to listen to Arabic music, both the classic and the new. Layal is very excited to continue her tutoring experience at MT SAC and being able to help the students along in their writing process. She also loves to read, create DIYs, and hang out with her four pet parakeets, even when they get a little loud!

Lilianna M., otherwise known as Lily, is a current student at Mt. Sac. Lily is a first-generation college student who is majoring in fine arts with a focus on graphic design aiming to transfer in spring 2025. Writing and journaling is one of her favorite things to do on a daily basis and finds that analysis is the best part of an essay. She first discovered the WC in her English 1A class where after the session, she was left with a lasting impression. Lily enjoys making all types of art from canvases to clothing; she's done it all, including the mural behind her. In the WC she hopes to help others including herself, blossom and grow within their writing.

Ruben (he/him) is a current student at Mt. SAC, graduating this spring with an Associate of Science in Addiction Counseling. After graduation, he plans to enter the Addiction Counseling field for about two years to gain hands-on experience before deciding how to continue his education. He currently serves as a Liaison at the Writing Center and is part of Rising Scholars Program. Ruben speaks English and enjoys reading, viewing art and connecting with students. He enjoys working at the writing center because he is surrounded by intelligent people who practice emotional intelligence. He values lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and creating a welcoming environment. 

Nicole (she/her) is currently in Mt. SAC's nursing program. After graduating, she hopes to work either as a Pediatric or a Labor and Delivery nurse. As a WC Liaison, you can find her behind the front desk, so don't be afraid to say a hello when you stop by! She is most excited about the Tuesday Tea Times and to meet more of the Mt. SAC community. In her free time, she finds that listening to audiobooks, true crime, and music while are wonderful ways to pass the time. She also enjoys doing arts and crafts (crochet, cross stitching, dice making, etc). 

Steve is a current student at Mt.SAC and is working diligently on his academic goals in getting his welding certification, and welding AS Degree. Steve hopes to finish by 2027 and then work in the welding field for a few years before getting a full-time welding instructor position. Being one of the newest to come aboard at the Writing Center, Steve strives to give back to the community and help others in the same way he was helped when he first stepped foot on campus. Steve enjoys being with those he is close with. Steve also enjoys fishing and going to vinyl record stores to add to his punk rock collection.

Erin is a studio arts major entering their second year at Mt. SAC. They like dedicating their time to understanding how to best express the self through art and writing and find the most inspiration in other people and their relationships. Knowing the importance of personal expression, Erin hopes to help other people learn how to best express themselves through their writing. They plan on transferring to Cal State Fullerton to continue their arts education to build a career making art for films, games, or pick up general freelance work. Outside of school, they like doing archery, reading, and is currently writing a poetry collection.

Marycruz (she/her) is an Art major at Mt. SAC, exploring graphic design, illustration, photography, painting, and ceramics. She has been involved with Studio13 on campus as a graphic design intern and is passionate about supporting students, engaging with the community, and creating a welcoming space for everyone. Outside of her creative work, Marycruz enjoys thrifting, exploring the outdoors, watching sunsets, and playing Pokémon GO. She also loves discovering new music, films, and TV shows. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family, boyfriend, and orange cat, Kyo. She hopes to continue using her creativity to connect with and support others.

Denisse (she/they) is a Psychology major at Mt. SAC. After completing her studies, she plans to transfer to a four-year university to earn her bachelor’s degree and eventually pursue a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Denisse is fluent in Spanish and is involved with ARISE, LGBTQIA2S+ programs, the First Peoples Native Center, and works as a statistics tutor. She is excited to work at the WC and looks forward to bringing a welcoming and supportive spirit to the community. Outside of academics and work, Denisse enjoys swimming, reading, & social media content creation. They are passionate about connecting with others and creating spaces where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included.

Aime (she/her/hers) is a current student at Mt. SAC and is majoring in business administration with a focus in hospitality management. As a new addition to the WC, she is excited to be a part of a supportive and welcoming space. Aime is passionate about her education and hopes to connect with others as well as help them succeed along the way. Other than attending Mt. SAC, she enjoys spending time with her five-year-old, listening to music or podcasts, and learning about native birds and plants. A fun fact about Aime is that she is fluent in Spanish and loves learning about indigenous Mexican culture. 

Ryan (He/Him) is in his second year working on general education at Mt. SAC. He wants to transfer into Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and at the same time he hopes to acquire a GIS Certificate from Mt. SAC in order to expand his knowledge for his career. He works at both the Writing Center and for a native plant landscape contractor. At the Writing Center, he enjoys the calming and welcoming atmosphere, organizing the center and interacting with diverse groups of people. In his free time, Ryan enjoys reading, listening to music, and staying active.