Meet our Staff
Curious who your writing specialists and staff are? Get to know our Writing Center team by looking at some photos and reading “about me” blurbs!
Support Team
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Trista Payte
Director
Phone: (909) 274-4559
Email: tpayte@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563BDr. 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.
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Nicole Blean
Assistant Director
Phone: (909) 274-5616
Email: nblean@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563EComing on board as an adjunct faculty in English, Nicole Blean joined the Mt. SAC team in 2006, thus ending a “freeway flyer” situation where she taught up to six classes per semester all over the SoCal map. In 2007, she joined the Writing Center full time and assisted in building the new Center in 2008. Driven by a passion for instruction, she continued teaching at least one class on the side (usually on Saturdays) in addition to her commitment to the Center. Since 2016, Nicole began serving in her current role as Writing Center Assistant Director. She has been an active member of the SoCal Writing Center Association for the past fifteen years and is also involved in the IWCA Mentorship Program. In her free time, she enjoys writing, art journaling, and “pigging out” on books.
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Mauricio Goncalves
Tutorial Services Specialist
Phone: (909) 274-5274
Email: mgoncalves@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563DMauricio has been teaching ESL and English since 2003. He holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and an M.S. in TESOL from CSUF. He has taught reading and writing at different colleges and universities including UCI, CSUF, and Cal Poly Pomona. Mauricio has a special interest in Second Language Acquisition and Linguistics. He grew up in Brazil and speaks three languages. He joined Mt. SAC in 2016 as an AMLA instructor, and he is happy to assist students, faculty, and staff at the Mt. SAC Writing Center! In his free time, Mauricio is always searching for a good cup of coffee and a scenic road for a long morning drive.
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Joyce Dillon
Writing Center Instructor
Phone: (909) 274-5929
Email: jdillon@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AJoyce studied English at CSUF where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential. She taught British and American literature in high school for nine years. Later she earned her master’s in English with an emphasis in teaching. After taking some time off to start raising her family, Joyce returned to CSUF and spent a year focusing on writing center pedagogy and practice. She started teaching English at Mt. SAC in 2007. Joyce joined the Mt. SAC Writing Center team in 2015 where she focuses on tutor training. She is happy in her work as an adjunct instructor working with colleagues and tutors as they provide support to Mt. SAC students and faculty. When she is not at work, Joyce enjoys reading and discussing novels, working out, and spending time with her husband, young adult sons and their cat, Abby.
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Chase Jones
Writing Center Instructor
Phone: (909) 274-5929
Email: cjones156@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AChase holds a MA in English from Cal Poly, Pomona. He has been with the writing center as a tutor since 2022 and has worked closely with ACCESS students and the VRC. In the fall of 2023, he became an adjunct professor here at Mt. SAC and a member of the writing center’s support team staff. Chase is interested in creating accessible learning environments for students and educators alike by leveraging principles of universal design for learning and critical pedagogy. When he is not on campus, he spends his free time enjoying TTRPGS, anime, and playing with his dog Iggy.
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Jackie Duran
Writing Center Instructor
Phone: (909) 274-4438
Email: jduran47@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AJackie 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.
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Elona Dahi
Writing Center Instructor
Phone: (909) 274-4438
Email: edahi@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AElona started at Mt. SAC as a student in 2015 and has been at the Writing Center since 2018 in various roles, which is where her passion for education began. Elona holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Cal State Fullerton, where she focused on Latin American lit, feminist theory, and postmodern studies. She currently teaches English at the college level and hopes to continue doing so while also serving our students at the writing center. Aside from reading (obviously), Elona enjoys going on walks with friends, visiting art museums, exploring thrift and vintage stores, as well as finding new coffee shops.
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Adolfo Plazola
Wrting Center Instructor
Phone: (909) 274-5929
Email: aplazola@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AAdolfo is a Mt. SAC alumnus who 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. Alongside tutoring, he also teaches Freshman Composition classes at CSUF. 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.
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Sophia Obrien
Project Expert
Phone: (909) 274-4420
Email: sobrien3@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563ASophia 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 going on walks and hikes with her dog, Luna, and staying active at the gym and taking Pilates classes. She hopes to continue traveling to new places and work on completing her "National Park bucket list".
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Usha Bera
Project Expert
Phone: (909) 274-4447
Email: ubera@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563AUsha has been a Computer Lab Assistant at Mt. SAC since 2003. In 2005, she earned her A.S. in Desktop Publishing and awarded “Phi Theta Kappa” International Honor Society certificate in the same writing center building she is now working in. Soon, computer classes became more interesting to her, and she realized that if she met the degree requirements, she could earn her A.S. degree. From 2003 to 2011, she took on many roles in the Business Division Computer Lab such as a Lab assistant, a teacher assistant in classrooms, and in the summer, she assisted young students to create “multimedia” projects in compute for the “College for Kids” program. In 2011, she moved into the Writing Center as a Front Desk/Lab Assistant. She loves her job and the people there. Usha is a proud mom of two UCLA graduates and eagle scout sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, and her favorite time is to play with her two granddaughters.
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Soomin Yang
Project Expert
Phone: (909) 274-4447
Email: syang75@mtsac.edu
Building: 26B-1563ASoomin 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.
In-Center Specialists
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Addison (IC)
Addison (she/her) is so excited to be an In-Center writing specialist this year. She is majoring in Communication and will be writing for SAC Media starting in the fall. She is most looking forward to helping students feel uplifted and motivated as they write! Outside of work and school, Addison loves listening to music, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with friends. She is a film enthusiast and book lover (though she is in a bit of a reading slump at the moment). Addison is so very excited to meet new people at the Writing Center this year!
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Bella (IC)
Bella is an Audio Arts major here at Mt. SAC; she hopes to work in the music or film industry someday. She’s excited to be part of the Writing Center team where she looks forward to collaborating with others and helping students find their unique voices through writing. Of course, she’s also looking forward to the fancy coffee machine. Outside of work and school, Bella loves dancing and singing, always finding a fun way to bring creativity into her day. A true music lover, she’s always ready with a great song recommendation for anyone looking to discover something new.
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Joslyn (IC)
Joslyn (she/her) is a current student at Mt. SAC and is pursuing her A.S. in Business Administration. She plans to transfer to a four-year university in Spring 2026 and specialize in either accounting, business law, or real estate development. In her classes English 1A and 1C, she enjoyed the experience of collaborating with other students which inspired her to become a tutor at the Writing Center. She hopes to continue learning and working with students to help 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, traveling, hanging out with friends, spending time with her sister, and watching shows/movies.
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Ava (IC)
Ava is pursuing her major in English. Her goal is to become an English Literature professor and a published author. In middle school she fell in love with the subject. She has steadily been growing her collection of classic literature, with some antique novels printed as early as 1875. Ava has been working on several original works over the past three years. Additionally, she is collaborating with another Mt. SAC student to illustrate her first children’s story. 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.
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Khiem (IC)
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.
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Matthew (IC)
Matthew currently attends Mt. San Antonio College and is in the process of completing his English AA by Spring 2025. He plans to transfer to a Cal State Fullerton to continue his passion for English by Fall of 2025. He understands the trials and errors many students experience and hopes to provide clarity through his time working in the Writing Center. This job lets him advise students through their writing process as he pursuits his passion to teach English in the future. In his free time, Matthew enjoys drafting stories, practicing guitar riffs, and seeing bands at his local venues.
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Lily V. (IC)
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.
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Jordan (IC)
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.
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Aimee (IC)
Aimee is currently a first-generation college student who is working towards joining the nursing program at Mt. SAC and in the future transferring to a four-year university for her BSN. Although she is hoping to pursue nursing as her career, she has always loved writing and helping people with their own writing projects. 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, exploring new places, and spending quality time with her family.
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Ali (IC)
Ali is an In-Center Writing Specialist at the Writing Center. Born in the Middle East and moved here when he was 5, he is now a third-year computer science major at Mt. SAC, where he is working toward a specialization in cybersecurity. He plans to transfer to a four-year institution in the Fall of 2025 to further his education. Ali enjoys driving, martial arts, and rock climbing, and is an avid reader with a particular interest in dystopian sci-fi, history, and psychology. He is dedicated to helping students achieve their full potential by creating a welcoming and encouraging environment. Ali believes in the value of education and is always eager to support others on their academic path.
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Dominique (IC)
Dominique, a current student at Mt. SAC, is majoring in Business Administration. She plans to transfer to a four-year university in 2024 and hopefully become an accountant. Reading and writing have always been something she has enjoyed, and as a tutor she is able to help others strengthen their own skills. In her free time, Dominique loves baking, specifically cakes and pies. Music is also a big part of her life, so outside of always listening to music and frequently attending concerts, she is also currently learning to play the guitar. When she needs to decompress she likes to watch hockey, or play with her dog, a husky/pit bull mix, that she recently rescued.</span >
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Jacob (IC)
Jacob is currently a student at Mt. SAC majoring in Nutrition and Dietetics. During his first semester, he received tutoring at the Writing Center for his English 1A class, and the environment was a safe space for him to relax and do his homework. The Writing Center became his safe space, and he started spending most of his time there, eventually getting a job as a tutor to help other students. When Jacob is not at the center, he likes to spend his free time gaming with his friends and finding a new cafe to read and write in.
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Mayra (IC)
Mayra is a current student at Mt. San Antonio College and is an English major. She hopes to transfer to Cal State LA and graduate with her bachelor’s degree. She hopes to have a career in creative writing and publishing. She is a self-acclaimed “word nerd” and hipster, and thus hopes to share her love of writing with those in the writing center who might need a push. She believes that everyone is capable of being a good writer, they just need to find what works for them. When she’s not on campus she’s playing dnd with her friends, drawing, or working on her fantasy novel.
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Drew (IC)
Drew is a student at Mt. San Antonio College studying English and philosophy. He intends to transfer to a university after finishing his associate’s degree. Drew’s experience with taking English classes and receiving tutoring for English 1C inspired him to focus on literary studies and to work at the Writing Center. He values engaging with and contributing to an educational environment that develops students’ critical thinking and writing skills. Drew is active in the Mt. SAC Philosophy Club and likes to engage in interesting philosophical discussions with his fellow club members. In his personal time, Drew enjoys reading, watching films and shows, and listening to music.
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Daniel (IC)
Daniel Arias is an In Center writing specialist and a second year student at Mt. SAC getting his A.S Public Health before he transfers to a 4 year to complete his B.S. Growing up Daniel had always had an attraction to literature and a love for reading combined with his desire to help people, motivated him to work at the writing center; which is an environment where he can do both. Daniel enjoys training in the gym and playing chess as he believes it keeps him physically and mentally fit. His love for music also makes him enjoy going to concerts or venues to see artists live.
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Erin (IC)
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.
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Tori (IC)
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."
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Jared (IC)
Jared is a second-year student at Mt. SAC as a double major in Theater Arts & Communications. He hopes to pursue a career in voice acting/acting. He plans to graduate with an AA-T degree in both majors by Spring 2027 and then transfer to Cal State Fullerton to pursue his passion for theater. Jared has a huge presence on campus, being involved with the Bridge Program as a Peer advisor and as an active member of Promise Plus, Arise, and now the Writing Center! Jared hopes to share his knowledge with students to further progress their writing process skills. Hobbies of his include model kit building, going out to live shows, and balisong flipping.
Dedicated Specialists
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Joel (DS)
In his youth, Joel studied at Biola University where he majored in Psychology and minored in Biblical Theology. After pursuing fortune and fame in Hollywood, he now studies for his Masters in English at Cal Poly Pomona. He tries to speak some Spanish and pretends to know Japanese, but he's basically monolingual. Joel loves working with students as they write, whether in the classroom or in tutoring, and tries to make assignments less painful for them, perhaps even a little fun. Outside the grind of school and work, he enjoys playing with his kids, eating sushi with his wife, volunteering at his church, and eating more sushi with his wife.
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Tom (DS)
Tom holds a BA in English from CSUSB and is currently pursuing a Master’s from the same institute with a focus on English literature. Tom came to Mt. SAC’s Writing Center because of how unique and interesting the program is in comparison to other writing centers from different institutes. Lamenting on the fact, he wished he had the type of support group and community for his writing during his undergraduate education. Despite his major, Tom understands that some people just don’t like to read or write, especially for English classes, which they find boring. Because of this, he finds enjoyment in finding ways to make boring topics entertaining and engaging for people. During his free time, he likes to hike, get lost on shady trails, and get headaches.
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Nomar (DS)
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.
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Mia (DS)
Mia is a tutor at the Mt. SAC Writing Center and editorial team member of RipRap, Cal State Long Beach's literary journal. Growing up, libraries, the birthplace for her love of reading, writing, and storytelling, were a sanctuary for her. This passion for literature and community is what motivated Mia to major in English and work at the WC; the perfect place that combines her two passions. During her free time, Mia likes to draw, stargaze, play the guitar, and song-write. A poem that remains very dear to Mia’s heart is Mary Oliver’s “Dogfish;” the poem contains a line that she lives by: “Mostly, I want to be kind.
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Ella (DS)
Ella is currently a student at Mt. SAC as a Communication Studies and Theatre Arts double major getting her AA degree in the former. She plans to transfer to a 4-year university in the Spring of 2024 to get her bachelor’s degree in both majors. She hopes to become a communication studies and theatre arts college professor in the future. Ever since elementary, English and writing has always been one of her main passions in academia. At the Writing Center, she wants to provide a safe space for students who want to get help on their writing assignments. In her free time, Ella enjoys performing speeches, watching movies, and crocheting.
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Ruth (DS)
Ruth has graduated from Mt. SAC with an AA-T in English and an AA in Language Arts. She loves reading and writing and is studying to become a professor of English and Literature. When she was still a student at Mt. SAC, Ruth received tutoring from the Writing Center, which fueled her desire to become a tutor herself and help support other students the same way that she has received support. She is very passionate about education and wants to show others that everyone is capable of learning and developing. Ruth is Spanish/English bilingual, a first-generation college student, and loves writing poetry in her spare time.
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Anthony (DS)
Anthony is currently attending Mt. San Antonio College and is majoring in Chicano Studies. He plans on transferring to a university spring of 2024. Anthony had the chance to work with a tutor during his English 1c class and ever since he wanted to give back what was so freely given to him. Anthony has come from such a diverse background he feels the need to advocate for students that are in need of help. In his free time, Anthony enjoys attending guided meditation groups, playing softball, and enjoying the simple things live has to offer.
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Alexia (DS)
Alexia has been working at the Writing Center since 2018, progressing from a walk-in tutor role to a TC (Tutors in the Classroom) role. Through the TC program, Alexia has been able to learn from a variety of professors and students, and it has generated many of her favorite experiences. She earned her B.A. in English at Cal Poly Pomona. Her interests include reading magical realism novels and world literature, playing video games, and listening to podcasts.
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Delaney (DS)
Delaney is a student at California State University, Fullerton, where she is steadily making her way towards a Bachelor’s in English. She was a student at Mt. SAC before she transferred to her current school, and she loves all things reading and writing. She thinks that writing is an excellent expression of the one thing all humans seem to love: storytelling. The WC is the on-campus home for lovers of this art form, and has the most useful tools for student writers. Not only is there the tech, like a room full of computers waiting for people to come and use them, but it also has the spirit. When she’s not writing you can find Delaney trying to enjoy some time outdoors or listening to her CD collection during her commute.</span >
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Mason (DS)
Mason is a Tutor in the Classroom for the Writing Center. He achieved his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Science in Education at California State University, Fullerton. After working in educational administration for over a year, he found that he wanted to be an instructor. He hopes to obtain credentials in Social Science and Physical Education. Outside class, Mason exercises four times a week, enjoys different movies/shows, watches a variety of sports, listens to all kinds of music, hangs out with pals in real life and on Twitch, and keeps up with WWE every week. His favorite music genre is Hard Rock and his favorite wrestler is the Megastar L.A. Knight (YEAH!).
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Kait (DS)
Kait is in her master’s program at Cal Poly Pomona with a double emphasis in literature. She received her bachelors degree in English education. She currently works as a Tutor in the Classroom and loves helping students follow their dreams through writing. As a neurodiverse first-generation college student, Kait knows firsthand the difficulties of getting an education and has a passion for helping students find their voice. When she is not studying or working, Kait loves collecting antique and rare classic books, spending time with her dogs, and playing video games. As she finishes up her masters program, Kait intends to teach at the college level and make working with students, her career.
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April (DS)
April recently earned her Master's in Literary Studies with a secondary emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition from Cal Poly, where she also received her BA in Literature. While in school she worked at her campus writing center where she cultivated her passion for helping others find their power through writing and self-advocacy, which she is excited to continue here at Mt. SAC as an ACCESS TC. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, going to shows, and coaching Olympic Weightlifting at her local gym. Don't be afraid to say hi!
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Denise (DS)
Denise started working at the Writing Center during the pandemic. Even though it was a scary time, the Writing Center was equipped with many resources and well informed staff members to assist students. Tutoring at Mt SAC has been a privilege for her, and she hopes to carry many of the lessons with her when she becomes a professor. After completing nursing school, she realized that she no longer wanted to work in the medical field. She went back to school and found her true passion: Psychology. Denise is currently majoring in Psychology at California State University San Bernardino. When she is not working, or in school, she enjoys listening to True Crime, binge watching TV shows on Netflix, and just taking a moment to appreciate the small things.</span >
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Noah (DS)
Noah is a triple threat: an Embedded Tutor, Teaching Associate, and graduate student completing his M.A. in English Literary Studies at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Since 2021, he has worked in several classrooms alongside multiple professors both at Mt. SAC and his homebase, Cal Poly, and has provided dedicated writing services to over 500 students. He specializes in gothic literature and theory and currently teaches Introduction to Fiction with an emphasis on monster fiction. He is a contributor to several forthcoming academic volumes and has organized “pop-up” online symposia on topics like folk horror, Edgar Allan Poe, and the gothic subculture. Outside of academia, he enjoys long walks through the cemetery, live music, antiquing and thrifting, and dancing!
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Amber (DS)
Amber is a graduate student at Cal Poly Pomona looking to earn her M.A. in English Literature in 2026. She received her B.A. in English Education and a TESOL minor in 2023 at CPP. Amber aspires to teach English at the college level to encourage students to grow not only in their academic life but personal life as well! She enjoys working with students to develop ideas, brainstorm topics, further their skills, and engage in texts. She hopes to support students to obtain their goals while creating a comfortable learning environment. Outside of school, Amber loves reading, writing (where she has taken that passion and wrote a poem book), spending time with her cat, drinking boba, and travelling abroad.
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Nadelyn (DS)
Nadelyn is a first-year student at Mt. SAC and is majoring in Biology. She hopes to transfer to a four-year institution in hopes of achieving her dream career, becoming a dermatologist. Nadelyn is involved with the Bridge Program, promise plus, and ACES around the campus. She is excited to meet new people as a writing specialist and enjoys giving support to those around her for everyone to thrive and grow. During her free time, she loves to read, binge TV shows, spend time with her cat, and try new foods.
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Lorena (DS)
Lorena is an English major emphasizing in Literature. She aspires to become a professor in the forthcoming years to further explore literary analysis in her lectures. While also perceiving herself as a lifelong learner, Lorena appreciates all manifestations of creativity, which motivates her to foster collaboration with you as creative writers and thinkers. In harmony with her enthusiasm and appreciation for untamed artistic expression, Lorena motivates individuals to transcend the limits of writing. Unique viewpoints of the human condition as shown in literature and personal writing is power. She believes that humans possess much to learn from one other, which she contends may enhance human consciousness in several ways.
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Loisa (DS)
Loisa is currently majoring in linguistics at CSUF, as she has a passion for languages and random linguistic trivia. She has studied Spanish for about 6 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).
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Nemo (DS)
Nemo Engersbach (all pronouns) is a Mt.SAC psychology major pursuing a career in psychiatry, focusing on psychotic disorders and/or neurodivergence. They plan to transfer once fulfilling general education and UC psych-major transfer criteria. They hope to minor in Spanish, which they do speak at home. Beyond academics, Nemo enjoys engaging with multimedia analysis through the lens of composition which has largely contributed to their decision to work in the WC. Nemo believes collaborating with others when it comes to writing, especially with analytic, argumentative, and humanitarian prompts is entertaining! They also pride themself as someone who truly enjoys all genres of music, but feel free to test that!
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Adrian (DS)
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. </span >
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Maddy (DS)
Madeline (she/her/hers) or also commonly known as Maddy is majoring in animal science. Madeline hopes to pursue a career in animal science and plans to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona. During Madeline’s first semester at Mt.SAC she was introduced to the Writing Center through her English 1A Dedicated Writing Specialist. He showed her how the ins and outs of the Writing Center as well as encouraged her to become a Writing Specialist. Madeline looks forward to helping her peers the way she was helped. In her free time Madeline enjoys binge watching shows while crocheting, she loves listening to music, and spending time with her sisters!
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Gio (DS)
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.
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Ashley (DS)
Ashley is currently a student at Mt. SAC and is majoring in Kinesiology (with a minor in ASL) to become a physical therapist. She’s hoping to transfer into a four-year university to get her bachelor’s degree in both majors. Ashley has known American Sign Language for over ten years now. She’s excited to work in the Writing Center as in-center specialist to help other students improve their writing skills and learn new ones. Ashley is a world-traveler and has a story for everything. Ashley loves movies, drawing, playing video games, hiking, taking care of her pets, and reading.
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Natan (DS)
Natán (He/Him) transferred from Mt. SAC with AA-Ts in English and Philosophy and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English. He is a current student at Cal Poly Pomona, working towards achieving a teaching credential. Although previously a high school tutor for six years, he returned to Mt. SAC to give back to the community that helped start his academic journey. As a first-generation college student, he hopes to help the students become a little less scared of writing, one essay at a time. Outside of the classroom, Natán enjoys creative writing, trying out Vietnamese coffee, and getting really mad while playing Valorant.</span >
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Robert (DS)
Robert is currently majoring in English at UC Riverside. Robert wants to support students because they remember what it was like to not feel confident in their work or being afraid of not looking like they did not know what they were doing. Robert likes to show students that they usually know or do what their professors are challenging them with. It is wonderful to see students realize they understand or know more than they thought. Roberts interests involve various forms of art and writing. They also love to watch TV Shows, Movies, read books and comics.
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Alden (DS)
Alden is a graduate student earning a PhD in Communication at UC San Diego, where he is interested in ideas about writing and community. So, the writing center gives him a lot to be excited about! He's interested in writing as a social process and loves to engage with every stage from the blank page to the final draft. He likes to think abstractly about what counts as writing and is excited to work on and use audio-visual learning strategies to tackle all kinds of assignments. When he's not writing, thinking, or talking about writing, he's with his dogs, taking walks on the beach, or losing in video games.
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Harrison (DS)
Harrison Lee is an English Graduate Student in California State University, Fullerton, where he currently works to attain a Master of Arts degree in English. Harrison takes a special interest in the interdisciplinary crossroads of Tragedy, Dark Fantasy, and Philosophy. Harrison is both an avid reader and writer of Dark Fantasy stories; some of his works that have been featured in conferences or published include “The Queen of Blossoms” and “Lifetime’s Journey.” Professionally, he aspires to utilize his skills and expertise in the world of writing, publishing, and teaching. If you asked him to describe himself, he would describe himself as, “A man of many words but few deeds.
Liaisons
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Liliana M. (Liaison)
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.
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Ruben (Liaison)
Ruben is a current student at Mt. SAC and is striving to achieve his A.S. Degree in addiction counseling. He hopes to transfer in the spring of 2026 to Cal. State Fullerton to further his education in addiction studies. Ruben began working at the Writing Center in the fall of 2024. He has a passion for education which is an integral part of his life. He is a lifelong learner; furthermore, he enjoys being a tutor and helping students find their hidden potential - a joyous moment. During his free time, Ruben loves riding his 1980 Schwinn Cruiser alongside the beach coast.
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Bryn (Liaison)
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.
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Bernadette (Liaison)
Bernadette is a 1st year student at Mt. SAC and is studying geographic information systems (GIS). She eventually wants to go into city planning or urban design. She is passionate about sustainability and environmental science and wants to incorporate sustainability with GIS to create green, environmentally friendly cities. Bernadette is working at the Writing Center as a liaison because she enjoys helping students and connecting them to the resources they need. In her free time, Bernadette enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to punk bands. She enjoys going to concerts and hanging out with friends. She is also incredibly talented at cooking, making dinner most nights for her family. Her favorite cuisines to cook are Korean, Italian, and Chinese.
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Becky (Liaison)
Becky earned her AA, in Kinesiology, at Mt. SAC in the Spring 2024. She began her nursing program at Mt. SAC in Spring 2025. She started her academic journey with ESL courses and became a full-time student after her first year. While taking English classes (AMLA 80, AMLA 90, English 1A, and English 1C), Becky received valuable support from the Writing Center, which inspired her to work there and help other students succeed. As part of the Writing Center team, she greets students at the front desk and gives presentations to classes about the resources available. In her spare time, Becky enjoys cooking, spending time with her husband and daughter, and preparing for her future career in nursing.
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Ryan (Liaison)
Ryan is a second-year student at Mt. Sac and is currently majoring in Business Administration 2.0. He plans to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona to get his bachelor's degree and possibly an MBA in the future. After graduation, he plans to start a business of his own; however, he may still change his mind and go into real estate. As a writing center liaison, he greets students who come in and directs them to their tutors. He also manages appointments and makes sure students check in and out. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. He also enjoys trying new food, traveling, and watching movies.