Writing Center at Aquinas College

Aquinas Writing Center Staff & Liaisons

Julie Bevins
AQ Writing Center Coordinator—CORE
Fun Fact: I am fluent in the language of Ubbi Dubbi (look it up!)
Favorite Book/Author: This is too hard! Kristine Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset is excellent. I am also partial to David, who composed the Psalms. 

 

Gretchen Rumohr
English Dept. Chair, Faculty ENGL203: Writing Center Theory & Practice
Fun Fact: I have four daughters and a 5lb Yorkie, and I live for warmer weather!
Favorite Book/Author/Genre: Young Adult Literature (don't make me choose a favorite author LOL!)

 

Mies Martin
Interim Assistant Library Director, WC Information Literacy Specialist
Fun Fact: I'm a home brewer and honored to participate in 2022's Brews at the Calder Pro-Am
Favorite Book/Author/Genre: I don't have a favorite book, Author or Genre, but I have too many to list. But a few fiction authors I could list Umberto Eco or Dostoyevsky or Kurt Vonnegut. I also love Douglas Adams. The Same for books, I read lots of History, Philosophy, Culture Theory and anything else that helps me to understand the articulation of technology, culture and information, particularly as it applies to academic libraries. It might be easier to list what I'm not interested in than what I am reading at any given point.

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Aquinas Writing Center Consultants

 

Anastasia Benstead
Major/Minor(s): Spanish, English Literature, Secondary Education
Personal Fun Fact: I am a twin
Recommended Book, Genre, or Favorite Author: Currently recommend “This Will Only Hurt a Little” by Busy Philipps 
Other Campus Activities: Swim team, Contemporary Writers Series Student Representative, Athletic, Concert, and Jazz Band

 

Rachel Buehler
Major: English Lit.
Minor: English Writing
Specialties: Love the brainstorming stage! Getting all your ideas together and building a strong outline is the BEST!
Fun Fact: A hobby of mine is thrifting with friends and finding unique items <3
Book Recommendation: The Alchemist - by Paulo Coelho. I get a new experience and understanding out of it each time I read it. 
Campus Activities: English Honors :) 

 

Christopher Curry
Studying: Philosophy, Catholic Studies, and Writing
Specialties: Confident in extrapolating ideas from a given text
Fun Fact: I am a lover of lunting and a passionate fan of sport
Book Recommendation: G.K. Chesterton’s ‘Orthodoxy’

 

 

Anna Fedewa
WC Task Force Administrator (Fall 2023)
Majors: Secondary Education and English Literature
Consulting Projects/Specialties: Education Courses & Resumes/Cover Letters
Fun Fact: I love Taylor Swift. Ask me about it!
Recommended Book: I Explain a Few Things by Pablo Neruda
Other Campus Activities: Cross Country and Track, Peer Coaching

 

Steven Figge
WC Task Force Communications
Major: Communication
Minor: English Writing
Consulting Projects/Specialties: Helping to synthesize and organize information (Ex: a research paper, but where the research is already done)
Personal Fun Fact: I've traveled outside the country for video game tournaments!
Favorite Genre: Self-Help/Personal Improvement
Other Campus Activities: Esports team for League of Legends; host of the AQ Diff Podcast

 

Tess Foster
Major: Business Admin & Sports Management
Minor: Communications
Specialties: Brainstorming and Proofreading
Fun Fact: My favorite movie is Clueless!
Favorite Author: David Sedaris
Campus Activities: Volleyball and possibly theater next semester! Residence Life Front Desk Worker, guest writer for The Saint

 

Jasho Ghosh
Major: BFA
Specialties: Can consult for German-language papers!
Fun Fact: I am starting to learn Spanish
Favorite Author: Guenther Grass
Other Campus Activities: I also teach math and consult at the Communication Lab

 

Grace Giroux
Major: Spanish | Minors: Women's Studies & Studio Art
Fun Fact: I just got back from my study abroad semester in Spain!
Fav Book Series: Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley
Other Campus Activities: I work at the Women's Studies Center and the Circle Theatre Box Office.

 

Grace Green
WC Task Force Administrator (Spring 2024)
Major: History | Minor: Spanish
Specialities: Brainstorming, Final edits
Fun Fact: I have an irrational fear of icicles
Recommended Book: 12 Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn
Campus Activities: History Club, Spanish Club, Athletic Band

 

Jacob Halaas
Major: Communication Business
Specialties: Anything from academic papers, to creative writing pieces.
Fun Fact: I've had multiple NHL and D1 hockey players stay with me over the years
Book Recommendation: One Piece - by Eiichiro Oda (Greatest piece of modern day fiction)
Campus Activities: Part of the Men's Lacrosse Team 

 

Summer Hickok
WC Task Force Communications
Major: English Literature
Minors: English Writing and Communications
Consulting Projects/Specialties: I love brainstorming! Thinking about the project is an essential part of the writing process.
Fun Fact: Much like Elle Woods, I am a Gemini vegetarian.
Book Recommendation: If you’re looking for a nostalgic, magical read: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum. If you’re looking for a gory, gay read: Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite.
Campus Activities: I'm a member of the Writer's Guild, Encore, and the Table-Top Games Club. I also am involved in theatre and writing around campus.

 

Julia Kennedy
Major: English Writing
Minor: Communications
Specialties: Essay Structure, Punctuation, and MLA Works Cited Pages
Fun Fact: I like to dabble in photo and video editing
Favorite Book Genre/Author: Drama/Thriller; Favorite author is Khaled Hosseini
Campus Activities: Campus Ministry

 

Laura Kuzmicz
Major/Minor(s): English Writing
Specialties: Fictional works, poetry, literary research papers
Fun Fact: I have been a bass player for 7 years, I'm apart of the Aquinas Jazz Band and Kent Philharmonic Orchestra
Recommended Book: I recommend I'm Thinking Of Ending Things written by Iain Reid. It's incredible, mind bending and will leave you speechless once you finish!
Other Campus Activities: Band, Jazz band

 

Carson Lafferty
WC Archivist
Major: Secondary Education
Specialties: Brainstorming, proofreading
Fun Fact: I've met Bill Nye the Science Guy
Recommended Book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Other Campus Activities: I run Cross Country and Track. I'm also in the history club.

 

Sophia Lentine
Major: English Writing
Minor: Studio Art
Specialties: Creative Writing, Essays and Research
Fun Fact: I enjoy riding my horse, skiing, and reading
Book Recommendation: All the Ugly and Wonderful Things - by Bryn Greenwood
Campus Activities: Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society)

 

Grace Maguire
WC Task Force ENGL203 Liaison and WC CORE Intern
Majors: Business Administration and Communication
Minor: English with an Emphasis in Writing
Consulting Projects/Specialties: Organizing Thoughts by Creating Outlings, Proofreading, Creative Writing, and Praxis Proposals
Fun Fact: I starting snowboarding at the age of 5.
Favorite Genre/Author: Romance; Favorite author is Colleen Hoover
Other Campus Activities: AQ Varsity Softball Player

 

Lianne Martinez
WC Remote & Resources Advisor (R2)
Major: Business Administration
Minor: English Writing and Music
Consulting Projects/Specialties: Brainstorming and organization
Fun Fact: I can crack both of my wrists constantly.
Favorite Genre: Thriller and Mystery
Additional Campus Activities: College Band

 

Maggie Palnau
Major: English Writing
Specialties: Creative Fiction, Storytelling, Character Development/Brainstorming
Fun Fact: I own a full set of First American Editions of the Harry Potter book series.
Favorite Genre: Fantasy, but I do recommend Maus - by Art Spiegelman
Campus Activities: TRIO S.S.S. - Communications Lead | TRIO S.S.S. - Peer Mentor | AQ Pride Secretary | Writer's Guild Vice President 

 

Alexander Rodriguez
Major: English | Minor: Communications
Specialties: Deep thoughts and creative approaches to real world situations.
Fun Fact: Music is a huge passion of mine, and I know word for word over 1000s of songs!
Book Recommendation: Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins
Campus Activities: Volleyball and possibly theater next semester!

 

Matthew Schieber
Magna Verba 2024 Editor-in-Chief
Major: English Writing | Minor: Communication
Specialties: Organization, structure, and vocabulary
Fun Fact: I took Latin in high school.
Favorite Book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Additional Campus Activities: Cross Country and Track (5k and 10k are my bread and butter).

 

Victoria Scovel
Major: Business Admin
Minor: Legal Studies
Specialties: Outlines, Organization, Grammar, Proofreading, etc...
Fun Fact: I've worked at a law firm!
Favorite Genre: I love Mysteries and True Crime. I'm reading and enjoying "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo right now.
Campus Activities: Student Ambassador for the Admissions office

 

Haris Sendijarevic
Major: Data Science
Specialties: Organizing researched sources, Brainstorming, Organization, Outlining, Structure
Fun Fact: I am a huge soccer fan! My favorite soccer team is Borussia Dortmund!
Book Recommendation: Wonder - by R. J. Palacio, Fahrenheit 451 - by Ray Bradbury, and The Living - by Matt de la Peña
Campus Activities: I am a part of TRIO SSS. I also joined the Math Club and Table-Top Board Games Club

 

Sydney Shenk
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minor: Psychology
Specialties: Research Papers, Lab Reports
Fun Fact: I'm from Washington State!
Favorite Genre: Horror/Thriller
Other Campus Activities: AQ Women's Soccer, Chemistry TA

 

Isabella Thomas
Major: Business Admin with a concentration in International Business
Minor: German
Specialties: Organization, brainstorming, and structure
Fun Fact: I love traveling to new places whenever possible.
Favorite Author: Neil Gaiman
Campus Activities: TRIO Student Support Services 

 

Sydney VanDerHaegen
Major: Psychology 
Specialties: APA Format, Like to work on Fiction pieces
Fun Fact: Played softball at AQ and love being outdoors
Favorite Author: Barry Iyga 

 

Julia Williams
Major: Environmental Studies| Minor: English Writing
Specialties: Creative writing and biology
Fun Fact: I am a second degree black belt!
Favorite Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, and Horror
Other Campus Activities: I play Softball for Aquinas

 

Grace Wilson
Major/Minor(s): Majoring in Political Science and Minoring in English
Specialties: Brainstorming, Organization/Structure
Fun Fact: The only bone I've broken is my big toe!
Favorite Author: Kate Quin
Other Campus Activities: Soccer, Insignis

 

Ben Zeppa
Major: Mathematics
Specialties: Brainstorming and Organizing
Fun Fact: I used to live on a farm with 25 horses, and that is it
Favorite Author: Dostoyevsky
Campus Activities: I am part of the Math Club

 

McGee
Doggie Consultant and Woof ‘n’ Words Champion
Majors: Mischief-Making and Snuggles
Minor: Exploration
Consulting Projects/Specialties: Kids Food Basket; Brainstorming; Writer Anxiety Management
Fun Fact: I am a miniature bernedoodle
Favorite Toy: my stuffed llama
Additional Campus Activities: Walking

Odin the Otter
World’s Best Writing Center Mascot
Majors: Encouragement and Comfort
Minor: Adventure
Consulting Projects/Specialties: I like all writers and all writing! I especially like writers who say stuff like “I can’t write!”
Fun Fact: I was kidnapped in 2021 by a couple of AQ baseball players (but I liked my kidnappers a lot, and we started an Instagram thread together to keep the AQ community informed that I was ok!). I was returned safely…but now I have a real love for AQ Adventures!
Favorite Saying: You Otter Be Writing With Us!
Additional Campus Activities: Everything. I like everything! 

Craig the Turtle
World’s Most Humble Writing Center Mascot
Majors: Persistence and Patience
Minor: Contemplation
Consulting Projects/Specialties: I am an excellent listener.
Fun Fact: I prefer to stay in Julie’s office. You are welcome to visit me. If you sit in silence, you can hear my quiet wisdom.
Favorite Author: Shel Silverstein
Additional Campus Activities: Storytime in Julie’s office. I like to listen.