Who works at The Writing Center?
The Writing Center employs undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Detroit Mercy. Our consultants come from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, from psychology to biology to English, and they are prepared to collaborate with you on any writing-related project.
Our Staff
Dr. Bell is the Director of the Writing Center. She is also a senior adjunct in the English department, and WGS affiliate faculty of the Women’s & Gender Studies program.
She earned her PhD from the Wayne State University and her research focuses on feminist theory, queer theory, and writing center pedagogies.
Dr. Brittany Hardy, Content and Outreach Coordinator
Dr. Hardy manages the Writing Center’s digital content and social media presence and hosts on-campus workshops and events. She is also a lecturer in the English department.
She earned her PhD from the University of Michigan and is a specialist in ancient Greek poetry.
Abdel El-Sayed, Consultant
Ashlee Jones, Consultant
Ashlee Jones (she/ her) is a double majoring student working on her bachelor’s degree. She enjoys being able to help others in any given situation, especially with writing. In her free time, she likes writing poetry, creating Pinterest boards, and playing video games.
Casey Burge, Consultant
Casey is in the Criminal Justice/M.S. 5-yr Intelligence Analysis program with a minor in Political Science, studying crime in its many forms. Her interests are analytical writing and research studies.
Eliza Makhdoom, Consultant
Emily Benitez, Marketing and Media Outreach Specialist
Emily (she/her) is studying pre-dental hygiene into dental hygiene. She enjoys content creation, from the filming process to the photography aspect. She loves capturing the moment. In her free time, she loves watching the Detroit lions, waitressing and making TikToks.
Grace DeBerardino, Consultant
Joshua Otten, Graduate Consultant
Joshua Otten (He/Him) received his undergraduate degree with a double major in English and Political Science. He has been working in the writing center since the first year of his undergraduate degree and is currently in the M.A. of Interdisciplinary Studies at Detroit Mercy. He is also a Fifth Year Senior on the Track and Field Team and is the school record holder in the 1500m run. In his free time he likes to read, ride his bike, and play the Pokémon card game. ¡También, se habla español!
Liberty Stevens, Consultant
Liberty (she/her/hers) is a Criminal Justice/Intelligence Analysis Major. She loves assisting with staff studies, white papers, and all manners of creative writing and/or analysis. In her free time you can catch her volunteering with Rx for Reading, writing poetry, or doing Wikipedia deep dives into obscure, esoteric information. She enjoys sci-fi, documentaries, and cozy music with a mug of cocoa (even in the summertime). Most importantly, she’s happy to help you with any of your writing needs!
Lillie Peshek, Consultant
Lillie (she/her) is a sophomore in the 5-year Cybersecurity/Intelligence Analysis major with a minor in Political science from Maryland! Later in life she plans on taking her degree and joining the Navy. Lillie is on the women’s lacrosse team here at Detroit Mercy and has been playing lacrosse since she was 4. Lillie loves the beach, and when she is home in the summer, she visits often.
Oswald Adam, Consultant
Oswald Adam is a new student at Detroit Mercy University and is an English major with a
specification in writing. Oswald enjoys writing, reading, and drawing, and plans to be an author
one day. He loves helping students revise their academic writing, creative writing, and poetry
assignments, as well as personal projects
Taylor Kondel, Graduate Consultant
Taylor is pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology through UDM’s five-year program. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in I/O Psychology with a minor in Leadership. As a former Division I student-athlete and golfer, Taylor understands firsthand the challenges of balancing academics with the demands of collegiate athletics. Now, Taylor is also the Graduate Assistant coach for the Women’s golf team here, allowing her to continue working with student-athletes. Her experiences as both a student and now a coach give her a unique perspective on the academic challenges student-athletes face. Through her time in the Writing Center, Taylor hopes to provide a supportive environment where students can strengthen their writing skills and build confidence in their abilities.
Are you interested in working at The Writing Center? Check the link below for any available employment opportunities, or email our director, Dr. Bell, to inquire at: bellee@udmercy.edu