Faculty & Staff
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Elizabeth Hepford
Professor of the Practice in Teaching English as a Second Language
SciLi 175B
3120
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Zariah Greene
Ford Fellow
Hi everyone! I’m Zariah Greene, this year’s Ford Fellow. In my role, I co-teach the Ford Seminar, organize the Writers Room programming, and help bring student and tutor ideas to life. I also supervise the staff at the Writers Room. As a former student, I studied Education Studies and Psychology, and I have a deep interest in education across various fields. In my spare time, I teach sex education and volunteer as a doula with women’s health centers. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about academic writing or our programs at the Writers Room! Email :writingworks@wesleyan.edu -
Xiran Tan
Kim-Frank Multilingual Writing Fellow
Hi there, I am the 2024-25 Kim-Frank Multilingual Fellow! I swim in the pond of my imperfect languages and try to flow with my words and thoughts. I wrote a lot of literary analyses as a student, and my goal this year is to do more creative writing and translation. Talk to me about anything related to the above mentioned, traveling, farming, de-colonialism and activism etc. etc.! Find me at SciLi 176 on Mondays 4-5pm and Thursdays 12:30-1:30pm. -
Peer Tutors and Mentors
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Lucia D'Elia
Hi! My name is Lucia (she/her) and I'm a COL and Romance Languages double major. I'm from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, but used to live in Florence, Italy. I love writing because I love reading and read just about any genre you can think of. Outside of writing, I play rugby and am usually involved with SpikeTape in one way or another (most recently Much Ado About Nothing). -
Margery/Mingfei Fang
Hi, everyone! I'm Margery(or Mingfei) Fang. I'm a philosophy and CEAS double major. And where I call home is Zhengzhou, China. I write bad poems, little allegories and sometimes novel in both Chinese and English. But depends on the time of the year, those novels don’t always get actually written. I'm also an eco-facilitator on campus. In my free time, I like to listen to rock and classical music, read novels and simply do anything with friends. -
Caleb Henning
Hi! I’m a senior economics and French Studies double major with a certificate in Applied Data Science. I’ve been working at the Writer’s Room since sophomore year and have had an amazing time tutoring students in every kind of writing. Outside of the Writer’s Room, I’m a Quantitative Analysis Center Tutor and Editor-in-Chief of The Wesleyan Argus! -
Isa Cino
Hi hi!! My name is Isa, I'm from Massachusetts (a great state with the indisputable best Dunkin(s)), and I'm a junior double majoring in education studies and sociology. I'm very excited to be working in the Writing Room this year! My personal strongest areas of writing are creative (narrative forms and playwriting), literary analysis essays, and structured social sciences papers, but I'm here to strengthen your writing voice and help it come through how you want in your works! You can usually find me crocheting and hanging out with my friends around campus. Otherwise, I'm involved in the arts and will happily attend theater, film, and music events (especially concerts that involve jazz ensembles) whenever I can. If you need an easy way to get me talking, just ask me about Star Wars ;) -
Kiana Yuhl
Hi! My name is Kiana Yuhl and I'm a current senior. I'm majoring in Government with a concentration in International Relations and minoring in East Asian studies. I'm from Manhattan Beach, California and I used to play on the volleyball team at Wes. I absolutely love writing and reading, but I'm a huge movie buff too. Let's chat! -
Chih-Ting Tsai
Hello! My name is Ting, and I'm from Taiwan. I am double majoring in Interdisciplinary Arts Management (university) and Psychology. On campus, I enjoy directing performing arts projects spanning music and theatre, and this semester, I'm working on the release of my original album Does It Matter What We Dream with Cardinal PiX. Excited to meet you, and see you at the Writers Room! -
Andy Lisheng
Hello! I'm andy, stylized nd (any/he/him), an international student from singapore, and I'm a senior majoring in College of Letters & College of Science and Technology Studies. I have varied experiences in literary, educational, and research settings, including being an editor for ADLit and running STEM educational initiatives. Outside of Wesleyan itself, I dabble in rhythm games, music, and cooking. Looking forward to working with you! :) -
Kaden Miller
Hi! I’m Kaden Miller, I’m a Junior and a double major in Film and Education Studies. I’m originally from Upstate NY, and I’m passionate about finding new inclusive and equitable approaches to cinema studies education. I love the Yankees, music from the 60s-80s (The Beach Boys and Elton John are favorites), and movies of course! Feel free to say hi if you see me around campus (I’m 6'6 and easy to spot!), and I’m so excited to meet and work with you! -
Bruno Drake
Hi everyone! I'm Bruno, and I'm studying creative writing and history. I come from sunny Los Angeles, so I love hiking around and exploring nature. This is my first semester working at the Writers Room, but, as you might be able to tell from my majors, I spend lots of time writing in and out of class. Although it can be scary, I especially like thinking and writing through big, open-ended projects where you choose your own adventure. I love that writing in college gives you freedom to explore your own ideas, and I'm excited to help out in that process at the Writers Room. I also like playing guitar and watching movies, especially ones centered around James Bond. -
Diana Tran
Hello all! I'm Diana Tran and I'm a junior majoring in College of Letters and minoring in East Asian Studies. I'm from Los Angeles, CA! I love writing short fantasy stories and watching anime -- my current favorite is Bleach!! I CANNOT wait for Arcane S2 and TYBW S2! Since coming to Wes, I've found my passion for studying languages and find the evolution of language within immigrant communities to be fascinating. This semester is comps season so please be kind to me and other COLies <3 -
Tenzin Jamdol
Hi friends, I'm Tenzin and I'm going into my senior year as an Education and East Asian Studies double major! I think I struggle with writing and reading just about as much as I love it, so working collaboratively can be really refreshing! Some other things I love but can comfortably say I'm better at are stretching, Tibetan performing arts, and watching classic Barbie movies. -
Nagena Latifi
Hi! I'm Nagena, a psychology major with a minor in data analysis. I was born in India, but Middletown is home to Wesleyan and me! I know Dari/Farsi & Hindi/Urdu, and I am learning Korean & ASL and have taken five years of French. I enjoy listening to j-pop & k-pop or watching anime & k-dramas in my spare time. I like playing Roblox with friends, but I also love rhythm games & pixel RPG (horror) games. On campus, I’m a part of the K-pop Dance Crew, FTF OL Team, the Student Ombuds, and a First Cardinal mentor. Hope to see y’all at the Writer's Room! :) -
Ava Guralnick
Heyy! My name is Ava Yuanshun Guralnick and I am a senior majoring in American Studies and English on the creative writing track. I grew up on Lenapehoking land, current day Woodstock and Kingston, NY. This summer I spent much of my time pondering on walks with my dogs, trying to round up 6 year kids while tennis coaching, reading new poets, and exploring new bookstores. I'm excited to work alongside you all this semester! -
CJ Joseph
Hi y'all! I'm CJ (she/her), a senior studying American Studies, Theater, and Education. I'm Brooklyn born, Jersey living. I love writing anything that blends historical analytics with modern socio-political ordeals. I also work at the Resource Center, where you can find me watching Abbott Elementary while doing office work. Something I love about being a tutor is building confidence in folks still trying to find their voice. -
June Labourdette
Hi all! My name is June Labourdette, and I'm from northern California. I am in the class of 2025, majoring in Anthropology and HISP. My favorite style of writing is that which blends academic analysis with subjective experiences and anecdotes---because of course everything we learn and produce in a classroom is deeply influenced by our personal positions in the world! On campus you might find me cooking with my roommates, volunteering with the Wesleyan Doula Project, or struggling to delete three pages from an overly long essay. I am thrilled to work with you this semester and be inspired by everyone's beautiful writing in a collaborative environment! -
Breyonna Jordan
Hi everyone, I'm Bre! I'm a sophomore from Maryland, majoring in English (CW). In my past life (re: high school), I moonlighted as a freelance book editor, and I'm credited in 7 published books. My favorite genres are sci-fi and fantasy, but I'll edit anything from essays to research papers to emails. Last year, I co-founded the Wesleyan Linguistics Club, performed in a drag show, and acted in a devised performance. You can find me walking around campus in blazers or dress pants (sometimes a button-down if I'm feeling casual). Feel free to strike up a conversation, I love meeting new people! -
Sida Chu
Hi! I’m Sida, a junior double majoring in history and theatre. I was born and raised in a little-known region of China—think the American Midwest, but with more noodles and dumplings—before moving to Singapore for high school. I write plays and revel in the spicy chemical reactions when different languages collide. On campus, you can find me editing for The Argus, working behind the scenes in theatre productions, or losing myself in Wesleyan’s East Asian Studies archive. I love traveling and black coffee but would do anything to avoid using the imperial measurement system. -
Romani Osbourne
Hi! I am Romani, a senior from Portland, Jamaica. I am a Molecular Bio. & Biochemistry major and African American Studies and Chemistry minor! Here on campus, I’m a research assistant in the Thayer Cancer Research Lab and director of the FGLI Advisory Board. I am also a volunteer with the Middlesex Hospice Care program. I enjoy several processes and forms of writing: simplifying complex life sciences text, journaling about the mundane, and contemplating social issues in free verse poems and essays. Two of my favorite authors/poets are Arundhati Roy and Safiya Sinclair :) -
Chrisopher Bustamante
Hi! My name is Chris and I am a junior majoring in American Studies and HISP. I love writing about history and thinking about how we interact with it as a practice. I also really enjoy helping people brainstorm, so if you feel like you don't know where to start with your writing, book an appointment with me and we can figure it out together! Some things about me: I am from Chicago, Illinois so if you want to hear me talk your ear off about it, just let me know! My favorite activity is buying books, but actually reading them is another story. I love horror movies, and my music taste is all over the place, so inquire within. I look forward to working with you this semester! :))) -
Rebecca Beaver
My name is Rex Beaver, and I am a junior double majoring in CEAS and Biology. I currently live in New Jersey, but I call New York City home. My favorite genre of writing is creative writing, and I love writing both biology papers for scientific journals and historical research papers for classes. For fun, I especially love writing poetry. I am currently involved with Wesleyan Christian Fellowship, varsity Track and Field, and the Cohan Lab, among others. My favorite book is "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton, and my favorite movie is "Haunted Mansion" starring Eddie Murphy. I am super excited to be here! -
Veronica Mendoza
Hi! My name is Veronica and I'm a senior double majoring in Economics and College of East Asian Studies (CEAS) with a minor in Film Studies. I'm from Houston and I'm actively involved in the Latin American Student Organization on campus. You can also find me at the Admissions Office as an intern this year! I love any form of entertainment, from dystopian, ya books to webtoons, kdramas, thai bl's, and East Asian films. My favorite film is Monster by Hirokazu Koreeda and my current favorite k-pop group is Zerobaseone. If you see me on campus, feel free to stop me to talk about any of these! ^^ -
Rooney Kim
Hello! I'm Rooney from Queens, New York! I am in the class of '27, double majoring in English and Classical Studies. My favorite thing about writing is the sweet liminal space when you step across the threshold between reality and the literary world. I am also a coffee connoisseur who listens to Mamamoo and Wave to Earth. Outside the Writing Workshop you can probably find me browsing the Olin stacks. Looking forward to working with you all! -
Sarah Huang
Hellooo! I'm Sarah, and I'm from a senior majoring in Science and Technology Studies. I'm from San Francisco, and I love wandering around new places to draw! Outside of the Writers Room, I write and research with Black Box Labs, intern at the Resource Center, and work as a TA with the Center for Prison Education. -
Malia Detar Cheung
Hello! I'm Malia (she/her), and I’m a senior from Oregon pursuing a double major in the College of Letters and Dance with a minor in Animal Studies. I enjoy the detailed practice of close reading and analysis, the treasure hunt of crafting creative work, and I love playing with form to integrate the two. I’m the director of the Wesleyan Swing Dance Club on campus, and when not at the Writers Room. I love to dance in the kitchen, trail run, and train horses. -
Zain Punjwani
Hi everyone! My name is Zain (he/him) and I'm a junior from Chicago. I am pursuing a double major in Biology and STS as well as a minor in Human Rights Advocacy. Favorite book genre is definitely mystery and if you have any recommendations, please share! I am a native Urdu speaker and oftentimes think something in Urdu before writing it down in English. My favorite TV show is Charmed (1998) and though I don't have a favorite musician ATM, I had a Billie Eilish phase for about 2 years and can name every lyric of almost every song from "dont smile at me" and "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?". On campus, I am a Socioeconomic Status and Disability intern at the Resource Center, on the WSA, a mentor for First Cardinals, and of course a student worker at the Writers Room! If you see me on campus, please don't be afraid to say hello :) -
Kelly Yang
Hello :) I'm Kelly, and I'm a senior from Taiwan majoring in Economics and minoring in CEAS. I believe stories move society and drive individual's actions. I love journaling and finding the stories within me. I was former Film major who have carried my passion for storytelling into Economics, where I explore the stories that help make sense of society. I'm fluent in Mandarin, advanced in Japanese, and have just begun learning Korean. I am interested in understanding how different narratives moves different systems around the world. -
Gabriella Blanco
Hello, I am Gabi! I am class of 2026, and I am a Spanish and Education double major. I love creative writing of any kind, especially fictional short stories, and I write in both English and Spanish. I love to binge watch any and all kinds of shows, especially bad ones, so feel free to talk about any kind of show with me! One of my favorite movies is Ratatouille (which is also my Wesleyan gmail profile pic...); I love animation, so any recommendations are also welcome! -
Darlene De La Cruz
Hello peeps! My name is Darlene De La Cruz (They/she) and I am senior from Harlem,NY. I am a double major in AFAM and SOC and this is my second year working at the Writers Room. On my free time i like to watch movies and or listen to music. I am one of the Co-editors of the Ankh on campus and an RA of Malcom X House. I really enjoy the work of Jamaica Kincaid and Victoria Cheng! -
Erini Zoi Tatsi
Helloooo! I'm Irene Tatsi (she/ her) and I am a junior majoring in Art History and College of Letters, which means that I always have some reading to catch up on. I am Greek, but have been calling Cyprus home for the past 7 years. I speak English, French and Greek, which mean that I love switching between languages. I love creative writing and poetry, especially when the assignments concern love and crime. I am a coordinator of ASHA, the Adolescent Sexual Health Awareness club in Wesleyan, where we get to discuss various topics regarding sexual health and we also teach sex education in Connecticut high schools! I can never choose who my favourite artists, writers, books or movies are, as my taste keeps changing. However, I am currently obsessed with the book "The Outsiders" and I would love to discuss it with you all! -
Ruby Cullen
Hi! My name is Ruby and I'm from Houston, TX. I'm a sophomore planning to triple major in English (on the Creative Writing Track), Dance, and American Studies. Outside of my academic work, I spend the vast majority of my free time dancing with FXT (Wesleyan's hip-hop dance collective). I'm looking forward to working in the Writer's Room this year!
Event Fellows
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Justin Rosenthal (he/him)
Hi! My name is Justin (he/him), and I am a junior double majoring in Classical Studies and Archaeology. When I’m not busy declining irregular Greek verbs, I love writing stories and poems that aim to unsettle. I also enjoy rhythm games and RPGs. On campus, I am an administrator and facilitator for Writing Circle, and I occasionally dabble in the performing arts. I hope to see you around! -
Mahek Uttamchandani
Hi! My name is Mahek Uttamchandani and I'm from Lagos, Nigeria. I'm a sophomore pursuing a double major in English and Psychology with a minor in Data Analysis. I love reading and writing, but aside from that, I enjoy whiling away my time creating itineraries for travel plans that won't happen, listening to music, and spending time with friends. I look forward to working with you all!
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Ryan Wong (they/he)
My name is Ryan and I'm a freshman from Penang, Malaysia. Some of my favorite things to read and write about include past lives, grief, and the moon reflected on the sea. I love dancing, taking photos of pretty places, and curating playlists based on oddly specific scenarios. I have no idea what I want to major in yet, but I'd love to hear your interests and aspirations!