Stefani Stallard, Interim Director

Stefani holds a Ph.D. in British Literature from Claremont Graduate University and has been a writing tutor here at Pitzer for the past five years. Since being promoted to the position of Coordinator two years ago, Stefani has assisted with the daily operation of the Center, conducted tutor training sessions, evaluated staff performance, and coordinated outreach efforts. She may be most familiar to you as one of the members of the Watson and Fulbright teams. Stefani has also taught academic writing courses, including a first-year seminar course, as a visiting instructor at Pitzer for the past two semesters. This past year, she planned and implemented a series of writing workshops for students; served on the review board for Five, the new online journal for undergraduates at the Claremont Colleges; served on the first year seminar task force; and expanded the Center's tutor training program.

Jan Andres, Coordinator

Jan is a Ph.D. candidate in 20th-Century American Literature at Claremont Graduate University. Jan has a background in Media Studies, and her research interests include literature, film, the Cold War, and secrecy studies. After spending last year on a Fulbright grant teaching composition and working to start a writing center at the University of Łódź in Poland, Jan is happy to be back at Pitzer, where she specializes in graduate student fellowships as a member of the Watson and Fulbright teams. She has also been known to heckle seniors into writing their theses in a timely fashion.

Elise Edwards

Elise is a doctoral candidate in the Ph.D. program in Religion at Claremont Graduate University. She is also a registered architect in the State of Florida. In her academic and professional career, Elise works in the fields of theology, ethics, and aesthetics, focusing on how they inform and shape each other. Her research areas include Religion and Civic Engagement, Feminist Ethics, and Theology and Arts, and she is a regular contributor to the blog at www.feminismandreligion.com. This is her second year at the Writing Center. When Elise isn't working or writing her dissertation, you are likely to find her eating dinner with friends, engrossed in a TV show, or daydreaming about travel plans.

Chelsea Heaps

Chelsea Heaps is a Political Studies major and Philosophy minor at Pitzer College. She is especially interested in American politics, campaigns, and elections. In the past, she has worked at Ms. Magazine and for the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama. She enjoys all different types of cheeses, obsesses over the philosophy of the television series Lost, and greatly appreciates the music of Kanye West. Her hope is to pursue a career in political campaigns or journalism.

Shelva Paulse Hurley

Shelva is a Ph.D. student in higher education. She has worked for the McNair Scholars Program assisting minority undergraduate students interested in pursuing a doctorate degree after graduation. She also worked at Riverside Community College teaching a course on the history and contemporary political issues in South Africa.

Jenny Lau

Jenny is a Ph.D. student in English with an emphasis in 20th Century American Literature. Her interests include Asian American and Chicano Literature within the theoretical frameworks of feminism and post-colonialism as well as the literature of Los Angeles. Jenny currently teaches international students in the Transition English Learners Program (TELP) at Woodbury University. Before becoming a student again, Jenny taught 7th grade English and ESL for six years in the Los Angeles Unified School District through Teach For America. She writes poetry when she finds the time, is a Francophile, and lives in her hometown of Los Angeles with her husband, two and a half cats, and one goldfish.

Minji Lee

Minji is a junior at Pitzer pursuing a double major in English Literature and Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Her curiosity in exploring the complex human psyche and the way in which an individual creatively expresses his or her inner being through writing is the primary reason why she is enthusiastic to be a tutor. Apart from the Writing Center, Minji is actively involved in ResLife, the Media Studies Center, and the Pitzer College Christian Fellowship. In her free time, she enjoys blasting 80s pop music in her room, visiting farmers markets and thrift stores for juicy finds, and escaping to New York City in the summertime.

Biz Pedersen

Biz is a junior at Pitzer working towards completing her double major in Philosophy and Middle Eastern Studies as well as a triple language minor. She is interested in travel and will be spending time in Lebanon this coming year to further her Arabic studies and to satisfy her need to wander. Her experience as a tutor ranges from working as an au pair and tutor for eight-year-old Italian triplets to helping peers and high school students develop their writing skills. Biz enjoys all forms of writing, from academic to creative, but has a special passion for the memoir.  In her free time you can most likely find Biz on her balcony, listening to music and enjoying the stunning LA sunset.

Emily Schuck

Emily is a second-year masters student in English at Claremont Graduate University. Her research interests include gender, sexuality, death, and the body, particularly in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature. She serves as a production editor for Foothill: a journal of poetry, as a member of the newly chartered Sigma Tau Delta chapter at CGU, and as a research assistant at Claremont McKenna College. When not buried under a pile of books, she enjoys spending time with her two cats and drinking strong English tea.

Lily Simon

Lily is a sophomore at Pitzer, enthusiastically pursuing a degree in Environmental Policy with a minor in Media Studies. With joint interest in science and the arts, she has a broad writing history which includes experience in journalism, creative writing, literary analysis, as well as scientific research papers and reports. Lily is also an appointed member of the Academic Standards Committee. When she's not representing Pitzer through Student Senate or the Writing Center, you can most likely find her awkwardly chasing wildlife across campus or swinging in a hammock with friends. She looks forward to helping all the students she can. Never hesitate to say hi!

Annie Whitford

Annie is a sophomore at Pitzer, majoring in both Organizational Studies and Performance Dance. Her interests lie in non-profit management and artistic expression. Annie grew up in a house full of writers, and has always been intrigued by the rules of grammar. She has greatly enjoyed helping her friends on their writing assignments, and is thrilled that now, through the writing center, she will be able to help all members of the Pitzer community. In her free time Annie loves to watch movies, take naps, and spend quality time with her close friends.

Sharone Williams

Sharone is a Ph.D. candidate in English with emphases in 20th century American literature, history, and film. While literature is her main field, she also has a background in the social sciences and technical writing. In her research, she focuses on jazz studies and issues of masculinity in 1950s American culture. She loves to bake desserts, so it's probably a good idea to be nice to her.

David Zachary

David is a fourth-year Pitzer student with a self-designed major entitled Transforming Educational Paradigms. He is a New Resources Student who prior to entering Pitzer taught in Waldorf schools as a class teacher, Education Support teacher, and middle school PE teacher, primarily working with students in kindergarten through 8th grade. David has also worked in the film industry in commercial, feature film, and video production. He is a Marine Corps veteran and has been active in sports throughout his life. Once while participating in amateur boxing, he fought Evander Holyfield in an All South Boxing Tournament (losing by decision). David is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a longtime resident of Southern California. He is sociable and loves to converse about a wide range of subjects.