Jordan Jenkins ’17
Claremont, Calif. (December 5, 2016)—Pitzer College student and Writing Center Fellow Jordan Jenkins ’17 won a 2016 President’s Future Leaders Scholarship from the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA). The Pitzer senior was one of only four writing tutors nationwide—and the only undergraduate in the country—to receive the scholarship, which is awarded to peer tutors who are proven leaders at their colleges’ writing centers.
Jenkins became a Pitzer College Writing Center fellow her sophomore year. As a fellow, she helps other students with all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming essay ideas to refining final drafts. Jenkins also helped establish the Writing Center’s Long Night Against Procrastination, which encourages students to work on their end-of-semester papers ahead of time in a supportive environment.
In spring 2016, Jenkins was elected to the Executive Board of the IWCA, where she represents peer tutors internationally. As part of the President’s Future Leaders Scholarship, she participated in the 2016 IWCA Conference in Denver, Colorado, this fall.
Jenkins said she has always enjoyed writing and decided to become a tutor after visiting the center during her first year at Pitzer.
“I was inspired by the intelligence and kindness of the tutors, and I loved the community atmosphere—not to mention how helpful it was,” she said.
In summer 2014, Jenkins was one of three fellows who received funding from the Institute for Global/Local Action & Study to attend a European Writing Centers Association Conference in Germany with Pitzer College Writing Center Director Andrea Scott.
“Jordan has a knack for facilitating conversations that help writers surface their best ideas,” said Scott, who is also an assistant professor of academic writing at Pitzer. “If she decides to pursue a career in writing studies, her future promises to be bright.”
Jenkins does plan to continue helping people find the most effective ways to fully communicate their ideas and experiences in writing. A political studies major and Spanish minor, Jenkins has applied for an English Teaching Assistant Fulbright Fellowship to Spain. She plans to earn a graduate degree in composition and rhetoric before pursuing a career in a community writing center.
