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Faculty Writing Consultants

Rodolfo Barrett

Coordinator

Rodolfo ("Rudy") Barrett, M.S.

barretrl@jmu.edu

Rodolfo "Rudy" Barrett (he/him) holds a master's degree in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication and teaches first-year composition courses and a course on research design and writing for Intelligence Analysis majors.

He is a student-centered educator with a focus on writing coaching. He has served as a writing consultant since his time as an undergraduate student and has been a prestigious fellowships advisor in collaboration with the Honors College and the Office of Student Awards, Initiatives, and Research. His research interests include composition pedagogy, intercultural communication, rhetorics of gaming, and identity construction, especially regarding race and neurodiversity, in the teaching and learning of composition.

Kathy Clarke

Faculty Librarian Associate

Kathy Clarke, M.L.S.

clarkeke@jmu.edu 

Kathy is the UWC's Faculty Librarian Associate. Her areas of study include core curriculum (general education) and college student information literacy and seeking skills. She is interested in how students use information or sources in their own work. She teaches for JMU's Adult Degree Program and for the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. 

Kevin Jefferson

Faculty Associate

Kevin Jefferson, M.A.

jefferkx@jmu.edu 

Kevin Jefferson (he/him) is a Faculty Associate from the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. He has a background in 19th- and 20th-century British and American literature and a history of long road trips. His teaching and research interests include first-year composition and editing; rhetorics of place, the environment, and the West; and publishing student writing. He works with the student editors and faculty reviewers of the James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ) to promote, publish, and share undergraduate scholarship from all JMU disciplines.

Graduate Writing Consultants

Mackenzie Hammack

Graduate Assistant

Mackenzie Hammack

Mackenzie (she/her) is a first-year graduate student in the WRTC master's program. She earned her bachelor's degree with majors in Professional Writing and English from Bridgewater College, where she served as a writing center tutor and a student peer research consultant. Outside of school and work, Mackenzie loves reading, baking, and making art.

Art Shala

Graduate Assistant

Art Shala

Art (he/him) is a first-year student in the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication master’s program. He earned his bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Prishtina, Kosovo. Art has experience in tutoring, teaching, writing, translating, acting, and creating content. He also loves art, fashion and festivals. Oh, and he’s a huge fan of Dua Lipa, loving her music and talking about her all the time..

Undergraduate Writing Consultants

Sarah Allen

Peer Consultant

Sarah Allen

Sarah (she/her) is a senior Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication major from North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and the great outdoors. In the summer season, Sarah works as an overnight camp counselor in the mountains of NC. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and to pursue a career as a professional editor for a publishing firm.

Grace Altman

Peer Consultant

Grace Altman

Grace Altman (she/her) is a senior Theatre Education major with a minor in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She enjoys thrifting, drinking iced vanilla lattes, and going on hot-girl walks.

Sara Buie

Peer Consultant

Sara Buie

Sara (she/her) is a junior double major in Psychology and Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She served as an editor of the RhetTech Undergraduate Journal and currently serves as the historian for JMU’s Word Is Born Writers’ Society and as an RA. In her free time, she loves going to UREC, binge-watching shows while doing jigsaw puzzles, and crafting. She hopes to work as a psychological researcher but has other dreams too (like being a firefighter!).

Stephanie Bloom

Peer Consultant

Stephanie Bloom

Stephanie (she/her) is a junior Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communications major from Rockaway, NJ, with a minor in Educational Media. She has edited for the RhetTech Undergraduate Journal and currently serves on the James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal Editorial Board. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, spending time with friends, and playing sports.

Alex Davis

Peer Consultant

Alex Davis

Alex (she/her) is a senior Kinesiology major committed to VCU's Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. As a Community Champion for Twill Care's virtual health communities, she offers support for those living with chronic conditions and helps expand access to healthcare. As the Head Coach for Harrisonburg TOPSoccer, she brings kids with disabilities the opportunity to play soccer as part of inclusive, adaptive teams. Alex enjoys rock climbing, jiujitsu, game nights, and weightlifting in her downtime.

Emma Davis

Peer Consultant

Emma Davis

Emma (she/they) is a sophomore WRTC major with a creative writing minor. She is a member of the Marching Royal Dukes and a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity that serves the university band program. She loves to read books, drink coffee, and play board games with her roommate in her free time.

Julia Devaney

Peer Consultant

Julia Devaney

Julia (she/her) is a sophomore Business Management major with a minor in WRTC. She also works as a student athlete tutor and is in Alpha Phi. She loves to go on walks and play golf in her free time. She was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland (go Ravens!).

Cassandra Duncan

Peer Consultant

Cassandra Duncan

Cassandra is a junior Geography major with a minor in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. On campus, she is involved in Catholic Campus Ministry and VAC. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, cooking, camping, and skiing. She hopes to become a farmer.

MacKenzie Graber

Peer Consultant

MacKenzie Graber

MacKenzie (she/her) is a senior Media Arts and Design major with a concentration in Digital Video and Cinema and an Honors Interdisciplinary Studies minor. She is a member of The Breeze Video and enjoys watching movies and spending time with friends and family. She hopes to work as a screenwriter in the film and television industry.

AnnMarie Hall

Peer Consultant

AnnMarie Hall

AnnMarie (she/her) is a junior Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication major with a minor in Creative Writing. She is an editor of the Rhet Tech Undergraduate Journal and a contributing editor of the Iris Literature and Arts Magazine. In her free time, she likes shopping downtown, crocheting, and watching shows and movies.

Emily Kruger

Peer Consultant

Emily Kruger

Emily (she/her) is a sophomore Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communications major with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. On campus, she is involved in Student Ambassadors Tour Guides and Alpha Delta Pi. In her free time, Emily enjoys watching New Girl and listening to Taylor Swift!

Grace Phillips

Peer Consultant

Grace Phillips

Grace (she/her) is a junior Media Arts and Design major with a concentration in Creative Advertising and a minor in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She enjoys going to concerts, getting coffee with friends, and watching anything Marvel related. 

Peyton Pilson

Peer Consultant

Peyton Pilson

Peyton (she/her) is a sophomore nursing major from Richmond, VA. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano and singing. She loves to read and try her hand at different sports. On campus, she is part of a ministry called Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), and she is looking forward to working with many different people in the Writing Center. 

Jonathan Ryan

Peer Consultant

Jonathan Ryan

Jonathan (he/him) is a junior Pre-Medicine Biology student from Fairfax, VA. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys playing sports, weightlifting, hiking with his dog, reading, and playing the piano. After graduating from JMU, Jonathan plans on attending medical school where he hopes to become a sports medicine physician or surgeon.

Rachel Tan

Peer Consultant

Rachel Tan

Rachel (she/they) is a senior Music Performance major with minors in Music and Human Services and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies from Richmond, VA. On campus, she is involved in Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministries. In her free time, Rachel enjoys composing music, cooking, dancing, and watching Marvel movies with her friends

Brynn Tardy

Peer Consultant

Brynn Tardy

Brynn (she/they) is a senior English major with a minor in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication from Roanoke, VA. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, playing video games, and writing fantasy and sci-fi stories. After graduation, she hopes to work in publishing and also publish a novel or three.

Mia Vago

Peer Consultant

Mia Vago

Mia (she/her) is a senior Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication major with a minor in Family Studies from Alexandria, Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys reading, thrifting, cross stitching, and eating good food with friends. After graduation, Mia hopes to (eventually) find a job abroad. 

Kira Simon

Peer Consultant

Simon Van Nostrand

Simon (they/them) is a junior double major in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communications as well as German, and they are also part of the Honors program. They are an editor for the James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal, an intern with the Modern Foreign Languages department, and an RA in a first-year residence hall. In their free time, Simon spends a lot of time playing video games and writing creative nonfiction. They are planning to go into publishing after graduation.

Administration

Dr. Laura Miller

Director, JMU Learning Centers

Laura Miller, Ph.D.

mille4lk@jmu.edu

Laura Miller directs JMU's Learning Centers and is an Assistant Professor in the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. She holds a Ph.D. in Composition and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Miller conducts research on tutoring efficacy, writing mindsets, and composition practicesSo What? The Writer's Argument, a first-year writing textbook she co-authored with Dr. Kurt Schick, is in its third edition. She consults with students and faculty on all kinds of writing. 

Joan Fahrney

Assistant to the Director, JMU Learning Centers

Joan Fahrney

fahrnejb@jmu.edu

Joan Fahrney's primary duties include administrative support to the Director, departmental human resource support for hiring, payroll, wage, and audit, data analysis and reporting, and coordination of the administrative support staff. 

She is currently working toward her BA in Integrated Business Informatics and Human Resource Development.  In her spare time, Joan enjoys time with her family, genealogy, and antiquing.

Audrey Robinson

Senior Associate Director, JMU Learning Centers

Audrey Robinson, Ph.D.

robin5ax@jmu.edu

Audrey Robinson (she/her) oversees the JMU Learning Centers daily operations and office assistant staff and provides general administrative support. She holds a M.S., Ed.S. and Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Audrey is passionate about helping students to achieve their full potential in and outside the classroom. Her teaching interests include academic success courses that support students in academic suspension or probation and first-year experience courses that promote academic success strategies. Her research interests include social justice and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, particularly for underserved populations and men of color. Audrey enjoys reading, watching movies, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends.

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