The Writing Center: Who We Are

Tabitha Ozaki, Writing Assistant

My name is Tabitha Ozaki. I am a senior majoring in general literature. I have worked as a technical, blog, and copywriter for about three years before starting university. At UCSC, I have taken W159 ( Grammar for Tutors and Teachers) and W169 (Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing) courses as training to work as a writing assistant for the Writing Program. I have been working as a writing assistant for about two years with Professors Garrecht-Williams, Breakspeare, Carney-Waddy, Amis, and Daniels in all levels of Writing 1 & 2, including W1E. I have worked with Professors Garrecht-Williams and Breakspeare multiple times. Lastly, I enjoy sharing things I’ve learned working as a writer with students and have been told by Professor Garrecht-Williams that his students were “universally praising the help” I provided.

River Weill, Writing Assistant

Hi, there! My name is River Weill (he/they), I’m a 4th year, and I’m double majoring in Art and Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing. I have undergone training in two tutoring courses: Grammar for Tutors and Teachers, as well as Theory and Practice or Tutoring Writing. Over the past two years I have had hundreds of students, each with unique writing styles and needs. Having tutored for both Writing 1 and 2 classes taught by Joy Hagen, Alexandra McCourt, and Ellen Newberry, I am confident in my abilities to personalize sessions to each students’ specific needs. I look forward to meeting you!

Salem Edwards, Writing Assistant

Hello! My name is Salem and I am a History and Literature double major. I am excited to see a variety of different writing styles cross my path as a Writing Assistant. I find that a distinct “voice” is often one of the most interesting things about a piece. I also know what it’s like to be a student who used to struggle with writing so I understand some of the frustrations that come with it. It took me years to understand my own writing and learn how to enjoy it, so I’m happy to help in any way I can.

Michael Lieu, Writing Assistant

Hello! I am a Critical Race and Ethnic Studies major, hoping to become an ethnic studies educator. For many students like myself, writing can oscillate between being a source of creative freedom, and a tedious task to rush at the dead of night during finals week. I’d like to help fellow students bridge the gap between, and help make any writing assignment I am approached with a creative and intellectual exercise, not just overwhelming or mindless busy work.

Lily Littlefield, Writing Assistant

Lily is a Junior undergraduate student at UCSC. She is a Literature major and History minor, and is especially interested in Library science, archival research, and teaching. Throughout her studies, she has become especially interested in writing pedagogy and has found her way to the writing center as an assistant. Writing is a very vulnerable process, and sometimes it can take time to find your voice. As a writing assistant, she is excited to help students gain confidence in their writing voices and provide them with tools and opportunities for writing across various disciplines.

Ken Logan, Writing Assistant

Hello! My name is Ken Logan (they/them), and I am a third-year Politics major. I have completed training in the Theory and Practice of Writing Tutoring (W169) and bring firsthand experience as a student who has navigated UCSC writing courses. As a politics major, I am especially experienced in academic and research-based writing, including developing arguments, engaging sources, and structuring analytical essays. I also have a strong passion for creative writing, which allows me to be a versatile and adaptable tutor. I am confident in my ability to support students across a wide range of writing tasks and disciplines. I strive to meet students where they are, tailoring each session to their individual goals and learning styles.

Emily Moghadam, Writing Assistant

My name is Emily Moghadam (she/her/hers)! I’m a second year psychology major and I can’t wait to help my peers learn to love writing as much as I do! Personally, the most effective educational support I’ve received has been through constructive support as opposed to harsh criticism. In my career, I hope to bridge the gaps between different learning styles and the complexities of learning that continue to hinder students, even at the collegiate level. I want to navigate students away from a focus on grades and performance and encourage them to instead focus on mastery and understanding.

Reece Revell, Writing Assistant

Hello! My name is Reece Revell (she/her), and I am a fourth-year general Literature student. I have taken a course in Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing (W169) here at UCSC, and served as a writer and editor for the newspaper at my community college, DVC. There, I double-majored in Communication and Journalism. I love to read and write, and have a particular passion for editing and revision. I am excited to work with writers wherever they are in their writing process and set them up for success. I look forward to meeting everyone and contributing to a welcoming, supportive environment!

Ava Salinas, Writing Assistant

Hi, my name is Ava Salinas. I am a second year Literature major considering minoring in Legal Studies. To prepare for the role of a Writing Assistant, I have taken WRIT169 (Theory and Practice of Writing Tutoring). For the 2025-2026 school year, I am also interning at Lookout Santa Cruz, a local digital newspaper, as the Educational Programs Assistant. At the Writing Center, I hope to apply the knowledge I have gained and am gaining in my studies and at my internship regarding the process, purpose, and effect of writing in order to help students enhance their writing skills and gain writing confidence and comfortability.

Najm Sannah, Writing Assistant

Najm is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Literature and Classics with a primary focus on creative writing. Being involved in the Writing Center is an extremely exciting opportunity for him, having always been interested in the field of teaching. Reading and writing, as he believes, are core factors in being successful as a student here at UCSC and later in life– no matter what major you are. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in nature (thanks to the beautiful campus), playing guitar, and creating art. He has goals of becoming an author one day and getting involved in the publishing industry.

Marshall Sherman, Writing Assistant

Hello! I’m Marshall, a second year Environmental Science major. I’m a Crown College affiliate, and I love everything nature related. I also really enjoy listening to music and playing video games, and I’ve been knitting for almost a year now. I’m super excited to be a tutor and work with others through their writing! I understand writing- especially STEM-based writing -can be confusing and difficult, and I always find it easier when there’s a second pair of eyes helping me out, and I’m happy to provide that to others. I like to find interest and passion in whatever I’m writing about, even if it’s potentially the most boring assignment ever. I believe that helping to find that voice enables your writing to really sound like you, and it’s something that I strive for whenever I’m tutoring!

Zane Wilcox, Writing Assistant

Hello! My name is Zane Wilcox and I’m a second-year sociology major. I’m excited to tutor writing in the Online Writing Center because I really like to write, and I’m interested not only in improving my own writing but helping others to do the same! No writing is really ever perfect I think, and I love to do fine-tuning until a piece is as effective as possible, whether I wrote it or I’m helping somebody else out. As a Soc major, the classes I tend to take are writing-heavy, so I’ve had some practice writing myself and helping my peers, and I’ve also taken WRIT169 (Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing), so I am confident that I can give you help with your writing regardless of your abilities or needs. I hope to hear from you soon!

Arjun Vaidya, Writing Assistant

I am a third-year undergraduate student at UC Santa Cruz majoring in Business Management Economics with a minor in Technology and Information Management, and I plan to attend law school after graduation. I enjoy helping others work through their ideas and figure out how to communicate them more clearly in writing. As a Writing Assistant, I am excited to support students at all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming and organization to revision and clarity. I am especially drawn to the Online Writing Center because it allows for collaborative, student-centered support and the opportunity to work with students across many disciplines.

Nikko West, Writing Assistant

Hello! My name is Nikko, and I am a third-year student majoring in Cognitive Science. I am incredibly excited to be joining the team as an Online Writing Assistant this quarter. Throughout my college career, I have gained valuable experience helping my friends and peers with their work. I have recently completed Writing 169, Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing, and I am extremely confident in my ability to help students learn, grow, and build their writing skills. I am passionate about supporting others throughout their writing process and helping them find the best way to express their ideas.

Dev K. Bose, Writing Center Co-Director 

Dev K. Bose, Ph.D. (he/him) is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Writing Program and is interested in rhetorical privilege and access pertaining to technology, invisible disabilities, and neurodiversity. His work has appeared in Disability Studies Quarterly, Deaf Studies Encyclopedia, Intermezzo, Enculturation, Technoculture, Currents in Teaching and Learning, Business and Technical Communication, Chronicle of Higher Education, and National Council of Teachers of English. He brings his experience to the UCSC Online Writing Center as a former writing program administrator of online writing at the University of Arizona, and serves on the Executive Board for the Council of Writing Program Administrators.

Jamila M. Kareem, Ph.D., Writing Center Co-Director

Jamila M. Kareem, Ph.D. (she/they) is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Writing Program at UCSC. Honored to be one of the National Council of Teachers of English Scholar for the Dream recipient, Dr. Kareem’s award-winning scholarship has appeared in Literacy in Composition Studies and Teaching English in the Two-Year College. She brings her experience as the Assistant Director of the Virtual Writing Center at the University of Louisville and experience as a critical race theorist writing program administrator to the UCSC Online Writing Center. She was lead content contributor to the latest edition of Macmillan Learning’s EasyWriter college composition handbook and serves as a lead editor on the forthcoming update to What is “College-Level” Writing? titled College Writing Reconsidered and Reimagined from NCTE. In her limited free time, she is a proud Trekkie, museum nerd, and BTS ARMY.

Jaime Cortez, Writing Center Associate Director

Jaime Cortez has worked in the arts for thirty years. He has been a nonprofit administrator and a program officer at the Hewlett Foundation and the San Francisco Foundation. He has taught art at CSU Monterey Bay, California College of the Arts, UCSC, and UC Berkeley. Jaime is the author of “Gordo,” a short story collection that garnered national acclaim. He brings his experience to the UCSC Online Writing Center as a coordinator tutoring services for the Voces Graduate Student Center Writing Program.