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The Academic Success Center is pleased to offer a two-credit fall internship for students who have demonstrated strong abilities as writers and would like to develop their capacities as tutors. Successful applicants will receive training led by Dominican University faculty, tutors, and staff through an intensive practicum. In this semester-long practicum, Fellows will learn about writing center pedagogy and reflect on their tutoring experiences. After the initial training, the Fellows will begin working as tutors for 6 hours a week. Writing Fellows will receive continuous support and guidance throughout their internship by participating in observations and debriefing sessions. Fellows are paid for their work as tutors, as well as their hours in training. Although most graduate students do not choose to pursue course credit for the internship, they are still paid for their time as Fellows and are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications
  • Dominican University junior, senior, or graduate student for the 2024–2025 school year
  • Minimum GPA of 3.2
  • Students from all academic disciplines are invited to apply
  • Possess significant skills as a writer, reader, and interpersonal communicator
  • Have great enthusiasm for exploring the writing process
  • Would like to help build and be part of a community of learners
How to Apply

Submit the following materials to the ASC or email Jennifer Stockdale, Writing Fellows Coordinator:

  • A completed application form (pdf opens in a new window)
  • A 500-750-word personal statement explaining why you are interested in the internship and notes what aptitudes, skills, and personal qualities you would bring to the position
  • Two writing samples that you have submitted for class assignments or for publication at Dominican
  • The names and email addresses of two Dominican faculty members who can attest to the quality of your work as a student
  • The names and email addresses of two Dominican students who can attest to your communication and interpersonal skills
  • A copy of your Dominican transcripts

Applications can be brought into the ASC or emailed to Jennifer Stockdale, Writing Fellows Coordinator

Deadline

All application materials are due by Friday, March 29, 2024.

The Fall 2023 Writing Fellows

The ASC is very pleased to introduce you to the Fall 2023 Writing Fellows.

Gillian Adkins

My name is Gillian, and I’m currently a junior at Dominican University. I’m majoring in English and minoring in computer science and digital journalism. I am super passionate about reading and writing, especially poems! In the future, I’d love to work as an editor for a publishing firm. But as of right now, I’m just going with the flow. I am so excited for what this semester has in store!

 

Hobbies/Interests
  • Swimming
  • Jellycat plushies
  • Poetry
  • Dying hair
  • Music
  • Picnics in the park
  • Candles
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Being a Writing Fellow means I get to further connect with Dominican’s student body, which is a huge deal. I’m really looking forward to reading everyone’s writing and assisting in their creative processes. I know that writing can be a daunting task, so it means a lot to have the opportunity to share in someone’s writing experience and offer suggestions. To be honest, I just want to be the first one to read all the good stuff you are writing!

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

My favorite book is Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion. (I stole my copy from my high school English teacher right before Covid began.) Slouching Towards Bethlehem is a series of essays detailing Didion’s experiences in California during the 1960s. I will never get over how Didion writes. It’s like each word is a single paint brush stroke, merging together to create a work of art.

Grace Ayena

My name is Grace Ayena. I am a sophomore at Dominican University. I am a psychology major and Black studies minor. My goal is to become a licensed clinical therapist. My interest in writing and reading came from going to the library with my mom and my little sister. I quickly realized that reading and writing was a space of expression and healing for me. Through this realization, I want to create that same space for my future patients.

Hobbies and Interests
  • Rollerskating
  • Reading and writing
  • Painting
  • Football
  • Eating and cooking
  • Watching movies
  • Dancing
  • Podcasting
  • Making waist beads
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

The Writing Fellows Program means I have the opportunity to help people tell their stories unapologetically and authentically. I believe that writing is a form of expression that has the power to make a difference. Through Writing Fellows, I get the opportunity to help make that change and inspire that change as well.

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

I believe that my intellectual passion stems from trying to learn and love the beauty of life itself. I have always believed that the arts are a reflection of our own realities and cultures. One of my favorite books, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I love how Noah explains how life was like for him, growing up in South Africa during the apartheid. The wit and humor that he used to tell his life story. Also, I love how the concept of culture was brought up in the novel because it creates space for the reader to see the beauty in life. But most importantly, it’s a reminder to experience that beauty of life’s ups and downs.

Andrea Betinis

Hello, I’m Andrea and I am a fifth-year senior at Dominican. As a freshman I declared a biology degree and declared an English minor as a sophomore. During junior year, with the encouragement of some phenomenal English professors, I decided to change my English minor to a second major with a concentration in writing and declared a chemistry minor at end of my fourth year. I’ve always had a love for stories and storytelling and have developed such a strong appreciation for the art of language and the power of writing. I’m not sure yet what the future holds for me but am excited for the journey and people I’ll meet along the way!

Hobbies and Interests
  • Attending concerts
  • Hiking
  • Reading
  • Piano
  • Guitar
  • Road Trips
What Being a Writing Fellow Means To Me

Though I’ve always enjoyed writing it took a long time to gain confidence in the skill and I strive to help others become more sure of their writing and in developing proficiency. Much of the writing process involves throwing ideas back and forth and part of being a Writing Fellow is creating a comfortable environment that allows thoughts to flow and be shaped. I aim to show that even academic writing and essays are creative works and learning to appreciate that comes from practice.

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

Sophomore year, I took a British literature course where we read work from WWI poets such as Isaac Rosenberg, Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, and Wilfred Owen. It was the class that convinced me to change my minor to a major because I knew I needed to be exposed to more material like it. Poetry is not my strongest form of literature, but I was completely floored by these poets’ expert manipulation of the language where a twenty-word, four-line stanza translates into paragraphs and is able to convey so much information and emotion. The ability of poetry to show so much care, complexity, and thought never ceases to give me pause and I love seeing how unique every piece of literature and style of writing is.

Brick Brummel

Hi there! I'm Brick Brummel (they/them), majoring in history in secondary education with a minor in political science. I'm studying to be a high school history teacher and I'm hoping to teach domestic and comparative politics as well. After my undergrad, I want to eventually pursue a master's in education to hopefully change the education system for the better to best accommodate every student of every level and background. I am fluent in German also, and love exploring linguistics and the art of communication.

Hobbies and Interests
  • Playing video games (I'm a Nintendo type)
  • Playing piano
  • Telling jokes
  • Politics
  • Anthropology
  • Urban development
  • Poetry
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Being a Writing Fellow means sharing not only knowledge, but passion and new perspectives about writing. It's a collaborative process in which I can both teach and learn from people and to me, nothing's more fulfilling or exciting. I'm a firm believer that in life we should share the knowledge we have with others to benefit each other, and writing fellows is just one of the ways I can do that.

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

I have the worst special interest in the world: politics. I'm the type to get excited over reading old documents and letters that have shaped history and politics today. I love seeing how different people in the world interact and studying the factors that have shaped, are shaping, and will shape the world. I'm the armchair historian who curls up with a good federalist paper every once and a while, but also loves getting out and witnessing history in action.

Izzy Buday

Hello, my name is Izzy Buday! I am an English literature major with a concentration in writing. I am a junior at Dominican, and this is my second year here as I am transfer student. I am originally from Michigan, but I’ve loved living in Chicago for the past year. I have loved reading and writing since middle school, a love that has only grown stronger with time. I especially enjoy books of poetry, as well as writing my own poems. In the future I’d like to write and/or make a movie, write a book of poetry, or possibly work for a newspaper. One of my favorite things about pursuing a degree in English is the broad range of careers open to me when I graduate.

Hobbies and Interests
  • Running
  • Going to the theater
  • Baking/cooking
  • Reading and Writing, of course
  • Walks along the beach
  • Thrifting
  • Long road trips in the summer with the music blaring
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Being a Writing Fellow, to me, is the chance to share my love of writing with others. I have always enjoyed reading others work and giving feedback when appropriate. This position provides a welcome opportunity for me to encourage my peers and guide them on their writing journeys.

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

One of my biggest passions is film. I love to watch movies—at home, alone, in the theater, with friends, etc. My absolute favorite film (that I have seen an unreasonable amount of times) is Inception (2010). The first time I saw it I was hooked on the story and on filmmaking. Recently I have been getting into the filmography of Agnès Varda. Her film One Sings, The Other Doesn’t (1977) is my most recent watch, and a film that I already know I will go back to often. Movies means so much to me because they are a beautiful combination of art, storytelling, and collaboration. Film is a disciple that truly inspires its viewers. Most people can name at least one film that has changed the way they saw or thought of the world. That is why it’s so important and why I feel so strongly about it.

Claire Hubble

Hello! I am a graduate student in the Master of Library and Information Science program. I hold a BA in theatre history and art history from Marymount Manhattan College. My dream job involves working at a performing arts library, preferably as someone who connects all people to plays, playwrights, and theatre history. While not deep in the stacks of the closest library, I can be found reading from my own play and theatre collection, laying in sunny spots with my two cats, and drinking Diet Coke. I love to see plays and musicals and I think my taste in TV is unmatched. As a huge nerd, I have a deep passion for learning and feel that reading and writing can unlock endless possibilities for all. I look forward to being in service to the many, brilliant minds of Dominican.

Hobbies and Interests
  • Seeing live theatre
  • Journaling
  • Vegetarianism
  • Crossword puzzles
  • Book/play collecting
  • (Most recently) reading cookbooks and learning to really cook
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

I am so grateful to have an opportunity to connect with my fellow students. Coming from two semesters of online classes, I’m most excited to participate in in-person learning, listening, and assisting. I also look forward to showing everyone how beautiful and easy academic research and writing can be.

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

I’m sure it’s obvious by this point, but my intellectual passion is theatre! In my ideal world, everyone has at least one play they connect with on a deep and personal level. I know in my bones that there is a play out there for everyone, and there are many that suit my interests and needs when I read and see them. One I saw a couple of years ago completely changed the way I look at and experience one-woman shows. Proof of Love by Chisa Hutchinson is about a woman who is finding out her perfect husband has been having an affair for years—all while he is in a coma. The entire story is told so well through just one setting, one character, one point of view. The last few lines had the entire audience gasping. It is a masterclass in dramatic writing and I hope everyone has the chance to see, read, and feel that play for themselves.

Bianca Leon

Hello, my name is Bianca Leon, and I am Junior at Dominican University, where I am studying Political Science with a concentration in International Affairs. In the future, I hope to become a Human Rights Attorney, where I will be working for the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In the meantime, I love spending time with my three-year-old nephew, Giovanni.  

Hobbies and Interests
  • I am passionate about politics, specifically immigration reform.  
  • I love cuddling into my leather recliner with a delightful book.  
  • I love traveling. This summer I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona.  
  • I love trying new foods. This year I tried Moroccan food. It was delicious. 
  • I love to binge-watch true crime as well as read about it.  
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Like my statement about my intellectual passion, I strongly believe that there is a writer in each one of us. Being a writing fellow, I hope to help Dominican students find their confidence in writing because their story is important to be told.  

Intellectual Passion/Favorite Book

In middle school, I struggled with reading. In fact, I had to attend my local community college for reading lessons. I became extremely self-conscious and frustrated because everyone in my class could read perfectly fine besides me. I had almost given up until I was introduced to Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. I fell in love with Rick Riordan’s retelling of the classic Greek myths. My newfound love for reading transformed into a love for writing. I began writing my own stories. Based on my experience, we often do not realize our passion for something until we take leap into the unknown. While this may seem cliché, there is a writer in everyone, but we often do not realize it. Contrary to popular belief, it is never too late to be a writer.   

Lorena Murguia

Hi everybody! My name is Lorena Murguia; I am a sophomore and an English major. I hope to take my English degree and one day become an Imagineer for the Walt Disney Company. For those of you who don't know, the Imagineers are the people responsible for bringing Disney’s fantastical worlds and beloved characters to life. One day, when I become a part of their team, I will be responsible for creating storyboards for new attractions and cultivating ideas for a new cruise line, theme park, or resort. In the meantime, I love spending time with my family and friends, trying new places to eat, or jamming to music in the car.

Hobbies and Interests
  • Playing softball
  • Singing
  • Listening to music
  • Watching Disney/Marvel movies
  • Cooking
  • Traveling
  • Meeting new people :)
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Being a writing fellow gives me the opportunity to help other students gain confidence in their writing skills! While we all might not be published authors, everyone possesses writing skills. The hardest part of the writing process is getting started and I want to help students find their story within their prompts!

Favorite Book / Intellectual Passion

My favorite book by far has to be Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street. I read this book as a freshman in high school, and it was the first book I read where I felt seen as a reader. Sandra Cisneros uses short stories within this book to describe her experience as a Mexican American woman. This was my first time reading a piece that captured in words how I have been feeling my whole life. I have always felt like a weird middle in between my two identities, as I’m sure other first-generation students have felt within their lifetime. It was so refreshing to read a book that wasn’t purely fantastical fiction or a romance, but a book about an experience many go through. I love that book to pieces and highly recommend it!

Angelica Perez

Hey everyone, my name is Angelica, and I’m currently a sophomore here at Dominican. Recently my older brother graduated from Dominican, which is the reason I heard about this university. I’m a member of the bowling team and I also play softball, just not for college.  For most of my first year, I was actually undecided of what my major would be. It was through extensive thought and consideration that I decided on an English major with a concentration in writing. While it’s not a coincidence that I enjoy writing in my free time, I chose my major because of the many avenues of connections it offers with our diverse existence. I cannot say what I’d do in the future, but I’m a person who enjoys living in the moment and thinking about random things. 

Hobbies and Interests
  • Listening to new genres of music 
  • Watching Fantasy/Sci-fi films or TV shows such as Lord of The Rings or Doctor Who 
  • Cooking for myself or friends 
  • Taking naps with my cat Edna 
  • An unhealthy obsession with Coca-Cola Slushies/Slurpees 
What Being a Writing Fellow Means to Me

Personally, being a Writing Fellow means being another mind to bounce ideas off so that a person doesn’t feel stranded in their writing process. I understand the stressful nature of putting one’s thoughts on paper, and I’d like to be someone that can relate to anyone’s interests so that the writing process doesn’t seem so daunting. Not only will I have a lot of knowledge to offer but others will teach me new things about what it means to translate ideas into written word. 

Intellectual Passion/Favorite Book

I’ve read a lot of interesting books, but I have to say a recent favorite is Jazz by Toni Morrison. Its structure is like the music genre of Jazz and based off an insanely weird photo of a young dead girl killed by her “lover”. There’s a lot of contemplation of free will and choice, and it overall highlights the resilience of the human experience through Violet’s healing journey of generational trauma. This novel has made me rethink how novels can be structured and the importance of the readers participation when trying to understand the meaning of a novel or character.