Students may wish to request a specific tutor when they make an appointment at the ARC, depending on their needs and the tutor's background and expertise. To help you make the most of your sessions, tutors have provided their bios here. When you are ready to make an appointment with a writing tutor, go to myLMU, "Academics," and "Writing & Course Tutoring," or contact the ARC receptionist at 310.338.2847 for assistance.
Kurtis Williams
Team Lead
Kurtis is a graduate student in the Writing for the Screen MFA program at the School of Film and Television. He studied English with a minor in creative writing at the University of Arizona, where he worked as a freelance copy editor. Upon graduating, he started teaching special education to high school students for Sierra Sands Unified School District and later became a contracted technical writer and editor for the Naval Air and Weapons Station in China Lake, CA. He is happy to help students with their essays, speeches, short stories, screenplays, technical documents, and any other writing assignments.
Kurtis is a graduate student in the Writing for the Screen MFA program at the School of Film and Television. He studied English with a minor in creative writing at the University of Arizona, where he worked as a freelance copy editor. Upon graduating, he started teaching special education to high school students for Sierra Sands Unified School District and later became a contracted technical writer and editor for the Naval Air and Weapons Station in China Lake, CA. He is happy to help students with their essays, speeches, short stories, screenplays, technical documents, and any other writing assignments.
Grace Kalvelage
Graduate Writing Tutor
Grace, from Boston, MA, is currently a Philosophy M.A. student. She graduated from LMU with a B.A. in philosophy and minors in theology and bioethics. She enjoys reading argumentative and research papers, and especially loves reading and writing essays within philosophy, bioethics, and theology, where she can help with both content and writing style in papers of those fields. She has experience editing for professors and has written many papers using MLA and Chicago-style formatting, including footnotes. She enjoys working with students at any stage in their writing process, whether it be getting started with their essay, sorting through and incorporating outside sources, and helping them edit and revise their work before turning it in.
Grace, from Boston, MA, is currently a Philosophy M.A. student. She graduated from LMU with a B.A. in philosophy and minors in theology and bioethics. She enjoys reading argumentative and research papers, and especially loves reading and writing essays within philosophy, bioethics, and theology, where she can help with both content and writing style in papers of those fields. She has experience editing for professors and has written many papers using MLA and Chicago-style formatting, including footnotes. She enjoys working with students at any stage in their writing process, whether it be getting started with their essay, sorting through and incorporating outside sources, and helping them edit and revise their work before turning it in.
Christine Assadourian
SFTV Graduate Writing Tutor
Christine is currently enrolled in LMU's MFA Program in Writing for the Screen. She received her undergraduate degree from CSU Northridge in English, with a specification in creative writing. She enjoys reading creative work, just as much as she enjoys writing it! As a tutor, she looks forward to helping students find their voice and preferred writing style through understanding their concerns, goals, and inspiration.
Christine is currently enrolled in LMU's MFA Program in Writing for the Screen. She received her undergraduate degree from CSU Northridge in English, with a specification in creative writing. She enjoys reading creative work, just as much as she enjoys writing it! As a tutor, she looks forward to helping students find their voice and preferred writing style through understanding their concerns, goals, and inspiration.
Jordyn Caldwell
SFTV Graduate Writing Tutor
Jordyn is a second-year Writing and Producing for TV graduate student here at LMU! She’s a recent graduate of George Mason University where she received her Bachelor’s of Art in Film and Video Studies. Some of her hobbies include traveling the U.S. (a goal of hers is to travel to all 50 states) and collecting postcards. Fun fact: She has a background in theatre performance and playwriting. There is nothing she loves more than helping writers workshop and develop their scripts! She’s open to reviewing any material at any stage, so don’t be shy to bring her your work!
Jordyn is a second-year Writing and Producing for TV graduate student here at LMU! She’s a recent graduate of George Mason University where she received her Bachelor’s of Art in Film and Video Studies. Some of her hobbies include traveling the U.S. (a goal of hers is to travel to all 50 states) and collecting postcards. Fun fact: She has a background in theatre performance and playwriting. There is nothing she loves more than helping writers workshop and develop their scripts! She’s open to reviewing any material at any stage, so don’t be shy to bring her your work!
Brittany Fossey
SFTV Graduate Writing Tutor
Brittany is a graduate student in LMU SFTV's Writing for the Screen program. She received a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Sydney in 2018. Her psychology research has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Outside of her academic pursuits, she works as a script supervisor on film and television productions. She is committed to helping each writer improve their confidence and craft, in a way that stays true to their individual voice and perspective.
Brittany is a graduate student in LMU SFTV's Writing for the Screen program. She received a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) and Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Sydney in 2018. Her psychology research has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Outside of her academic pursuits, she works as a script supervisor on film and television productions. She is committed to helping each writer improve their confidence and craft, in a way that stays true to their individual voice and perspective.
Kimberly M.
Faculty Writing Tutor
Kimberly is a Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies and teaches Rhetorical Arts courses focused on environmental rhetoric, ethics, and justice. She has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from UC Irvine. She previously taught writing at Stanford University and worked as a consultant in the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking. She loves empowering students at any stage of the writing process and excels at assignment interpretation, brainstorming, and coherence issues. She’s also great at “word-smithing” essays with strict word counts. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, and her research interests include the critical role of rhetoric in environmental controversies and the ecology of writing.
Kimberly is a Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies and teaches Rhetorical Arts courses focused on environmental rhetoric, ethics, and justice. She has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from UC Irvine. She previously taught writing at Stanford University and worked as a consultant in the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking. She loves empowering students at any stage of the writing process and excels at assignment interpretation, brainstorming, and coherence issues. She’s also great at “word-smithing” essays with strict word counts. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, and her research interests include the critical role of rhetoric in environmental controversies and the ecology of writing.
Clinton C.
Faculty Writing Tutor
Clinton Carl has been an instructor in the Core and Philosophy at LMU for eight years, teaching Rhetorical Arts, First Year Seminar, and Philosophical Inquiry. He received his MA in philosophy at LMU and specializes in German Idealism and Chinese Buddhist thought, with an emphasis on theories of knowledge. He has presented his work at numerous academic conferences around the world and has won awards for his research and teaching. He volunteers regularly at the LA LGBT center, tutoring underserved queer students from diverse backgrounds. His tutoring approach focuses on critical thinking and creativity as the cornerstone of effective writing and speaking.
Clinton Carl has been an instructor in the Core and Philosophy at LMU for eight years, teaching Rhetorical Arts, First Year Seminar, and Philosophical Inquiry. He received his MA in philosophy at LMU and specializes in German Idealism and Chinese Buddhist thought, with an emphasis on theories of knowledge. He has presented his work at numerous academic conferences around the world and has won awards for his research and teaching. He volunteers regularly at the LA LGBT center, tutoring underserved queer students from diverse backgrounds. His tutoring approach focuses on critical thinking and creativity as the cornerstone of effective writing and speaking.
Sam Qualls
Writing Tutor
Sam is working towards their Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Women's and Gender studies. They enjoy writing and helping others with argumentative essays, research-focused papers, and sociological analyses. She enjoys courses and work that focus on the analysis and deconstruction of social systems and institutions. Outside of the ARC you can find Sam in one of LMU's classrooms as a TA, or travelling around LA as a teaching fellow. Sam also has experience performing executive roles in social justice organizations and has co-founded a DEI organization back home in Chicago. However, outside of academics, she enjoys spending her time outdoors and hanging out with her cat, Dot!
Sam is working towards their Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Women's and Gender studies. They enjoy writing and helping others with argumentative essays, research-focused papers, and sociological analyses. She enjoys courses and work that focus on the analysis and deconstruction of social systems and institutions. Outside of the ARC you can find Sam in one of LMU's classrooms as a TA, or travelling around LA as a teaching fellow. Sam also has experience performing executive roles in social justice organizations and has co-founded a DEI organization back home in Chicago. However, outside of academics, she enjoys spending her time outdoors and hanging out with her cat, Dot!
Anna Colley
Writing Tutor
Anna is a political science major and history minor from Danville, California. She has worked as a private tutor for the last two years and specializes in argumentative and analytical essays, research papers, and helping students formulate, understand, and categorize ideas and topics. She enjoys helping students discover their individual voices through various writing strategies, as well as using academic and personal knowledge to elevate a student's writing. She loves exploring topics related to politics and history, but mostly works relating to U.S. politics, European history, and American history. She works as the Assistant Executive Producer of Events for ASLMU, loves spending time with friends, watching LMU (and professional) sports, yoga, and photography!
Anna is a political science major and history minor from Danville, California. She has worked as a private tutor for the last two years and specializes in argumentative and analytical essays, research papers, and helping students formulate, understand, and categorize ideas and topics. She enjoys helping students discover their individual voices through various writing strategies, as well as using academic and personal knowledge to elevate a student's writing. She loves exploring topics related to politics and history, but mostly works relating to U.S. politics, European history, and American history. She works as the Assistant Executive Producer of Events for ASLMU, loves spending time with friends, watching LMU (and professional) sports, yoga, and photography!
Kaitlin Pintens
Writing Tutor
Kaitlin is a Junior Psychology and Philosophy double major with a minor in Bioethics. She has lived in Los Angeles for six years, but before that, she lived in four other states across America. She enjoys reading and writing psychological and philosophical argumentative and research papers, especially about current events and applied ethical issues. She loves being a writing tutor because she can help students organize their thoughts and enjoy writing. She also likes to craft outlines and build a strong thesis. Outside of being a writing tutor, she is a member of Marians Service Organization and is also a Wellness Educator. In these organizations, she is passionate about raising issues that surround women, children, and mental health.
Kaitlin is a Junior Psychology and Philosophy double major with a minor in Bioethics. She has lived in Los Angeles for six years, but before that, she lived in four other states across America. She enjoys reading and writing psychological and philosophical argumentative and research papers, especially about current events and applied ethical issues. She loves being a writing tutor because she can help students organize their thoughts and enjoy writing. She also likes to craft outlines and build a strong thesis. Outside of being a writing tutor, she is a member of Marians Service Organization and is also a Wellness Educator. In these organizations, she is passionate about raising issues that surround women, children, and mental health.
Jonathan Wong
Writing Tutor
Jonathan is a sophomore International Relations major from Hong Kong. He has experience writing research papers and analytical essays, as well as supporting peers in their brainstorming process. He enjoys helping others with developing arguments, structuring essays and general support with any writing assignments. Outside of academics, he is a coffee addict and can often be found at the Den.
Jonathan is a sophomore International Relations major from Hong Kong. He has experience writing research papers and analytical essays, as well as supporting peers in their brainstorming process. He enjoys helping others with developing arguments, structuring essays and general support with any writing assignments. Outside of academics, he is a coffee addict and can often be found at the Den.
Gia Rizvi
Writing Tutor
Gia is a second year student with a background in science and writing! She has always been interested in research and loves connecting her experience in STEM education with liberal arts and writing courses. Her plan is to cultivate her knowledge in this variety of subjects to eventually attend law school. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, analyzing her favorite games and shows, and taking care of her plants. She loves being a tutor for writing courses because writing is a universal way to express yourself, regardless of language. Everyone has a voice and writing is one of the truest ways to present that, and she loves to help shape that voice in a way where it will reach others!
Gia is a second year student with a background in science and writing! She has always been interested in research and loves connecting her experience in STEM education with liberal arts and writing courses. Her plan is to cultivate her knowledge in this variety of subjects to eventually attend law school. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, analyzing her favorite games and shows, and taking care of her plants. She loves being a tutor for writing courses because writing is a universal way to express yourself, regardless of language. Everyone has a voice and writing is one of the truest ways to present that, and she loves to help shape that voice in a way where it will reach others!
Zak McHale
Writing Tutor
Zak is a Sophomore from London and San Diego studying journalism at LMU. His interests include soccer, music, philosophy, and climbing. He enjoys being a tutor because it allows him to help others out in places they may be struggling and continuously broadens his knowledge on various topics, courses, and writing styles. He looks forward to working with everyone this year!
Zak is a Sophomore from London and San Diego studying journalism at LMU. His interests include soccer, music, philosophy, and climbing. He enjoys being a tutor because it allows him to help others out in places they may be struggling and continuously broadens his knowledge on various topics, courses, and writing styles. He looks forward to working with everyone this year!
Freya Patel
Writing Tutor
As a junior, Freya has attended three different colleges. She has a lot of love for animals, specifically dogs, and loves everything about the cold: clothing, snow, heated-up cars. She enjoys finding new music; her favorite genres being Rock, Jazz, and R&B. Freya is also an opinion Intern at the LA Loyolan. She loves writing as much as she loves helping others with theirs because she used to struggle in school a lot as a kid, and hopes to provide the support that she sought back then.
As a junior, Freya has attended three different colleges. She has a lot of love for animals, specifically dogs, and loves everything about the cold: clothing, snow, heated-up cars. She enjoys finding new music; her favorite genres being Rock, Jazz, and R&B. Freya is also an opinion Intern at the LA Loyolan. She loves writing as much as she loves helping others with theirs because she used to struggle in school a lot as a kid, and hopes to provide the support that she sought back then.