Meet Our W-CATs
Writing Course Attached Tutors, or W-CATs (formerly known as PWSAs and TWAs) are writing tutors assigned to a specific course. There are W-CATs attached to every First Year Seminar, which serves as your W1 (GenEd requirement), and sometimes there are W-CATs in W2 courses, which are part of Bates’ Writing-Attentive Curriculum. W-CATs provide class-specific support, including but not limited to written and oral assignments and assessments.
W-CATs have typically demonstrated perseverance in writing in the subject, have nurtured a relationship with the course professor, and/or have previously taken the course or a course in the major or minor. Most W-CATs have also taken at least the first course in our tutor education sequence, EXDS 201: Writing Process, Tutoring Practice (.5 credits, offered every Winter semester) before they being working. W-CATs will introduce themselves to the class they support at the beginning of the semester, but you can also ask your course instructor or come into the Student Writing & Language Center to find out your W-CATs contact information and when they are in the SWLC to support you.
If you are enrolled in a course with a W-CAT attached to it, you may schedule a meeting with the W-CAT through Penji by searching the name of your W-CAT, your course, or your professor. These tutors possess the tools and training to help you reach your goals as a writer in the course. Think of W-CATs as a subset of general writing tutors–their sole responsibility is supporting you in becoming an independent and confident writer and communicator in your course–and beyond!
If you are interested in becoming a Writing Course Attached Tutor and working for SWLC, please visit this page for information about hiring, training, and employment.

Asha Abdisamad ’27 (she/her)
FYS 551: Purpose, Work, and College: A holistic introduction to Purposeful Work at Bates
Hi! My name is Asha (she/her), and I’m a junior from Maine. I’m the WCAT for FYS 551: Purpose, Work, & College. This is my first year working as a tutor, so I’m excited to meet you all, get to know you, and support you at any stage of your writing. I’m also here for any general questions you might have. I really appreciated the feedback I received from my WCAT during my first year, so I’m hoping to give back that same support. At Bates, I’m a Biochemistry major and an Education minor, and I also have a GEC in Public Health. On campus, I work in Purposeful Work as an Office Assistant and am also a Bonner Leader. Outside of academics, I really enjoy reading, trying new recipes, and taking river walks with friends. Hope to see you in the PLC!
Molly Allison ’26 (she/her)
FYS 376: Inequality, Community & Social Change
Hi there! My name is Molly, I am a senior studying Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies, and this is my third year tutoring in the SWLC. After my very first session with my FYS’ WCAT, I had a sudden realization that at Bates, nobody needs to write anything alone. I am a lover of the writing process and believe that collaboration between peers should be experimental and empowering. A (very) proud sister to two younger twin brothers, I have nearly perfected the art of patience in collaboration. Working with students in the SWLC has grown to be one of my favorite involvements in the Bates community, and though I offer tips and tricks from my years writing at Bates, I also love tutoring because of how much skill and style I have to learn from all of you. The PLC could not run without the incredible minds that visit us! Schedule an appointment! I look forward to working together in the PLC!


Riley Baker ’26 (she/her)
FYS 476: Coastal Hazards
My name is Riley Baker (she/her) and I’m from Illinois. I’m a senior double majoring in Earth and Climate Science and English and I’m returning to Bates after spending last semester abroad in Cambodia! This is my second year working for SWLC and this year I’m a W-CAT for Coastal Hazards. Two words to describe my tutoring style are encouraging and collaborative; I’m interested in creating a warm, welcoming environment and building interpersonal relationships with my tutees! I know that sharing your writing with other people is hard but I want to create a space that feels collaborative and non-judgemental. Outside of my work as a W-CAT you can find me working at the Bates Garden (the PLOT) or rotting in the Ronj.
Jalika Barrie ’28 (she/her)
FYS 489: Writing Ourselves, Writing With Others: Who Am I in the Age of AI?
Hi, my name is Jalika, and I am a sophomore at Bates! I am originally from New York, and yes, before you ask, I am from the city part. I always find it funny when people up here ask me to clarify, but besides being painstakingly New Yorker, I am also a WCAT for FYS 489 – ‘Writing Ourselves, Writing With Others: Who Am I In the Age of AI?’ With Dr. B! I am really excited to put my tutoring skills to work this year because just as I am helping all of you, you are also helping me. Together, we are creating a relationship where we practice better writing habits that not only ensure higher marks on our papers but also higher confidence. Here at SWLC, we honor collaboration and mutual learning. Now, when it comes to my “subject specialities,” I’d say I am pretty good at Personal narrative writing, creative writing, journaling, and argumentative essays. In middle to high school, I was always writing long-winded chapter books of some beautifully unfinished stories, and I guess you could say I am pretty dedicated to the craft. Although I know that I have the makings of being a great writer, just like anyone who feels they are good at something, I have my doubts or insecurities sometimes. However, that fact is a big part of why I am a part of this SWLC team! Always remember to trust your capabilities!


Megan Billings ’28 (she/her)
FYS 404: On the Road to Spain
Hello! My name is Megan, I use she/her pronouns, and I am a senior majoring in History and Spanish. My first language is English, but I also speak Spanish and spent the Fall semester of my Junior year abroad in Spain creating plenty of watercolors and museum-visiting! I enjoy spending my free time doing arts and crafts, painting, making earrings, and playing harmonica. As a tutor and also a college writer, I can empathize a lot with the messiness of finding a writing process that works well, but am excited to work with my tutees to get there. I am excited to collaborate with my tutees, hear all of their creative ideas, and eventually arrive at a brilliant final product!
Audrey Bonnabeau ’28 (she/her)
FYS 583: Undocumented Migration
Hello! My name is Audrey Bonnabeau (she/her) and I’m a W-CAT for FYS 583. This year will be my first time working for SWLC. I grew up in a few different places, but I currently live with my family in New York City. I am fluent in English, proficient in French, and a Russian language student here at Bates. The past four summers I worked at Falmouth Fish Market in Cape Cod, so I know an unusual amount of information about fish and other seafood. My tutoring philosophy can be summarized by the quote, “when one door closes, break a window.” Writing can often feel inaccessible, so I want to help students find alternative ways of breaking into academic writing and/or their fields of interest on their own terms. SWLC was a great resource during my first year at Bates, so I hope I can carry on that legacy this semester!


Natalia Correa ’26 (she/her)
FYS 505B: STEM Scholars B
Hi STEM Scholars! My name is Natalia (she/her) and I’m a senior neuroscience major from Glastonbury, CT. I am very excited to begin my third year as W-CAT for this course. I know that college-level writing can be daunting for some at first, and I’m here to support you all every step of the way! I hope to not only help your writing skills and strategies but also offer peer support, especially since I’m a STEM Scholar as well. A fun fact about me is that my family has two sets of twins. I have a twin brother and two older brothers who are also fraternal twins. I look forward to meeting you all!
Katie Fahey ’26 (she/her)
FYS 400: Middle East and US Policy
My name is Katie and I use she/her pronouns. I am from Brooklyn, New York and I am a senior here at Bates College. I am a Politics Major and a Hispanic Studies Minor. I am a W-CAT and this is my first year at the SWLC. I speak english and I am a spanish learner. I love soccer, both playing and watching (go Liverpool) and dogs (ask me about my rescue dog Bean). As a tutor I believe in discussion and self reflection and that everyone has the capacity to be an awesome writer. I believe that writing is a collaborative process, even when done alone! As a tutor I hope to be a good sounding board and help students be their best writers.


Jeremy Felton ’26 (he/him)
FYS 288: Luck and the Moral Life
My name is Jeremy Felton, I use he/him pronouns and I am a senior from Sebastopol, CA. I am a philosophy and ceramics double major—but be warned—I don’t care about the distinction between art and craft. I only speak English, though sometimes I can understand a Spanish word here and there. This is my first year as a tutor, and I am super excited to chat and write about philosophy. Philosophy is what got me excited about writing, and I hope that I can help you feel the same way!
Michelle Htut ’27 (she/her)
FYS 505A: STEM Scholars A
Hey, I’m Michelle (she/her), a W-CAT for FYS STEM Scholars. I am currently a junior here at Bates College majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Asian Studies. This is my second year W-CATing for this course (as excited as the first time)! I am from the Brooklyn, NYC! I love absolutely watching musicals and listening to many genres of music. I am very much trying to get back into reading novels so any recommendation is highly appreciated! I also really really love to listen to and help so feel free to come talk to me about anything from course work and writing assignments to your hobbies or your interests! I am looking forward to meeting you all! 🙂 P.S. I love cats so if you have one please show me pics <3.


Iffat Ikram ’28 (she/her)
FYS 584:Speak Global: Understanding Languages in a Connected World
Hello! My name is Iffat Ikram (she/her). I am a Classical and Medieval Studies and Religious Studies double major from India. I am a WCAT for FYS 548. I speak 6 other languages so I can also talk to you in Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Urdu, Nagamese and a little bit in French. On campus, I also work as an ILS assistant, a research assistant and also a LAMP fellow. I love animals and I have a pet dog named Leo and a cat called Mack. I love showing pictures of them as conversation starters! I hope to be able to help you with your class or at the very least, provide a space to yap in about anything! Feel free to book an appointment with me or show up at my drop-in hours. I am looking forward to meeting you and knowing you better!
Feray Thea Karaismailoglu ’28 (she/her)
FYS 579: Beyond the Rainbow: Exploring the Language (and the Science, Art, and Culture) of Color
Hi Batesies! I’m Feray Thea (she/her), I was born in Cyprus however, I grew up all around the Europe. I can speak three and half languages (Italian,Turkish,Greek and French 🙂 I am serving as a course attach writing tutor for ‘Beyond the Rainbow’ FYS this semester. Basically, what that means is that I’m here to help you wrangle those essays, brainstorm ideas when you’re staring at a blank page, and make sure commas don’t ruin your life. Think of me as your writing buddy, someone you can come to with questions, drafts, or even just vague thoughts like, “I know what I want to say but it sounds like gibberish right now.” No stress, no scary grammar drills, just conversations about your writing and how to make it stronger (and maybe even fun). I’ll be around for individual meetings, group check-ins, and the occasional pep talk when deadlines get too real.


Alina Kunakbayeva ’28 (she/her)
FYS 586: Musical Europe and the Jew
Hi! My name is Alina, and I am a sophomore from Kazakhstan (its a country in Central Asia, just near Russia, so I speak Russian as well). I’m majoring in Psychology and DCs, so I would love to help if you have any questions about it! I am a tutor for the FYS: Musical Europe and the Jew: Nationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and Antisemitism in European Musical Culture. Aside from being a W-CAT, I am a community liason in Research Society, Jewellery club and European students Union Club. Feel free to stop by my drop in hours or schedule an appoinment, I welcome and encourage all of you to come and check out Peer Learning Commons!
Lena LaPierre ’26 (she/her)
FYS 578: The History Games: Danger & Dissent in Publishing History
Hi! I’m Lena (she/her), and I’m a senior from Hattiesburg, Mississippi majoring in History with a minor in Russian. This is my first year working for SWLC, and I’m thrilled to be a W-CAT for “The History Games: Danger and Dissent in Publishing History.” In addition to being fluent in English and learning Russian, I can also speak Bulgarian and would love to chat informally with any other Slavic language speakers — as long as you’re okay with dealing with my occasional grammar mistakes and frequent questions about vocab. Outside of SWLC, I am the Executive Managing Editor of The Bates Student — our college’s only student newspaper and an amazing and fun club that you should all think about joining! As your W-CAT, I am looking forward to helping you find your writerly voice and gain confidence as a college student, writer, and thinker.


An Le ’28 (he/him)
FYS 577: Geometry in Ancient Japan: From Shogun to the Last Samurai
Hi, I’m An Le (he/him), and I’m your W-CAT for FYS 577: Geometry in Ancient Japan. I’m a sophomore from Hanoi, Vietnam, so Vietnamese is my native language. I plan to major in Mathematics and Economics at Bates. Outside of classes, I’m also the founder of Bates Data Club, which gives Bates students opportunities to work on data analysis projects and connect with alumni working in data-related fields. I also like to watch quiz shows in my free time, and in fact, I actually participated in a nationally televised quiz tournament at high school!
Being a peer tutor, I’m not only the go-to person for help with your writing and your transition to college, but I’m also a friend who is open to learning more about the Bates community and how your backgrounds and experiences have shaped your writing. As I enter my first year at the SWLC, I look forward to meeting all of you as budding writers and seeing your amazing works taking shape!
Zi Li ’28
FYS 576: Asian American and Pacific Islander Forms of Memory
Hi! My name is Zi (she/her), a sophomore from Chengdu, China. I am hoping to double major in Biochemistry and Classical & Medieval Studies. This is my first year working in SWLC, and I am super excited to be a W-CAT for FYS 576 “Asian American and Pacific Islander Forms of Memory.” Aside from English, I also speak Chinese and have tried learning French and Japanese (not an aspiring polyglot anymore). I love reading plays and poetry and struggling with difficult Latin passages!!! I am so stoked to work with yall!!!!!


Aleisha Martinez Sandoval ’26 (she/her)
FYS 505C: STEM Scholars C
Hi everyone! My name is Aleisha (she/her) and I am a senior from Mexico City, Mexico. I am a double major in Biochemistry and Politics and a proud STEM Scholar. This is my third year involved in SWLC and I am so excited to be a returning W-CAT for Professor Diaz Eaton’s Bates STEM Scholars. I am also thrilled to be supporting Spanish-speaking language learners as a native Spanish speaker myself. Outside of academics I love traveling, trying new foods, listening to music, and very recently started rock climbing. After college, I aspire to go to medical school and one day become a trauma surgeon. I speak English, Spanish, and French. My tutoring style is one in which there is lots of open communication and trust, I love getting to know the students I work with. I also love meeting new people, so I could not be more excited to see you in the PLC this semester!!! Some fun facts about me are that I have a very complicated relationship with bananas, love getting tattoos, and have a cat back at home named pumpkin. Excited to meet you!!
Jil Moukarzel ’28 (she/her)
FYS 423: Humor and Laughter in Literature and Visual Media
My name is Jil (she/her), I’m a sophomore from Beirut, Lebanon, and I’m a W-CAT for the FYS 423, Humor and Laughter in Literature and Visual Media with professor Kazecki, and a support language tutor for French and Japanese.
I speak English, French, Arabic, Japanese and am learning German, and I am really excited to be working for SWLC this year, and work together with students to achieve their goals!
I lived in different countries and attended an international high school where I studied alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. That prompted my interest in international politics, which is why I am majoring in Politics at Bates!
The Ronj is my favorite place on campus, to study or just to hang out with friends. Especially in winter, when it’s cold outside, I always get a warm cozy latte!
I am looking forward to meet new people and be a writing support to students at Bates!


Kylie Musante ’26 (she/her)
FYS 509: The Sociology of Holidays
Hi everyone! My name is Kylie Musante (she/her), and I am a senior sociology major, chemistry minor, and public health concentration. This is my first year working for SWLC as a W-CAT for FYS 509: The Sociology of Holidays, and my second year as a W-CAT for Thinking Sociologically with Numbers. I am very excited to meet the new class of Bates students and support you in becoming integrated into the Bates community. I am also looking forward to learning about and reading different writing styles. Other than working for SWLC and SASC, I am on the varsity women’s soccer and track teams. I enjoy cooking, baking, trying new coffee shops, lifting, running, and watching crime shows. One fun fact about me is that over the summer, I learned how to drive a stick shift!
Naheen Nadeem ’28 (she/her)
FYS 560: Economics of the Digital World and Human Society
Hi Everyone! I’m Naheen Nadeem (she/her) and am a sophomore (Class of 2028) from Lahore, Pakistan. I am a chemistry and economics double major and a W-CAT this year. It is my first year working with SWLC, and I am super excited to get to meet new people and work with you all, making writing a fun experience. As a WCAT, I am looking forward to being able to support first years around me, as I was in the same position last year and needed support. Most importantly, growing as a writer myself while tutoring. Other than that I am involved in multiple positions across campus. I serve as an officer for the International Club and a Junior Advisor for Res Life here at Bates. A small fun fact about me is that I am scared of lizards, but I love dogs and have a pug.


Marcel Nagy ’28 (he/they)
FYS 447: Holocaust on Stage
Hi! My name is Marcel (he/they) and I am an international student from Hungary. I am a sophomore here at Bates, a LAMP Fellow, and a UWC Davis Scholar as well. My two majors are Theater and European Studies, so you will often see me working on productions with the Theater Department, or you might cross paths with me in Roger Williams Hall taking German and French classes, since I’m an aspiring polyglot. This is my first year as a W-CAT here at SWLC, I am very excited to meet you all, and I am hoping that my specialization with my majors can be a good resource for assisting you in Kati Vecsey’s FYS course. I also took part in the Short Term Abroad for Central European Theater and Film with Kati Vecsey and Jakub Kazecki, which is a journey I love talking about.
Mehar Nijjer ’27 (she/her)
FYS 580: Exploring Animal Intelligence
Hi! My name is Mehar (she/her), and I’m a junior from India. I’m a Psychology major and a DCS minor. I also play on the Bates Golf team.
This is my first year working in SWLC and I’ll be the WCAT for FYS580: Exploring Animal Intelligence. I’ll also be a SASC tutor for a few Neuroscience, Psychology, and DCS courses.
A fun fact about me: I have a pet parrot! In my free time, I love watching sports and am involved with the Athletics Department here at Bates. After Bates, I hope to work in the sports industry. I’m also fluent in three languages: English, Hindi, and Punjabi.
I’m excited to meet new students and help them feel more comfortable with college writing and navigating Bates!


Trinity Poon ’26 (she/her)
FYS 203: Family Stories
Hello! My name is Trinity Poon (she/her) and I’m a senior from Cape Cod, MA. I’m an English, French & Francophone Studies double major and this is my second year working as a W-CAT in the SWLC. I’m thrilled to be working here again and can’t wait to meet and help first-year students this year. English is my native language but I’ve improved my French fluency while studying abroad last year in Montpellier, France.
I believe that everyone has a story to tell and is fully capable of producing great written work. My job is to help clarify ideas and reflect what I’m hearing from students in order to help realize their writing potential. I find that the best connections and most productive writing help occurs through intentional inquiry and active listening.
I am excited to be helping first-year students this year navigate their first semester at Bates academically and personally, sharing whatever advice and knowledge I can to help make their transition to college life more smooth. I hope students can see me as both an academic and peer resource. When I’m not in the PLC, reading, or convincing students to write for The Bates Student, I can usually be found chatting in Commons, hanging out with friends on the quad, or on my way to get more coffee.
Zach Richards ’26
FYS 585: How Democracy Dies
My name is Zach Richards, and I’m a senior from Princeton, Massachusetts. My majors are Politics and Economics, and I’m also very interested in learning languages such as French and German. This is my first year working for SWLC, and I’m the W-CAT for the First Year Seminar Course FYS585A How Democracy Dies.
I’m excited to work with first-year students in the writing center this semester and engage with a variety of different writing styles. My tutoring style is very relational, and I welcome any questions relating to writing, course/major selection, and general information surrounding life as a Bates student.
Outside of SWLC, I’m the Student Government Co-President and a Residence Life Team Leader. I’m also involved in a number of clubs such as Club Volleyball, Model United Nations, and Le Club Francophone.


Liam Rorke ’27 (he/him)
FYS 566: What is Leadership?
Hi, my name is Liam Rorke (he/him). I am a sophomore from New Hampshire and I am currently undecided. Fun Fact: I have moved 5 times in my life. This semester I am tutoring Eddie Szeman’s FYS566: What is Leadership? I took this course my freshman year and I am excited to be back! I am a member of the Bates Men’s Soccer Team, love some Intramural Basketball, and also work for the Athletics Department. I became a tutor because I enjoy writing and wanted to learn more about writing through the act of tutoring. My tutoring philosophy is centered on creating a low-stakes, conversational environment to empower writers. I’m super excited to start working in the PLC and I can’t wait to meet you guys!
Dylan Rozalski ’27 (they/them)
FYS 582: Skating Away from the Binaries
Hello! My name is Dylan Rozalski (they/them). I’m a junior from Western New York and I’m majoring in Politics with a minor in History. I speak English natively and know a bit of French as well. A fun fact about me is that I recently learned to crochet and am working on a collection of miniature ducks. I’m excited to be coming back for my second year at SWLC! This semester, I’ll be working as a W-CAT for Skating Away from the Binaries with Dr. Rand. My goal for tutoring is to create an encouraging environment based on mutual respect. I’m looking forward to getting to know you as writers and as people!


Bella Saul ’26 (she/her)
FYS 527: African American Religion in American Film
Hello, my name is Bella Saul (she/her)! I am a senior from Brooklyn, NY majoring in Sociology with a minor in Africana Studies. I speak English natively and try my best to recall the French I took in high school. I am also a member of the Women’s Tennis team at Bates! This is my second year working as a WCAT in the SWLC and I am excited to continue building relationships and strengthening my own writing as tutor this semester. The SWLC is an exceptional tool which I credit towards my personal writing development as a first-year. I encourage all first-years to pop into the PLC at any stage of their writing process, or even just to chat! In my free time you can find me playing tennis, hanging out with friends, exploring local ski mountains, or sitting on the quad (if it’s over 60 degrees). Fun fact: I played a gig with David Byrne from the Talking Heads!
Stella Simonds ’27 (she/her)
FYS 454: The Natural History of Maine’s Neighborhoods and Woods
Hi, my name is Stella Simonds (she/her). I am a junior from Westchester, NY and am a double major in Biology and Religious Studies. I am also a Multifaith Fellow and one of the presidents of the JSU at Bates. I am a native English speaker and this is my second year as a W-CAT and Writing Tutor with SWLC. I am really looking forward to helping out with my FYS and getting students to connect with their writing on a more emotional and deeper level. I am also excited to help students with writing in STEM, particularly in biology. I believe that every student has the potential to be a confident writer, and I am excited to help foster the skills necessary to become one. I can’t wait to collaborate and watch you all grow as writers!


Chris Viza ’28 (he/him)
FYS 573: Sex in the Brain: The Neuroscience of Sex, Gender, and Hormones
Hi, I’m Christopher Viza (he/him), and I’m a W-CAT for FYS 573. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Sociology. I’m from Chicago, and this is my first year working with SWLC. As your W-CAT, I can help with writing and working through assignments and content for your FYS (I took Sex in the Brain last year and loved it!) I’m also happy to answer any questions you might have about Bates. In my free time I really enjoy reading, and Clarice Lispector and Margaret Atwood are two of my current favorite authors. I’m excited to be a part of your first semester at Bates and assisting your writing growth!
Brielle Walsh ’28 (she/her)
FYS 574: Creating Community in the Medieval World
Hi y’all, my name is Brielle!! I’m a sophomore from New Hampshire with a Classical & Medieval Studies major and Latin minor. I took Creating Community in the Medieval World my freshman year so I am so excited to help y’all with the course (and with anything else you might need help with as a first-year)! This will be my first year working in the PLC! Aside from being a SWLC tutor, I am also the Co-President of Classics Club, an admissions tour guide and access coordinator, Kessler Scholar peer mentor, and research assistant (studying the Crusades!) When I am not working at Bates, I spend my time candlemaking, dying my hair, making coffee, and going to concerts!


Avery Welch ’28 (she/her)
FYS 559: Art of the Short Story
Hi! My name is Avery (she/her) and I am a W-CAT for FYS 442A: Shaking it Out: Writing and Critiquing Personal Narratives and a general writing tutor.
I’m from the Bay Area, CA and a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Education. This will be my second year fulfilling both of these tutoring roles at Bates, but I also had experience in high school.
In my Bates career I am most proud of the connections I have made with others and my work in the RYSE-Well psychology lab. My tutoring philosophy is to prioritize supporting the whole student, meeting people where they are at, and approaching everyone with empathy and compassion. I am so excited to work with you, see you soon!
Cora Zuwallack ’27 (they/them)
FYS 525:Wars, Plagues, and Revolutions: How Economies Respond to Crisis
Hi! My name is Cora Zuwallack (they/them) and I am a junior this year from East Falmouth, MA. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Chinese, and I can speak English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean at a conversational level or better (but I hope to become fluent in them all one day!) I am also a member of our swim team on campus. This year, I will be a WCAT for FYS 525, Wars, Plagues, and Revolutions: How Economies Respond to Crisis with Professor Paul Shea. I am really excited to get to meet you all!
