Meet Our Writing Tutors

Writing Tutors are Bates students just like you who specialize in assisting their peers with any and all writing and speaking assignments, tasks, and projects in and across all academic disciplines at Bates–and even for purposes, audiences, and occasions outside of academia. Most SWLC writing tutors complete two half-credit tutor education courses and several hours of tutoring practice before they begin tutoring:

  • EXDS 201: Writing Process, Tutoring Practice (.5 credits, offered every Winter semester) and
  • EDUC s19: Teaching and Tutoring Writing (With) Power (.5 credits, offered every Short Term).

You can seek help from a Writing Tutor at any time during your writing process, from brainstorming ideas to crafting outlines; from reading through drafts to incorporating instructor feedback; and from revising, to editing, to proofreading your writing and polishing it all up. Every Writing Tutor is here to support your growth as a writer over all four of your years at Bates and to guide your improvement on skills like organization, thesis statement construction, incorporation of outside sources, argumentation, and more.

Drop by and see a Writing Tutor anytime the SWLC is open–or search Penji to find and book an appointment with the best tutor for your needs and let them know what you would like to work on. They provide an empathetic and non-judgmental, collaborative environment that is centered around your questions and goals.

In SWLC, we also seek to foster and promote the use of diverse languages at Bates while also providing support in English to improve academic writing and speaking skills.  Our Writing Tutors are trained in foundational approaches to support English Language Learners and multilingual speakers. If possible, we can arrange a one-time appointment–or regular weekly appointments–with a writing tutor who is also fluent in your first language. Please email swlc@bates.edu to get set up with a specific tutor for your English language learning needs!

If you are interested in becoming a Writing Tutor and working for SWLC, please visit this page for information about hiring, training, and employment.

Molly Allison ’26 (she/her)

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!

Audrey Bonnabeau ’28 (she/her)

Hello! My name is Audrey Bonnabeau (she/her) and I’m a sophomore studying Anthropology. 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. Last semester I was a W-CAT for FYS 583, and am currently training to be a Writing Tutor for SWLC. 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!

Sammy Freeman ’26 (she/her)

Hi! My name is Sammy Freeman (she/her) and I am a senior from Dallas, TX. I am a Politics major with a concentration in Philosophical, Literature, and Legal Studies. This is my third and final year as a writing tutor for SWLC. I am only fluent in English; however, I can speak some Spanish, and even a little bit of Dutch after coming back from a semester in Amsterdam last fall. I hope to be an empathetic and focused tutor that can help you in any and all steps of the writing process. I am excited to be in the writing center to support you this semester!

Samantha Gable ’26 (she/her)

Hello! My name is Samantha Gabel (she/her) and I am a senior from Los Angeles, California. This is my first year as a writing tutor at SWLC and I am very excited to work and learn with you! I am a double major in History and Art and Visual Culture (History & Criticism track) so I have lots of experience writing in the humanities fields. I am only fluent in English but I do know a little bit of Spanish. My majors have taught me to love the process of writing over the years, so I can’t wait to share some of that with you!

Eli Greenwald ’26 (he/him)

Hi, my name is Eli (he/him). I’m a senior from Scarsdale NY and it is my third year as a writing tutor. I am a History major and a Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies minor. I only speak English, but I can get by in Spanish and I know a little Dutch. I’m looking forward to helping people with their writing in my last, but hopefully best, year.

Sam Hallett ’26 (he/him)

Hi everyone! My name is Sam Hallett, my pronouns are he/him, and I am from Pittsburgh, PA. I am excited to start my third year as a writing tutor specializing in Earth and Climate Science and Educational Studies writing. I feel good knowing that I help people not just get A’s in classes, but I prioritize helping tutees build skills that will enable them to excel in their personal and professional lives. My tutoring philosphy is engaging with the tutee as a peer where I emphasize knowing the full individual and their preferences for learning to their best ability. When working with others, I focus on honesty and patience in order to accommodate and facilitate an environment that leads to successful learning. I am particularly strong at assisting peers with structure, preparation, and planning in the writing process. I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for EACS 104 and have summer research experience from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State and the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences within the Geology and Environmental Science at the University of Pittsburgh. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise from these experiences into my last year as a writing tutor at Bates!

Michelle Htut ’27 (she/her)

Hey, I’m Michelle (she/her) and I am excited to be a Writing Tutor this winter! I am currently a junior, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Asian Studies, and Rhetoric, Film and Screen Studies. I have been a STEM Scholars W-CAT for two amazing years now! I am from the New York City! I absolutely love 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 listening to others 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.

Quinn Hughes ’26 (he/him)

Hi! My name is Quinn Hughes (He/Him) and I am very excited to be a Writing Tutor this winter! I am a senior, double majoring in Biology and French & Francophone Studies. I am from Villanova, Pennsylvania. I have previously been a W-CAT for an FYS entitled Through the Eyes of Children. Some fun facts about me, I really enjoy watching movies and TV shows (so I am happy to both talk your ear off about those and get any recommendations). I enjoy hiking and going on little adventures around Maine with friends. I also love chit chatting and brainstorming writing, so please stop by and we can have a conversation about anything related to writing, between coursework or any other writing you might have going on in your lives. I look forward to meeting everyone. Whether we discuss movies, coursework or personal pieces, happy writing!

Iffat Ikram ’27 (she/her)

Hello! My name is Iffat Ikram (she/her). I am a Classical and Medieval Studies and Religious Studies double major from India. This year, I am a pick-up Writing tutor for SWLC which means that I don’t have permanent shifts every week but I’ll pick up shifts as they come up. So I might see you and get a chance to work with you! I have also been 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 writing or at the very least, provide a space to yap in about anything! I am looking forward to meeting you and knowing you better!

Lexi Inger ’26 (she/her)

Hi! My name is Lexi Inger (She/Her), and I am a senior from Yarmouth Maine. I am a biochemistry major and a double anthropology and education minor. This is my first year as a SWLC Writing Tutor. Last year, I studied abroad in Maastricht, the Netherlands the Fall of 2024. I am a native English speaker and speak a little Dutch and Spanish. On campus, I am a tour guide and I am a part of Takenote- one of two all gender a cappella groups at Bates. This year, as a writing tutor, I hope to be a good listener, encouraging, and supportive for everyone!

Omer Kitov ’26 (he/him)

Hi! My name is Omer Kitov, I use he/him and I’m a Senior from Boston. I’m a Psychology major with an Educational Studies minor and I’ve been a writing tutor at SWLC for the past three years. As someone for whom English is a second language (Hebrew is my first), I care a lot about supporting multilingual learners in their writing process. Also, I’m the co-president of the Hip-Hop dance club 2BEATS, I love skiing, and I have two beautiful dogs!

An Le ’28 (he/him)

Hi, I’m An Le (he/him). I’m currently a pick-up Writing Tutor after completing a semester as the W-CAT for FYS 577: Geometry in Ancient Japan. I’m a sophomore from Hanoi, Vietnam, so Vietnamese is my native language. I’m double majoring in Mathematics and Economics, and minoring in Digital and Computational Studies. I have a special interest in quiz shows, and in fact, I actually participated in a nationally televised quiz tournament in high school!

Being a peer tutor, I’m not only the go-to person for help with your writing, 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 continue my first year at the SWLC, I look forward to meeting all of you and seeing your amazing works taking shape!

Aleisha Martinez Sandoval ’26 (she/her)

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 fourth year involved in both SASC and SWLC and I am so excited to be pickup Writing Tutor this Winter. 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 be 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!!

Whitney Miller ’26 (she/her)

Hi! My name is Whitney Miller (she/her) and I am a senior from Brooklyn, NY majoring in History. I speak some Spanish, a little Vietnamese (I studied abroad in Vietnam), and a tiny bit of Japanese. Outside of the writing center, you can catch me taking a lengthy walk, drinking tea with friends, working at Multifaith, or doing a crossword puzzle. This is my third year working as a writing tutor here at the SWLC. I love supporting writers at every stage of the writing process, and am super excited to help support you all in any discipline!

Kylie Musante ’26 (she/her)

Hi everyone! My name is Kylie Musante (she/her), and I am a senior sociology major, chemistry minor, and public health concentration on the pre-physician’s assistant track. This is my second semester working for SWLC and my first semester as a general writing tutor! I was a W-CAT for FYS 509: The Sociology of Holidays during the fall semester. I am very excited to support the diverse Bates student population and explore writing across various disciplines. 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 and medical shows.

Mehar Nijjer ’27 (she/her)

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 was a WCAT for ‘Exploring Animal Intelligence’ last semester. I’m also 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!

Catalina Passino ’26 (she/her)

Hi, my name is Catalina (she/her/hers). I am a senior from Leesburg, VA. As a writing tutor, I value empathy, growth, and a collaborative/conversational atmosphere. My priority is you and your goals as a writer, so don’t feel like you need to come in with a polished draft. I am happy to work with you at any stage of the writing process.

At Bates, I major in Psychology and minor in Gender and Sexuality studies. Last semester, I studied in Sweden and learned a bit of Swedish. This year, I am also continuing my 6-year-long attempt to learn Spanish. Outside of class, you can find me recruiting for The Bates Student, in the ceramics studio, or baking a four-layer cake.

Trinity Poon ’26 (she/her)

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 in the SWLC. This is my first semester as a general writing tutor, but I’ve been a W-CAT for two FYS classes and an upper-level religious studies seminar. 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. 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.

Liam Rorke ’28 (he/him)

Hello! My name is Liam Rorke (he/him) and I am a sophomore from New Hampshire. I am a Philosophy major and Rhetoric Minor and this is my second semester working in the SWLC. I previously worked as a WCAT for the FYS “What is Leadership?” and now am working on becoming a Writing Tutor but still working with the SWLC staff! In my free time I love playing soccer and basketball and spending too much time in Commons with my friends. I became a writing tutor because of my passion for writing and the opportunity to learn more about the discipline by reading and discussing writing with my peers. I am excited to continue my work with SWLC and share my love of writing with you all!

Bella Saul ’26 (she/her)

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! While I have two years of WCAT experience under my belt, this will be my first semester as a writing tutor. 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 writers 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!

Owen Wang ’26 (he/him)

你好(Hi), My name is Owen Wang. I use Hi/Him pronouns. I am a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in education studies. I am from Beijing, China, and therefore fluent in Mandarin. I am excited to be a speaking buddy for the Chinese language, so if you’d like to practice with me, I am happy to do so. We respect and admire multilingual speakers here at SWLC. As someone who speaks 2.5 languages (did Japanese a year here at Bates), I am comfortable tutoring in English and Chinese, whichever you prefer. English is my second language, so I am glad that SWLC is inclusive and welcoming to multilingual students. So don’t be shy and come to us. Knowing a different language means having a different way of thinking, so I might be able to provide some unique perspectives, and you may provide another insight as well. So let’s collaborate and work together on your writing. Also ,this is my third and last year working as a writing tutor, but I am still actively learning from all of you, so if I make any mistakes during our session, feel free to point them out! I hope to meet all of you soon 🙂

Christopher Viza ’28 (he/him)

Hi, I’m Christopher Viza (he/him), and I’m a pickup writing tutor. I’m currently a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Sociology. I’m from Chicago, and this is my first year working with SWLC. Before this role, I was a W-CAT for FYS 578 Sex in the Brain: The Neuroscience of Sex, Gender and Hormones. I’m excited to be a part of your first semester at Bates and assisting your writing growth!