Our BoardEXECUTIVE BOARDPresident: Lisa Bell (she/her),Utah Valley University
Having been an active member of RMWCA for almost two decades, I see the need for both increased connection and sustainability within our vast and varied eight-state region. The current board of the RMWCA has already begun the work of strengthening the region by developing ways for writing center colleagues to engage and interact beyond the annual conference. As an organization, RMWCA is in an exciting period of change as we have implemented new membership structures and new offerings to RMWCA members. These efforts need to be sustained and refined, adapting to the needs of RMWCA members and growing along with the region. Increasing opportunities to for RMWCA members to connect with each other and helping provide a sure foundation for our collective work would be important aims of my work, if elected to this position. If elected president-elect, I would work with other RMWCA leaders and members to continue exploring and expanding opportunities to connect and support writing center colleagues, scholars, and practitioners in their work. This would include continuing work with webinars, online book clubs, and the newsletter as well as updating our directories (secondary and post-secondary) and encouraging regional and sub-regional gatherings and conferences (online and face-to-face) to connect administrators and consultants or tutors across our eight-state region. These actions would also increase sustainability within our region by building upon existing programs and improving infrastructure and communication. Beyond working with existing leaders, given the president-elect’s responsibilities over RMWCA election, I would seek to invite and include RMWCA members to participate in elections, aiming for an increase in both voting and representation for within our diverse region. President Elect: Katrina Bell (she/her), Colorado CollegeOriginally from: I grew up in Springfield, Illinois, but have been gone from there for much longer than I ever lived there. Worked in the writing centers for: I had to use a calculator for this, but off and on for 23 years.
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? I love being able to make institutional change through conversations about writing with both students and faculty.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? I'm hoping to help increase connections across our region through online conversations and support for our directors as we navigate changes in pedagogy, expectations, and student need.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media? Right now, I'm absolutely loving Ted Lasso on the happy side, and Midnight Mass for the spooky season Outreach Coordinator: Melody Denny (she/her), University of Northern ColoradoOriginally from: rural Oklahoma Worked in the writing centers for: I started working in writing centers as an undergraduate in 2002.
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? getting immediate feedback that what I’m doing is helping people and having an impact on their learning, writing, and sometimes life.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board?bring a bit more connection between folx who are part of the Rocky Mountain region. It’s a big area, and we’re all spread out, and connecting is more important than even during the pandemic. A community is really important and beneficial to me personally and professionally, and I want to help continue building that for others.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? I’m an audio book and true crime podcast lover. I’m always listening to something while I’m crocheting, cooking, or just sitting around. No recommendations for specifics, but listening is the way to go! Treasurer: Shareen Grogan (she/they), University of Montana![]() Originally from: Montana Worked in the writing centers for: 20+ years
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? Working with my professional tutors, working with students, training faculty
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? I have experience with conference planning and budgeting, and I can take the long view.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media? My favorite book is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. Current favorite show is Call the Midwife. Secretary: [Interm]Tutor Representative: Michael O'Donnell (he/him), Salt Lake Community CollegeOriginally from: Salt Lake City, Utah Worked in the writing centers for: 3 years
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? The Students
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? A different perspective
Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell IWCA Affiliate Representative: Rachel Herzl-Betz (she/her), Nevada State CollegeOriginally from: Superior, WI Worked in the writing centers for: I got started in 2005 as an undergraduate tutor at Carleton College.
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? I love introducing undergraduate tutors to Writing Center research and supporting their inquiry.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? I hope I can bring my investment in accessibility, as well as an ongoing curiosity about cross-institutional collaboration.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media? If you want a podcast that will make you feel better about the world, check out Carvell Wallace's "Finding Fred". It's a 10-part series that ran from October-December of 2019, and it felt like the kind of work that Mr. Rogers himself would appreciate it the world Web Editor: Heather Graham (she/they), Salt Lake Community CollegeOriginally from: Draper, UT Worked in the writing centers for: 6+ years
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? Learning about the vast and diverse lived-experiences of the students I get to interact with. Chipping away at the status quo and challenging academic gatekeeping through supporting students.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? A student-driven/peer tutor perspective.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media? Marianas Trench's "Ever After" or "Phantoms" albums. STATE REPRESENTATIVESArizona: Nick Cenegy, University of Arizona![]() Colorado: Olivia TracyIdaho: Melissa Keith,Montana: Amy Ratto-Parks, University of Montana![]() Originally from: Cincinnati, Ohio Worked in the writing centers for: Since December 2020
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? I’m energized by my colleagues’ curiosity and excitement about exploring the challenges of thinking and writing -- and I love the absolute variety of the work.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? I hope to help build connection and conversation between our various programs.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? I am currently in love with the show Reservation Dogs! Nevada: Maureen McBride (she/her or per/pers), University of Reno![]() Originally from: Reno, NV Worked in the writing centers for: 12 years
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? learning with and from students
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? WC concerns from the state of Nevada and support back to the WCs in Nevada; making connections in our region across states
Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes” New Mexico: Amanda M. May (she/her), New Mexico Highlands UniversityOriginally from: Michigan Worked in the writing centers for: About 11 years. I started in 2008, took a 2-year break to teach abroad in 2012, and then came back and took an admin position. I remained pretty active in writing center work and research during my doctoral program and, in most semesters, either tutored or administrated in the writing center.
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? The communities that form around writing center work, not in the individual centers I’ve worked in, but within the field as a whole. I love being part of a line of work where I can go to an academic conference, spin around three times, and see someone who I’ve met in-person or on social media, or whose work I’ve read.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? I’m hoping to strengthen community among writing centers in the state I currently represent (New Mexico). In addition, I’m hoping to contribute my expertise in multimodal composing and social media to initiatives centered around mental health in writing centers. Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? Normally, I follow the rules, but I just can’t pick one. So here are my top 3 rock bands from around the world: Nightwish, Starset, and Radwimps. Utah: Chris LeCluyse (he/him), Westminster College
Worked in the writing centers for: 22 years
What is your favorite part about working for a writing center? I love how writing center people treat each other the way we treat writers: in a friendly, non-hierarchichal, collaborative fashion. That's a big part of what drew me to writing centers in the first place.
What do you hope to bring to your position on the RMWCA board? As a past RMWCA president, I hope to bring institutional memory—though the organization has become a much more developed and representative since I was last on the board. I also want to open up channels of communication between and among Utah writing center practitioners and the RMWCA board so that the board hears about their concerns and so that members are aware of the resources available to them.
Favorite/Recommended piece of media ? Anne Leckie, The Raven Tower—fantasy written in a truly distinctive way that, like much of her work, foregrounds issues of gender. Wyoming: | Not a |