Staff
Program Director | Program Assistant | Assistant Director for Professional Technology | Consultants | Greeters
The staff of the Center for Writing Excellence are dedicated to making your visit to the CWE a positive experience.
We welcome you and look forward to working with you!
Program Director
Dr. Melinda Knight, Director
knightm@mail.montclair.edu
Professor and Director of the Center for Writing Excellence
PhD, New York University 1992
MA,. New York University 1979
BA, Cornell University, 1973
Research/Interests: Rhetorical Theory and Practice, Writing Centers, Writing in the Disciplines, Computers and Composition, American Cultural Studies.
Recent publications include “Understanding the Gap between High School and College Writing” (co-authored with Cheryl Beil in Assessment Update) and “Hybrid Writing Courses: Combining the Best of Online and Classroom Learning.” Writers Writing, co-authored with Brannon and Neverow, was published by Boynton/Cook in 1982 and is still in print.
Recent grants include sponsored awards from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Courses: Undergraduate: College Writing I: Intellectual Prose; Theory and Practice of Individualized Instruction; Graduate: Writing Center Theory and Practice' Teaching Writing Through Technology; Teaching Writing Through Literature.
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Program Assistant
Alicia Remolde
CWE Program Assistant
remoldea@mail.montclair.edu
Major/Concentration: MA in English/Writing Studies concentration
Areas of Interest: Women’s and Gender Studies, Asian Studies, composition and writing studies, travel, graphic novels, Korean women’s literature, classic monster movies.
Before joining the CWE, Alicia enjoyed working for the Women's and Gender Studies Program. She always likes meeting students, faculty, and staff from across campus and learning about their interests. Alicia thinks stories and storytelling are a fascinating and powerful part of our lives, both in their hearing and telling. She encourages writers at all levels to make use of the CWE, for all kinds of writing. Alicia really likes Korean food, good books on rainy days, and spending time near the ocean.
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Assistant Director for Professional Technology
Dr. Patty Keefe Durso
Assistant Director for Professional Technology
dursop@mail.montclair.edu
PhD, George Washington University
MA, George Washington University
BA, Rutgers University
Research/Interests: Humanities computing, rhetoric and composition, American literature, multiethnic literature, critical race and cultural studies, contemporary theory, literature by women, feminist criticism and theory, the novel, hypertext fiction, creative nonfiction
Recent publications include articles on contemporary American women writers in books such as Too Smart to be Sentimental: Contemporary Irish-American Women Writers (U of Notre Dame P, 2008), Multiethnic Literature and the Canon Debates (SUNY Press, 2006), and Anglophone Literatures / English Literatures(Japan: Jimbun Shoin, 2002 – published in Japanese).
Courses: College Writing I, College Writing II, Business Writing, and (sometimes) literature courses, such as The Art of Fiction or World Literature.
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Consultants
Alan Smith
Consultant
MA - Montclair State University, English with Writing Studies concentration
Areas of Expertise: composition writing, creative writing, song writing, creative arts
Extracurricular: Music, Natural Building, visual arts, carpentry, organic farming, cooking
Alan has an MA in English concentrating in Writing Studies. His thesis "The Conflicted I" analyzed issues surrounding first person and personal writing in the composition classroom. He has taught 8 semesters of English composition and has worked in writing centers for over a decade.
Alan is in The Porchistas, a well-known independent rock band that has released three records and 26 songs in three years and has received notable reviews and features from formidable music journalists. He spends several months of each year at Rancho Mastatal in a remote, old growth rain forest, teaching people how to build earthen structures and live sustainably.
Alan enjoys being able to help students make their papers better while simultaneously improving their overall writing ability which is why he works in The Center for Writing Excellence. He says, “The challenge of guiding writers to a better place, a more confident and empowered place in their writing is as rewarding today as it was when I first started. I thoroughly enjoy my job.”
Alice Freddi Beresin
Consultant
Extracurricular: Drawing, travel, reading, gardening and going to the theater.
Danielle Rettino
Consultant
Major/concentration: MA in English/International Literature concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Historical fiction, women’s studies, and exploring cultural divides through literature
Extracurricular: Overseas travel, knitting, yoga, hiking, ultimate Frisbee, real world bouldering
Danielle received her BA in English Literature with a double minor in History and British Studies from Fairleigh Dickinson University. While at Fairleigh Dickinson, Danielle participated in two study abroad programs, which fostered a love for international studies. She has studied in England, Vietnam and Cambodia and can’t wait to go back. This is Danielle’s first year at Montclair. When she graduates she would love to live and study overseas.
Emily Lagg
Consultant
Major/Concentration: MA in English/American Literature concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: American literature, cinema studies
Extracurricular: Emily enjoys old movies, loud music, traveling, and reading.
Emily attended American University for her BA. She majored in Literature and minored in Cinema Studies. Her undergraduate thesis was on David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, and the way it confronts problems of communication in postmodernism. As an undergrad, she wrote interviews, as well as concert, music, and book reviews for American University’s newspaper. She also worked as a DJ and Program Director at the school’s radio station. She hopes to incorporate her love of cinema studies and American literature into her work as a graduate student here at Montclair.
Gloria Lugo
Consultant
Major/concentration: MA in English/Writing Studies concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: American Literature, American Cultural Studies, Writing and Revision, Editing, Professional Writing, Desktop Publishing/Graphic Design
Extracurricular: Reading, writing, exercising (mind and body), watching documentaries, attending theater (dramas not musicals), traveling to new and interesting places, and scavenging for chocolate (unadulterated by fruit)
Gloria received her BA in English from Montclair State University, graduating summa cum laude and earning an honors distinction in English for successfully completing a research thesis. Before transferring to Montclair State in 2008, she earned an AA in Fine Arts/Graphic Design. She is currently working toward an MA in English and hopes to transfer to a doctoral program, pursue an academic career, and achieve scholarly publication.
Gloria is also a marketing professional whose diverse responsibilities include writing, copy editing, desktop publishing, graphic design, and coordination and production of proposals, reports, presentations, and business development literature. For her employer’s internal quarterly newsletter, she authors a style column focusing on editing and layout issues.
Additionally, Gloria works with adult professionals who want to improve their written communication, especially in the workplace. She is excited about beginning her first year as a consultant with the Center for Writing Excellence and is looking forward to working with writers across the Montclair State community.
Heather Lockhart
Consultant
Major/concentration: MA in English/Undecided
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Creative writing, contemporary American poetry & fiction, young adult literature, mythology
Extracurricular: Writing, not writing, reading, shamelessly fangirling, constructing elaborate theories regarding the psychology of fictional characters, bunny herding, singing in the car, and thinking about going to the gym.
Heather received her BA in English from Montclair State in 2012. During that time, she minored in creative writing, Psychology, and Classical studies, was published in The Normal Review and The Montclarion, and spent a semester as an intern for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson out in Los Angeles. In true Heather fashion, her goals for the future remain unclear, but she thinks she would like to eventually pursue an MFA and/or Ph.D. in creative writing. She would also like to publish something she isn’t embarrassed to show her mother.
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Janet Dengel
Consultant
MA - Montclair State University, English with Writing Studies concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: creative non-fiction, magazine/news writing, business writing, journal writing, and editing
Extracurricular: walking, bike riding, traveling, swimming and singing classes (not at the same time!), and time at the shore with family
Janet received her BA in Communication from Ramapo College of New Jersey and worked in publishing as a writer/editor for 25 years. She joined the Center for Writing Excellence as a consultant in Fall 2009 and enjoys working one-to-one with students and hearing their ideas. Janet finished her thesis about online writing consultation in December 2012 and looks forward to teaching college students about writing.
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Julie Candio-Sekel
Consultant
Major/Concentration: MA in English/Writing Studies concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: first-year composition, journalism, scholarship/other application essays, creative fiction, online writing, MLA/APA citations
Extracurricular: spending time with family and friends, exercising, consuming loads of candy (to balance out the exercise), taking long drives, and loudly singing along to The Fray CDs while driving
Julie received her BA in Communication Arts with a Writing concentration and Literature minor from Ramapo College of New Jersey. As an undergraduate student, she worked in the Center for Reading and Writing, where she is now employed as a professional writing consultant. Julie recently had her first print article published in ADVANCE for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists, which is titled “Apps for Laryngectomy Patients: Speech Programs for Laryngectomy Patients Do Exist, But Do They Know Where to Find Them?” She has also published blogs through Pearson Education, including “Five Tips to an Outstanding Online Course” and “Big Girl Job.” Julie has a passion for education she hopes will remain with her throughout her life, and she tries to impart this passion on others as a writing consultant.
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Kainat Abidi
Consultant
Major/Concentration: MA in English/Writing Studies concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Early Modern Literature (Shakespeare), Poetry, Creative Writing, Digital Writing and Technology
Extracurricular: Reading, writing, driving, learning about the universe, looking up
Kainat received her B.A. from Drew University in English with a minor in Writing. Initially, she wanted to teach Early Modern Literature at the college level, but has since decided to pursue a career in teaching writing (although her love for Shakespeare has far from diminished). Her thesis investigates the rhetorical uses of Twitter, specifically in regards to the Obama 2012 campaign. This is Kainat's second year at the Center for Writing Excellence, and she is thrilled to continue working in a writer-centered place!
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Kristine Witko
Consultant
Major/concentration: MAT in Teaching English as a Second Language
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Working with multilingual writers, creative writing
Extracurricular: Traveling whenever possible, weekends in NYC/Philly, reading, writing, drinking lots of coffee, language exchanges, and attempting to learn Spanish and Portuguese.
As an undergrad, Kristine attended La Salle University as an English major with a writing concentration. She originally planned on becoming an author or going into journalism until she started tutoring adult ESL students. The experience was so fulfilling that she decided to teach ESL instead. She graduated from La Salle in 2009 and is now in the last year of the TESL program. This is her fourth year as a consultant at the CWE. After she graduates from Montclair State, she would love to teach in South America.
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Laura Lubrano
Consultant
MA - Montclair State University, English with Writing Studies concentration
BA - Rutgers University
Subject/Areas of Expertise: Secondary English Education, Creative Writing and First-Year College Writing. More recently, Laura has been interested in examining the transition students make from high school to college writing and how teachers can help facilitate this process.
Extracurricular: Traveling to new places, baking, reading, learning how to garden, shopping and, of course, writing.
Laura began her English studies at Rutgers University where she graduated with a double major in English and History. While the focus of her study as an undergraduate was Renaissance literature and history, this interest shifted after working as a Graduate Assistant at Montclair State University. After tutoring her first students in 2002, Laura knew that teaching and working with student writers was her passion.
Since her time as a graduate student at Montclair State, Laura has taught in several high schools and colleges. She enjoys consulting at the CWE because she has the opportunity to discuss literature and help students develop as writers without grading papers!
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Nicole Papaioannou
Consultant
Major/concentration: DA in English
MA - Montclair State University, English with British Literature concentration
BA - Pace University
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Academic writing, teacher education program, creative writing
Extracurricular: Horseback riding, photography, dancing (but not well), spending time with friends and family, talking about Cluck, her bunny
Nicole has been a member of the CWE team since 2009 and truly loves working there. It was at the CWE where Nicole first discovered her passion for Writing Studies and helping others become better writers. Currently, she is working on a Doctor of Arts degree in English at St. John’s University, just at the beginning of the dissertation process, where she is thinking about issues related to ecocomposition, trauma, and writing spaces. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Pace University where she teaches academic writing courses.
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Nikki Wittenburg
Consultant
MA - Montclair State University, English with American Literature concentration
BA - Rider University
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Environmental Literature/Ecocriticism, Creative writing, Arts (Theatre, dance, music, art), and Literature.
Extracurricular: Reading, writing, dancing, yoga, theatre, cooking, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her cat.
Nikki recently received her MA in American Literature from Montclair State University. Since then, she has worked as an Assistant Instructor for the university’s EOF program, and she is currently an adjunct professor teaching College Writing at both Montclair State University and Pace University in NY. She compliments this work by continuing to hone her skills as a consultant here at the CWE. Previously, she worked at Rider University’s Writing Lab for two years as a Student Writing Tutor, and is certified with the College Reading and Learning Association. While pursuing her Masters at Montclair State, Nikki was lucky enough to be a Graduate Assistant and began working as a writing consultant at the start of her program. Combining those experiences, this is her fifth year working with writers in a writing center, and she just can’t seem to get enough!
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Norman DeFilippo
Consultant
MA - Montclair State University, English with British Literature concentration
BA - Boston College
Subjects/ Areas of Expertise: Poetry, Samuel Beckett
Extracurricular: Listening to all sorts of music while sitting in traffic, sitting in traffic, complaining about sitting in traffic, reminiscing about having time to play guitar and bass, walking Molly, his American Bull Dog Terrier, while avoiding bears, watching the night sky sink into the soil from behind a desk, breaking things, and fixing things that break.
Norman began his undergraduate studies at William Paterson University, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the college newspaper and the literary magazine. After two years at William Paterson, Norman transferred to Boston College where he spent most of his time reading poetry and waiting for the T to take him someplace warm. In 2001 he graduated with a B.A. in English literature.
During the fall 2009 and spring 2010 semesters Norman was a graduate assistant at Montclair State University. He aided four professors with three projects. He spent half of his time conducting research at the New York Public Library and the other half of his time performing online research. In the spring of 2012, Norman completed his M.A. thesis on three, twentieth-century, Irish novels and their depictions of the home, Irishness, and their characters’s descents into various underworlds.
In addition to his work at the writing center, Norman is now an Adjunct Professor at Essex County Community College where he teaches a variety of writing and literature courses. Norman enjoys working in the writing center and loves working with students on their writing.
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Tricia Valatka
Consultant
Major/concentration: MA in English/British Literature concentration
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: Literary Research and Analysis, Creative Writing, 18th Century Literature
Extracurricular: Reading, writing short stories, playing video games, going to the gym
As an undergrad, Tricia attended Rutgers University. She majored in English Literature and Composition with a concentration in Creative Writing and graduated in 2011. While at Rutgers, she completed an undergarduate honors thesis on 18th century literature. Though her concentration is in literature, she really enjoys consulting at the CWE and believes that she learns as much from the students she helps there as they learn from her. This is her first year at Montclair as well as her first year as a consultant. After she graduates from Montclair State, she hopes to go on to obtain her Ph.D. in Literature.
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Vanessa Phillips
Consultant
Major/concentration: MA in English/American Literature and Writing Studies concentrations
Subjects/Areas of Expertise: art production and art history, alternative education and educational theory
Extracurricular: glass working, ceramics, running, rock climbing, baking, cat-loving, and karaoke
Vanessa graduated in 2006 from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A. in art education. For the following five years, she taught junior high and high school language arts and ran a homeroom at Kino School, a K-12 progressive, child-centered school in Tucson, AZ. She also tutored junior high students for Arizona's AIMS standardized test during her last year of teaching. While she was sad to leave Kino School, Vanessa decided to pursue a master's degree to both learn more about the literature she was teaching and also to research and write about the potential of the educational theories she practiced. This is her first year in the master's program at Montclair State and as a writing consultant for the CWE. After she graduates, she hopes to have the opportunity to teach language arts in a public high school before returning to the alternative school setting.
Zach Rosenblum
Consultant
Major/Concentration: MA in English
Extracurricular: Writing poetry and fiction, reading, building computers, gaming, archery, singing and many forms of music.
Zach started his undergraduate career in 2008 at Montclair State University, graduating in May of 2012 with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He is currently working as a graduate assistant for the English Department in the Center for Writing Excellence. He is currently mastering in English literature, but has not decided on a concentration as of yet. He has an interest in epic fantasy (particularly George R.R. Martin) and poetry (particularly Seamus Heaney). He aspires to publish both poetry and fiction throughout his career and is very eager to learn from his experience at the CWE.
When not focusing on his studies, Zach can be found in front of his computer playing Guild Wars 2 with his fiancée or drawing a recurve bow in his parents’ back yard.
Greeters
Amarilis DeJesus
Greeter
Amarilis is a sophomore Spanish Education Major. Some of her favorite books are Of Mice and Men, In The Time of Butterflies, Women Hollering Creek, & Good Night Moon. In her free time Amarilis loves doing ZUMBA!! Her favorite pastimes include: singing, cooking, playing the piano, and shopping. This past summer she traveled to Madrid to study abroad and her experience was phenomenal! Lastly, Amarilis is an extreme neat freak and loves candles & air fresheners.
Catherine Zapoll
Greeter
Catherine is a Psychology major and is in her freshman year at Montclair State University. She hopes to take all she learns at Montclair State with her abroad and spend the rest of her life traveling to as many places as possible. When she’s not learning about what goes on in people’s heads, she likes to read books and blogs, paint, and write down random story plots onto post-it notes.
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Jamie Abarca
Greeter
Jamie is a recent graduate of Montclair State University. She has a BA in English and also enjoys economics, fashion, and politics. Aside from being a greeter at the Center for Writing Excellence, she also works for the English Department and Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education, where she was awarded the “Outstanding Student Worker Award” in April of 2010. Jamie’s other hobbies include shopping, “youtubing,” and blog browsing.
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Leah Stark
Greeter
Leah is a senior music therapy major from upstate NY. She plays percussion, piano, guitar and is excited to begin her music therapy internship next fall.
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Petra Heinerer
Greeter
Petra is a music performance major and is in her first graduate year at Montclair State University. She sings and plays flute, piano, and guitar. She is originally from Austria and enjoys spending time back home. Her hobbies are traveling in Europe and the rest of the world.
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Shayla Arce
Greeter
Shayla is a sophomore here at Montclair State University. She is majoring in Linguistics so she can become a children's speech pathologist. Shayla enjoys singing, assisting, and working with children. Her hobbies are online shopping and movie nights with her family. Shayla is also a part of the Youth Ministry and Children's Ministry at her church.