MEET THE TUTORS

McDaniel College Writing Center recruits peer tutors from across a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. What unites them is a deep love of writing and building a community of writers here at the college. All peer tutors participate in rigorous, ongoing training in accordance with the Association for the Coaching & Tutoring Profession standards. To work at the Writing Center, all peer tutors must complete the requirements for Associate Tutor certification by completing a 4-credit training course. Several tutors also choose to pursue either Advanced Tutor or Master Tutor certification by enrolling in an additional 2-credit course, completing an Independent Study, or participating in Writing Center research. Looking for the Writing Fellows? Click here.


Writing Center Director

Vanessa Flora-Nakoski graduated from UMBC with a BA in American Studies and the University of Iowa with a MA in American Studies. She also earned graduate certificates in TESOL from UMBC and Strategic Management from Harvard’s Extension School. As faculty in McDaniel College’s English department, she teaches a variety of composition and tutor-training courses. She actively participates in a variety of professional associations related to her work as Writing Center Director, including the Maryland College Learning Center Association. As a Meyers-Briggs INTJ, she loves anything related to patterns — language, math, music, puzzles, etc. And when she needs to get out of her head, she loves working with her hands with crochet, quilting, painting, gardening, or working on her 100 year old house in Westminster, MD. You can reach Professor Flora-Nakoski at vflora-nakoski@mcdaniel.edu.

Victoria

Victoria (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in Writing & Publishing with a minor in Marketing. She is a member of the Contrast Literary Magazine and Black Student Union, and an FYS Peer Mentor. She also participated in the Common Read Leadership Program! Her favorite things to do are read, write, shop, bake, and scroll through Pinterest while listening to Spotify playlists. She also enjoys watching and performing musical theatre and contemporary dance.

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Ra’Nya

Ra’Nya (they/them) is a junior double majoring in American Sign Language and Writing & Publishing with a minor in Political Science. On campus, they are the President of McDaniel’s Anime Club and a member of Danger Sauce. In their free time, Ra’Nya loves to write prose poetry, watch anime, listen to music, and play video games. At home, Ra’Nya has several pets including a dog, two leopard geckos, a bearded dragon, and a tortoise.

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Iris

Iris (she/her) is a sophomore from Odenton, Maryland, studying Computer Science and is a part of the Honors Program. Iris loves jokes of all kinds (especially dad jokes), board games, Disney movies, puppers, and duckies! Fun fact: Iris has over 50 rubber ducks on her desk (and counting)! Outside of the Writing Center, Iris is an NSA Fellow and an OSE ambassador! She is always on the go and loves to be busy (but also nap LOL)!

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Kyla

Kyla (she/her) is a sophomore double majoring in Criminal Justice and American Sign Language. She is from Baltimore, Maryland. Her favorite part of being a college student is enjoying hanging out and trying new experiences. Her favorite color is red and in her spare time she loves to read, write, and cook as well as practicing anything self-care.

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Elana

Elana (she/her) is a junior from Virginia majoring in English. She hopes to pursue a career as an editor in the field of publishing. On campus, she is a member of the ROTC program, the Honors program, and the President’s Advisory Council for Students. She enjoys watching her comfort TV shows on repeat, hanging out with her friends, going to the gym, and creating Spotify playlists for her every mood. Her favorite movie series is the John Wick franchise, and she loves banana milkshakes!

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Alli

Alli (she/her) is a junior Writing & Publishing major. She is from the Eastern Shore of Maryland and enjoys her time laying out in the sun at Ocean City. The beach is the one place where she can dive into a good book for hours. Although beaches aren’t near here, she still enjoys the community that McDaniel offers and the fun environment on campus. Her goal is to one day work at a publishing house and become an editor.

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Seth

Seth (he/him) is a junior majoring in English and minoring in Computer Science. He loves reading, writing stories, and playing video games. Most of the time, though, you’ll find him playing guitar. Outside of those hobbies, he rides his bike often to stay in shape, and being in nature is one of his passions.

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Lily

Lily (she/her) is a junior from Frederick. She is a Sociology major with a Writing minor. She listens to all kinds of music (yes, even country!) and loves to discuss anything pop-culture. Lily is an advocate for slow fashion, loves to buy secondhand and doesn’t believe in overdressing. Having an interest in social commentary and essays, she has been exploring creative writing through poetry and has had art and poetry featured in Contrast Literary Magazine. She loves the beach, trivia, and her dog Bilbo.

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Eric

Eric (he/him) is a senior here at McDaniel, and he’s here to help you with all your writing needs! He’s currently a Kinesiology major and Business Administration minor, as well as a Mens Lacrosse player here at McDaniel. He is also lucky to be the Social Chair of our school’s stupendous Honor Society. He looks forward to meeting and working with you all, and cannot wait to form some amazing relationships while engulfed in the world of writing!

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Shanai Headshot

Shanai

Shanai (she/her) is a senior majoring in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing, and a Cinema minor. Her hopes are to attain a career in advertising working with commercial creating and promotion that will allow her major and minor work harmoniously. Shanai really enjoys watching movies, writing poetry in her spare time, and doing things that ignite her creativity.

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Julianna

Julianna (she/her) is a senior majoring in English and Political Science with minors in History and European Studies and is a part of the Global Fellows Program. On campus, she participates in Model United Nations, the Hispano-Latinx Alliance, and LULAC. Julianna is an avid reader of fiction novels is currently obsessed with Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. In her downtime, she enjoys gaming, writing, and caring for her German Shepherd Dog, Frankie. Off-campus, Julianna works as a private tutor for K-12 students and students with learning disabilities. In the future, she would like to pursue a career in academia as a professor and researcher of political science specializing in European politics and foreign policy.

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Brooke

Brooke

Brooke (she/her) is a junior from Cambridge, Maryland majoring in English with a minor in Secondary Education. She aspires to become a Middle or High School English teacher. Along with tutoring at the McDaniel College Writing Center, she works as a peer mentor for first year students. Brooke is also on the McDaniel College Women’s Soccer team, is in Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society, and is a part of The Hidden Opponent organization on campus. In her pastime, Brooke enjoys reading, coffee, painting, her two cats, the beach, and ice cream.

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Michie

Michie

Michie (she/her) is a junior interested in Writing and Publishing with a minor in Biology. She loves to read and write stories and enjoy watching anime for fun. She loves to play volleyball even though she’s not so much of the athletic type! She also loves to work out during her free time to keep her body in shape and her mind healthy.

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Nakayla

Nakayla

Nakayla (she/her) is a third-year student majoring in biology and Spanish. On campus, she is a peer mentor for biology and a Gen Chem TA. After undergrad, she plans on earning a medical degree (MD). She plans to speak against the language barrier and serve the Spanish-speaking community. She loves trying new things, painting, dancing, traveling, and working out in the gym!

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Madge

Madge

Madge (she/her) is a sophomore double majoring in political science and writing & publishing with a minor in criminal justice. After college, she plans to attend law school. On campus, Madge is part of the field hockey team, honors program, Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, Pre-Law Society, and Student-Athlete advisory committee. In her free time, she likes to eat sushi, take lots of naps, read mystery novels, go get coffee, and hang out with friends.

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Emily

Emily

Emily (they/them) is a sophomore majoring in Writing and Publishing with a minor in Journalism and New Media. They are the student manager of McDaniel’s volleyball team and occasionally works with local newspapers such as the Baltimore Sun and professional wrestling magazine Women’s Wrestling Talk. In the future, they look to become a successful author and journalist with a specialization in Arts and Entertainment. Their favorite films include Stand by Me, Moonlight, My Own Private Idaho, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Boy, and their favorite shows include Community, That 70s Show, and Lost. In their free time, they enjoy listening to all genres of music, writing fiction and poetry, gaming, and spending quality time with loved ones.

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