Mission Statement
Our mission in the Hofstra University Writing Center is to work with current Hofstra undergraduate and graduate student-writers of varying experience levels, learning styles, and linguistic backgrounds. We work in and across disciplines. We support students’ growth as writers through one-on-one sessions with tutors trained in collaborative learning practices. Our sessions are conversation based. Rather than editing their writing, tutors help students gain independence by discussing the writing process in its entirety, including genre, audience expectations, and revision strategies. We place particular emphasis on meeting the needs of a particular writing situation. We offer a structured and safe learning environment that helps undergraduate and graduate students excel in college-level writing and helps them develop skills that lead to both academic persistence and success beyond graduation.
Staff
Administrators
| Daniel Cole | Dan Cole is an Associate Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric and Director of the Writing Center. His published work ranges from writing pedagogy to conflict dynamics in public discourse. He has taught university writing for more than two decades, and previously served as director of Writing Across the Curriculum at Hofstra. |
| Marilyn Buono | Marilyn Buono is Assistant Director of the Writing Center and adjunct associate professor of writing in the Writing Studies and Composition Department at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Buono received her PhD in Literacy Studies and her MA in English Literature from Hofstra University. Marilyn grew up in California, but loves the change of seasons in New York-especially the fall - when you will find her fanatically preparing and decorating for Halloween! |
| Jennifer Marx | Jen Marx, who serves as Writing Center Coordinator, is an alumna of Hofstra University and a faculty member in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department. She works as a writer and editor as well for both print and web publications. |
Faculty Tutors
| FACULTY TUTOR BIOS | |
|---|---|
| David | David is an adjunct faculty member of the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department at Hofstra, teaching WSC 001 and 002. |
| Jen D. | Jen is a faculty member in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department, and she is the lead learning specialist in the office of Student Access Services (SAS). She enjoys empowering students to become better writers and enhance their ability and confidence to express themselves. |
| Joe | Joe teaches creative writing in Hofstra's English Department. He conducts in-person and online appointments. When working online with Joe, students should know that he exclusively uses the chat function, not audio/video. |
| Laura | Laura is a Hofstra alumna and a faculty member in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department. She also teaches in the Creative Writing Department at Adelphi University. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and running around after her three little boys. |
| Lesly | Lesly is an adjunct instructor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric at Hofstra. An alum of Hofstra and CUNY Queens College, she currently teaches two WSC002 classes, the themes of which focus on individual and collective memory. Lesly has a year and a half worth of tutoring experience from the Queens College Writing Center, where she worked closely with her students to help them build time management and planning skills, as well as strengthen their writing. In her free time, Lesly enjoys reading fantasy novels, spending time with her niece, and crocheting. |
| Michael | Michael is a faculty tutor, writer, traveler, and teacher from Boston, MA. His research interests include Dutch-American History, American Literature, and Basic/First Year Writing. |
| Patricia | Patricia is an adjunct professor in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department. She has taught courses including "Writing Studies and Drama," WSC 1 and WSC 2, "Business Writing," "Anglo-Irish Drama," "Playwriting," "Irish American Literature and Culture," and "Ireland Inside Out." |
| Scott | Scott is a professor of English, theater, and writing. |
Student Tutors |
STUDENT TUTOR BIOS |
|---|---|
| A.J. | A resident of Queens, NY, A.J, is a music business major in Rabinowitz Honors College. He enjoys reading, working with the music artists that he manages, and watching sports. |
| Andrew | Andrew is from Westbury, NY. His major is filmmaking, with a minor in computer science. During his free time, Andrew loves to cook, explore new places, develop screenplays, and watch new films. |
| Ashley | Ashley is a psychology major from Stony Brook, NY. During her free time, she loves expressing herself through the arts, doing activities such as crocheting, writing poetry, and painting. She also enjoys trips to the city and thrifting with her friends. |
| Caitlin | Caitlin is a mechanical engineering major from Albany, NY. She is a member of Engineers in Action, the Hofstra Rock Climbing Club, and the Society of Women Engineers. |
| Cat | Cat is a first-year graduate student from Indianapolis, IN. She graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio with a bachelor's degree in Spanish with a concentration in linguistics. A lifelong Midwesterner, Cat made the leap from the Hoosier life to the East Coast when she decided to come to Hofstra University to pursue a master's degree in forensic linguistics. She loves everything to do with writing and language and can't wait to help students be the best writers they can be. Outside of school, Cat can be found singing in her car, dancing to any and all music, and FaceTiming her dog. |
| Huda | Huda, from Bay Shore, NY, is a business management major with a minor in Spanish. Outside of class, she plays video games, watches YouTube videos, and follows the fashion world. Huda enjoys working with students on correct grammar and writing, organization, and brainstorming. |
| Inteshar | Inteshar is a graduate student in Hofstra’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology (I/O Psych) Master’s Program. The Queens, NY, resident aspires to pursue executive coaching or consulting in the future. Inteshar spends his free time playing video games or doing anything basketball related. |
| Jasmine | Jasmine is a journalism major and creative writing minor. Some of her writing strengths include news stories, scripts/playwriting, psychology papers, business papers, English/creative writing assignments, cover letters and more. |
| Josianne | Josianne is a graduate student from Stamford, CT. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in linguistics and psychology and is now pursuing a master's in forensic linguistics. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, studying foreign languages, and textile crafts, especially punch needle and crochet. |
| Julianna | Julianna is a graduate student from Smithtown, NY. She graduated from Hofstra with majors in Japanese studies and public relations, and is now earning a master's in public relations. She loves music, and when she is not tutoring she most likely is at a concert (her favorite band is Fall Out Boy). She also loves pizza, art, talking about her semester abroad in Italy, and collecting band T-shirts. |
| Kate | Kate is a political science major with minors in linguistics and writing studies. She can usually be found hanging out on the beach praying for productivity, scrolling through plant-based recipes on social media, or brainstorming ways to reignite the Equal Rights Amendment. With eyes set on law school, she is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law fraternity on campus. Kate loves writing and genuinely enjoys every part of the process from the inception of a crafty idea to the 100th revision. |
| Leivys | Leivys is triple majoring in political science, writing studies, and global studies. She is a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity and the event chair for the Hofstra University Moot Court. A resident of Weehawken, NJ, she likes to cook, watch Netflix, and listen to music. |
| Maria | Maria has a double major in writing studies and criminology and a minor in philosophy of law. She is very passionate about creative writing and using writing as an outlet for her emotions. She is in a sorority and loves spending time with her friends. After graduation, she plans to attend law school. |
| Marissa | Marisa is a graduate student in Hofstra's Industrial Organizational Psychology Program. She is from Queens, NY, and some of her hobbies are reading, yoga, fashion, and cooking. She loves the field of psychology and writing. |
| Molly | Molly of Levittown, NY, has a double major in economics and political science and a minor in global studies. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing badminton, and reading. She enjoys helping with all types of writing and brainstorming and is a member of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America). |
| Quinn | Quinn is a graduate student from Alexandria, VA. After graduating from the University of Mary Washington with a major in English and a minor in linguistics, she decided to pursue a master's in forensic linguistics at Hofstra. She enjoys drawing, reading, and hanging out with her cat. She is so excited to help students fully express themselves through their writing. |
| Riley | Riley is a film major from New Hampshire, with a double minor in creating writing and design. She would love to help people work through all stages of writing, from a blank page to the final product. Outside of academics, she loves watching movies and television shows, listening to music, and drawing. |
| Sasha | Sasha is a health science major from Brooklyn, NY. She plans to become a physician assistant with a specialty in health administration. In her downtime, she likes to travel, meet new people, and try different foods. |
| Seher | New Yorker Seher is in the BA/MA Forensic Linguistics program, who enjoys drawing, reading, and crocheting during her free time. |
Policies
Code of Conduct
The Hofstra University Writing Center aims to provide a safe space for the exchange of intellectual ideas. Consistent with the mission of Hofstra University, Writing Center staff and clients will treat each other with respect and dignity. We aim to model professional exchange and engagement. The Hofstra University Writing Center does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any members of the Hofstra community.
Appointment Policies for Current Hofstra Students
- Writers may make a maximum of one appointment per day and three appointments per week. All appointments are 50-minutes long.
- Writers should arrive on time to their sessions. If a writer is five (5) minutes late, we consider the appointment missed; however, we will call to see if the writer is on the way. If the writer is not on the way, we will mark the appointment as missed and open the appointment to another writer.
- If necessary, writers should cancel appointments online at least two (2) hours before their sessions. If a writer misses two appointments, without canceling in advance within one semester, that writer will not be able to make Writing Center appointments for the remainder of the semester.
Tutoring sessions are a limited resource, and we want to help our many Hofstra writers as effectively as possible.
If writers need to discuss these policies or their scheduling accounts with the Writing Center, they should contact Writing Center Director Dan Cole (daniel.cole@hofstra.edu) or Assistant Director Marilyn Buono (marilyn.f.buono@hofstra.edu).
Revised as of October 9, 2023.