About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to engage students in their learning process, to improve their self-efficacy for writing and learning, and to help them become more effective communicators. We believe learning is a life-long process and that skills acquired and honed while students at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology will enhance their academic, professional, and personal lives.
VISION AND APPROACH
The OSWL is a place where students of all degree levels and disciplines can feel safe and supported in developing their skills, a place that is free from judgment, and a place where the processes of inquiry and incremental improvement are valued above all else. In line with the Vision and Values of The Chicago School, the OSWL provides innovative services and learning resources to assist certificate, bachelor, master, and doctoral students on their path to professional careers.
MEET OUR STAFF
Associate Director, National Center for Teaching and Learning; Coordinator, Office of Student Writing and Learning
I joined TCSPP in 2017 as a writing instructor, and I have had the great pleasure of developing first the Online Campus Writing Center and now the Office of Student Writing and Learning in conjunction with the talented staff members you see on this page. Our goal is to support all students here at TCSPP to achieve both their academic and professional goals.
I have worked in higher education writing support since working on my own graduate studies, and I have experience working with students across degree levels and learning platforms. I specialize in the academic support of adult online learners, and welcome feedback from faculty and students alike regarding how we can better support your journey at TCSPP and beyond. I have my Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and my Doctor of Education in Higher Education and Adult Learning. I live just outside of Minneapolis, MN, with my two children, two dogs, and the leader of the pack: our cat Ferdinand. In my free time, you can find me training in and coaching CrossFit and women's high school lacrosse.
Dissertation Writing Specialist (Online)
I am so excited to join TCSPP as a Dissertation Writing Specialist! I have peer reviewed dissertation chapters, and reviewed and edited dissertations for APA formatting for doctoral students just like you. I have worked in higher education as a Director of Admissions and a Director of Student Affairs and earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership. That means I have also written my own dissertation and worked through APA formatting questions and the critical revision of my writing. I teach Online Education Strategies and Introduction to Psychology for another online program. I live in Denver, Colorado and love hiking, mountain biking, and our nearly 300 days of sunshine! When I am not supporting graduate students, I work as a project manager supervising time management, resources, and stakeholders to deliver complex projects to organizations. My academic research interests are in the area of strategic planning and mid-level professional staff, stakeholder engagement and education, and organizational change management.
Lead Writing Specialist & Multilingual Writer Specialist
Hello, my name is Gabrielle, and I am your Online Campus Writing Center Writing Specialist. I received my Bachelors degree in English and Applied Linguistics from the University of Michigan in 2015, my Masters degree in Applied Linguistics and ESL Education in 2018, and my Master of Science in Education in Curriculum & Design (2019). I am currently completing my PhD in Educational Psychology. My professional background as a Writing Specialist comes from over six years of experience as a collegiate writing tutor, an ESL adjunct professor, and an editor/proofreader.
I am a Michigan expatriate and have lived in Fort Worth, Texas for over three years now with my partner and his two children. We are practicing martial artists, and I am presently in-training for my debut as an amateur MMA fighter. I am passionate about systems, particularly language, communication, and martial arts. In my free time, I enjoy studying about communication and thought styles and how they contribute to our learning and existence.
Graduate Writing Specialist (Online)
I am the Graduate Writing Specialist for TCSPP, and I am excited to work with graduate students and faculty with the goal of confident and effective writers in the graduate program. I have taught online for the past 15 years for various institutions. While my scholarly focus is British literature, I have taught various writing courses for both undergraduates and graduates throughout my career. My background also includes Writing Center work as both a graduate student and professional.
I believe it is within everyone’s grasp to be an effective writer. I hope to be able to help provide the tools for all to feel confident in their ability to share their ideas and research with the larger discourse community. I received by Bachelor of Arts in 2003 and my Master of Arts in 2006 from Southern IL University, Carbondale, Illinois. I completed my Doctoral work in 2017 at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Undergraduate Writing Specialist (Online)
I am excited to serve the students a TCSPP as a Writing Specialist with a primary focus on supporting undergraduate students in becoming confident, competent, and skillful writers. It is my goal to provide flexible, accessible support to our students who are juggling work, study, and personal goals. Students can meet with me synchronously through Zoom or asynchronously through written feedback appointments. Whether students are looking for someone to help them understand an assignment, brainstorm an outline, create a note-taking strategy for research, write an introduction, or revise a draft, I am here to help. In any stage of the writing process—from “I can’t get started” to “I think this looks ok”—I enjoy helping students create and submit written work that makes them proud of their efforts.
I received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Blackburn College and a Master of Arts in English from University of Illinois Springfield. I began working with students as a peer writing tutor while attending graduate school, and I have continued to work in writing centers both remotely and on campus. It has been my greatest joy to provide support to students as they pursue their goals. When I am not working with students, I enjoy reading, watching PBS Masterpiece Theater shows, weightlifting, yoga, hiking, and traveling with my husband and two daughters.
Dissertation Writing Specialist (Online)
As a first-time teacher living in Prague in 1994, Laurel discovered her guiding philosophy that teaching is a form of learning. As one of the coauthors of the Essential Guide to Critical Reading and Writing, Laurel has taught university students how to write well for the past three decades. Covering topics such as cyber civility, e-communication, digital literacies, and email etiquette, her instructional passion is for clarity in interpersonal and professional communication. Currently a technical trainer at the MSP airport, Laurel’s seminars support workforce development in composition best practices. Working with new hires, Laurel assists adults as they gain the crucial skills that global employers consider essential for modern workplace success. After serving as the subject matter expert for Walden University’s Art of Online Teaching post-master’s certification, Laurel continued to co-construct curriculum to ensure doctoral candidates succeed in the dissertation process. In 2017, Laurel was invited to serve as co-chair for a Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and with institutional peers, coauthored and shared two position papers. In 2018, the working group conducted the first fully online university Climate Survey in collaboration with the NORC. In January of 2022, Laurel was awarded Walden University’s Presidential Award for Academic Leadership. Her passion for composition best practices to empower adults has never wavered. Strong composition skills can take students to the top of their professions. Writing well is a skill that can make ideas leave the page and allow adults to create positive social change in their professional work and personal lives.
Research Specialist (Online)
Hi! I go by ‘Masha’ or ‘Dr. K’ and I have over 15 years of experience in teaching and learning, with eight years in higher education. My PhD is in Higher Education Administration, and I hold two master’s degrees – in Human Resources Development and in ESL. I am a graduate faculty member and have taught a wide range of courses in the field of Higher Education, while also supervising numerous dissertation and capstone projects for EdD and PhD students. Additionally, I have a background in faculty development and First-Year Experience. I specialize in first-year student success, teaching and learning, and faculty development, but my research also focuses on course design, student success, and international students. I serve as Book Review Editor, Associate Editor, and Editorial Board member for several academic research journals in the field of Education. Prior to my higher education career, I worked in many international settings where I led the design and facilitation of training programs in the fields of ESL and adult education. I live in Mandeville, Louisiana. My hobbies include running and puzzles.
Graduate Writing Specialist (DC) & Liaison to College of Professional Psychology
I joined TCSPP in 2019, serving as a writing specialist for the Washington, DC, campus, where I provided support to students across all graduate departments. As a member of the Office of Student Writing and Learning, I look forward to working with students at all TCSPP campuses. I enjoy building relationships with students and faculty and helping students become strong writers. I relish all aspects of the editorial conversation, including tackling issues of grammar and APA Style, transforming confusing sentences into concise and clear ones, and organizing the logic and structure of a dissertation. I believe the best way to become a strong writer is to read strong writing and to develop writing skills through practical hands-on application. As an academic editor, I have developed a particular focus within the field of clinical psychology.
I earned a master of fine arts from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop and have worked on the editorial staff of publications such as Time-Life Books and Civilization magazine and for the Smithsonian Institution. I have worked with students as an academic editor for more than 20 years. I live outside Washington, DC, and when I am not editing, I am writing, hiking, biking, or digging in the dirt.
Penni Nickles, MPsy
Writing Specialist (Dallas) & Academic Coach
Hi! My name is Penni and I have been in the field of education for over 20 years. I have worked as an academic coach for part of my career and also taught as a professor of psychology and learning frameworks, teaching students how to improve their study and writing skills and learning habits. I have worked at The Chicago School since 2020 and am excited to now be working in the Office of Student Writing and Learning!
Lisa Buscani
Writing Specialist
Lisa is a professional writing specialist at TCSPP, specializing in APA format, case conceptualization, and dissertation writing. She received her Masters Degree in Writing and Publishing at DePaul, where she also worked as a writing tutor. Lisa Buscani got her start in Chicago's performance poetry scene and ultimately became a National Poetry Slam Champion as well as a Pushcart Prize nominee for poetry. A three-time Chicago Arts Assistance Program grant recipient, she has published one book of poetry, Jangle (Tia Chucha Press) and has produced three critically and publicly acclaimed solo shows, Carnival Animale, At That Time and Solid Citizen. She contributes regularly to Chicago's Live Lit scene, writing for The Paper Machete, The Write Club, and The Encyclopedia Show. She has appeared on HBO, CNN, PBS, Much Music and NPR. She received her Master’s Degree in Media and Cinema Studies and her Masters D’s Degree in Writing and Publishing at DePaul.
MEET OUR PEER COACHES
Chioma Okeke, Writing Coach
My name is Chioma, and I am a peer writing specialist with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I joined the team in Fall of 2021 at the recommendation of a faculty member and have been loving the work ever since! I am a first generation Nigerian-American. My mother migrated to the U.S. to practice law, so she was able to master both the english language and her native language. She always stressed to me the importance of language and clear/effective communication. Therefore, she was constantly correcting my grammar, both orally and in writing. As the oldest of four children, I eventually found myself helping my siblings with their writing assignments as well. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. While there, I began as a pre-medical student, thinking I wanted to pursue psychiatry. I quickly realized this was not what I wanted. After about a year of indecision, I discovered neuropsychology, and the rest is history. I am currently a 3rd year student in TCSPP's Psy.D. program. My specific area of interest is pediatric neuropsychology. As this specialty requires quite of bit of report writing, my passion for writing has been very useful. My favorite part about being a peer writing specialist at TCSPP is reading the brilliant work of my peers. They have excellent ideas, and I am humbed to have the opportunity to help them communicate those ideas as effectively as possible. Moreover, I don't believe the perfect writer exists, so I find myself learning new writing skills from my peers daily. I genuinely enjoy this work and look forward to helping students develop their writing skills each semester.
Nickolas Lai, Writing & Statistics Coach
Nick received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Minnesota and his Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in Business Psychology, I/O Track at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Nick's previous work experience pertains to finance, business analytics, professional interviewing, resume building, and dissertation copy editing. As a writing coach, he specializes in paper organization, grammar, flow, and business writing. He also provides statistics tutoring through the Office of Student Writing and Learning.
Heather Turney-Schmidt, Writing Coach
Coming soon!
Anureet Gill, Statistics Coach
My name is Anureet Gill. I am from Canada and in Chicago to pursue a Clinical PsyD. I started working as a stats. peer coach in Fall 2022 and I will lead the stats. bootcamps.
Kate Johnson, Writing Coach
Coming soon!
Taylor Hernowitz, Writing Coach
Coming soon!
Dorothy Jackson-Rexrode, Writing Coach
Coming soon!
Padmini Chauhan, Writing Coach
Coming soon!
Waseme Gamba, Writing Coach
Coming soon!