Writing Center Staff
- Eric Vrooman (Writing Center Director)
- Clare Koll (Team Leader)
- Bryn Swiston (Team Leader)
- Aubrey Kosters (Team Leader)
- Andrew Escoto (Team Leader)
- Charlie Juaire
- Marisa Bacon
- Brigette Ruacho Colonel
- Elizabeth Orton
- Corina Occhiato
- Lillian Grim
- Zoya Akhtar
- Greta Nyberg
- Zainab Syed
- Nana Akua Boakye Agyemang
- Joe Ricker
- Isa Colmenares
- Kendall Wiggins
- Christian Ash
- Sara Teigland
- Isabella Delaney
- Marisa Bacon
- Gavia Yount
- Vatuazenj Vang
Eric Vrooman
Education: M.F.A., Fiction Writing, UNC-Wilmington; B.A., English, Carleton College
Interests: Film, fiction writing, screenwriting, tennis, Scrabble, Wiffleball, pastry
Favorite Writers: George Saunders, Danielle Evans, Kurt Vonnegut, Toni Morrison, Haruki Murakami, and Lydia Davis
Courses I Teach: Reading in the World: Crime & Punishment, Introduction to Creative Writing, Writing Fiction, Writing Creative Nonfiction, The American Novel, IEX travel courses, Sports Writing
Clare Koll she/her (Team Leader)
Class of 2025, English major with African/African Diaspora studies minor
What is your favorite word?
One of my favorite words is “bedazzled.” The word itself sounds like it’s sparkling!
What is your favorite quote?
"I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes and the dreamer of improbable dreams." - 11th Doctor
What are some of your favorite things?
I love to read and crochet! I also enjoy iced matcha lattes, pumpkin bars, and chocolate covered pretzels.
What is your favorite plant?
Dahlia!
What languages do you speak?
English, some Norwegian, some Latin
Bryn Swiston she/her (Team Leader)
Class of 2024, Political Science and Latin American Studies Majors, with Communications and Spanish Minors
What is your favorite word?
Opaque
What is a quote that motivates you?
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” ― Earl Nightingale
What are some of your favorite things?
Forumla 1, Running, Reading, Lime Flavored Chips
What languages do you speak?
I speak English and Spanish.
What is your favorite plant?
I like ferns!
Aubrey Kosters she/her (Team Leader)
Class of 2025, Communication Arts Literature Teaching Major with a Communication Studies Minor
What is your favorite word?
Reverie
What is your favorite quote?
"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” -Maya Angelou
What are some of your favorite things?
Reading, going for walks, camping, coffee
What is your favorite plant?
Apple tree
What languages do you speak?
English
Andrew Escoto he/him (Team Leader)
Class of 2024, Biology and Political Science Majors
What is your favorite word?
Rambunctious
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Nothing that has meaning is easy"
What are some of your favorite things?
Love gaming, cars, and going to Duluth with friends
What is your favorite plant?
Lavender
What languages do you speak?
English and Spanish
Charlie Juaire (he/they)
Class of 2026, Statistics and Spanish Majors
What is your favorite word?
Serendipity
What is a quote that motivates you?
"It doesn't have to be perfect to be good"
What are some of your favorite things?
Reading, music, video games
What is your favorite plant?
Lilies
What languages do you speak?
English, some Spanish
Marisa Bacon (she/her)
Class of 2025, English and Psychology Majors with an African/African Diaspora Studies Minor
What's your favorite word?
Impish
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Nothing in the world is so compelling to the emotions as the mind of another human being"
What are some of your favorite things?
Reading, crocheting, cooking, baking
What is your favorite plant?
Lavender
What languages do you speak?
English, Ancient Greek, Latin
Brigette Ruacho Coronel (she/her)
Class of 2026, GWSS, Spanish, LALACS Majors
What is your favorite word?
Definitely
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Never say never" - Justin Bieber
What are some of your favorite things?
Some of my favorite things are crocheting, crab legs, watching k-dramas, going on walks, Peacetea, Bad Bunny and Kali Uchis
What is your favorite plant?
Aloe Vera
What languages do you speak?
English and Spanish
Elizabeth Orton (she/her)
Class of 2025, Communication Studies and Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies Majors with a Business Management Minor
What is your favorite word?
Plethora
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Want to get a sweet treat?"
What are a few of your favorite things?
I love reading and running
What is your favorite plant?
Aloe Vera
What languages do you speak?
English and a bit of German!
Corina Occhiato (she/her)
Class of 2026, History and Spanish Majors with a LALACS Minor
What is your favorite word?
Facetious
What is a quote that inspires you?
"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality."
What are a few of your favorite things?
Reading, writing, board games
What is your favorite plant?
Lilac
What languages do you speak?
English and some Spanish
Lillian Grim (they/she)
Class of 2025, English and Film Majors
What is your favorite word?
Oat
What is a quote that motivates you?
"I think you guys might be thinking about yourselves too much." -Jemima Kirke
What are a few of your favorite things?
Movies, Television, rollerblading, cooking, bananagrams
What is your favorite plant?
Lily of the Valley
What languages do you speak?
English
Zoya Akhtar (she/her)
Class of 2025, Math and Psychology Majors
What is your favorite word?
Pizzazz, snazzy, ethereal
What is a quote that motivates you?
"The time will pass anyway."
What are a few of your favorite things?
playing piano, doing jigsaw puzzles, putting together 3D wooden puzzles, playing with my pet cockatiel, eating my parents' food, hanging out with friends, hiking/going on walks, going to the arboretum, doing variations of wordle (semantle, quizl, worldle), taking typing tests (my fastest time is 174 wpm)
What is your favorite plant?
Lily of the Valley
What languages do you speak?
English, Hindi, Urdu
Greta Nyberg (she/her)
Class of 2025, Political Science Major with a Spanish Minor
What is your favorite word?
Exquisite
What are a few of your favorite things?
I love popcorn and being outside and hanging out with my friends and playing games.
What is your favorite plant?
Hydrangeas
What languages do you speak?
English and I am learning Spanish
Zainab Syed (she/her)
Class of 2027, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Majors
What is your favorite word?
Perchance?
What are a few of your favorite things?
I play flute, piano, and harp!
What is your favorite plant?
Water Lilies
What languages do you speak?
English
Nana Akua Boakye Agyemang (she/her)
Class of 2025, Financial Economics Major with an English Minor
What is your favorite word?
Euphoria
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Reach for the stars. Even if you fall, you'll land on the clouds."
What are a few of your favorite things?
Music, Soccer and Basketball
What is your favorite plant?
Cactus
What languages do you speak?
English, Twi and Fante
Joe Ricker (he/him)
Class of 2025, Environmental Studies and Psychology Majors
What is your favorite word?
Tranquility
What is a quote that motivates you?
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
What are a few of your favorite things?
Swimming, biking and canoeing with friends
What is your favorite plant?
White Pine
What languages do you speak?
English
Isabella Colmenares (she/her)
Class of 2027, Nursing Major with a LALACs Minor
What is your favorite word?
Lexicon
What is a quote that motivates you?
"We are only the universe living a human experience"
What are some of your favorite things?
Hot Chips, finding new music to add to the soundtrack of my life, I love a nice pair of hoop earrings, and I love to play card games
What is your favorite plant?
Monsteras!!!!
What languages do you speak?
English and Spanish
Kendall Wiggins (she/her)
Class of 2027, Geology and Environmental Studies Majors with Chemistry and Geography Minors
What is your favorite word?
Toboggan
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Always remember that the future comes one day at a time." Dean Acheson
What are some of your favorite things?
Movie: Ben-Hur Food: Gyoza Hobbies: Baking, Cross-stitching,
What is your favorite plant?
Honeysuckle
What languages do you speak?
English
Christian Ash (he/him)
Class of 2025, English and Financial Economics Majors
What is your favorite word?
Antithetical
What is a quote that motivates you?
"The night is darkest just before the dawn."
What are a few of your favorite things?
Baseball, Creative writing, words, humor, fitness
What is your favorite plant?
Dandilion
Sara Teigland (she/her)
Class of 2026, English Major with Studio Art and African/African Diaspora Studies Minors
What is your favorite word?
Clandestine
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -Mary Oliver
What are a few of your favorite things?
Reading, chocolate, pets
What is your favorite plant?
Flax
What languages do you speak?
English
Izzy Delaney (she/her)
Class of 2026, Geopgraphy and Environmental Studies Majors
What is your favorite word?
Serendipitous
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Let go or be dragged"
What are a few of your favorite things?
Pilates, hot tubs, rugby, carrots, coffee
What is your favorite plant?
String of pearls
What languages do you speak?
English
Gavia Yount (she/her)
Class of 2026, Philosophy and English Majors
What is your favorite word?
Eleemosynary
What is a quote that motivates you?
"I have no limitations"
What are a few of your favorite things?
Activities: theatre, dance, reading books and watching movies and TV shows Food: pasta Snacks: corn chips, homemade chex mix
What is your favorite plant?
Lilacs
What languages do you speak?
English (plus two years of introductory high school Spanish and two semesters of introductory college German)
Vatuazenj Vang (he/him)
Class of 2026, English Major with a Film Minor
What is your favorite word?
Phage
What is a quote that motivates you?
"Those who fall will be forgotten. Those who rise up their names will be remembered forever!"
What are a few of your favorite things?
Martial Arts, Writing, Pho, Rice Cakes, and dancing
What is your favorite plant?
Mint
What languages do you speak?
English