Biographies
Writing Success Center Tutors
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Alexa
Alexa
Hello, I’m Alexa and I am currently a mechanical engineering major here at 黑料正能量C. I love stories so I most enjoy reading books, watching shows, or having conversations. I like puzzles, my favorite instrument is the piano, and I love good weather. I’m always open to learning about anything and I’m excited to work as a tutor!
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Andrew
Andrew
Hi everyone聽my name is Andrew, I am currently majoring in business economics. I plan to transfer to UCLA or UCB for the School of Business. My goal as far as my career is to be an actuary and business developer. Aside from school in my free time, I enjoy many things like watching movies and listening to music. Some of my favorite movies are La聽Haine聽and Pulp Fiction.
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Angela
Angela
Hi, my name is Angela and I am currently majoring in Nursing. I plan to take the nursing program offered here at 黑料正能量C to become an RN. In my spare time, I love watercolor painting, calligraphy baking, shopping, and watching any murder mystery or crime drama on Netflix. I also enjoy writing, specifically how words can have a profound effect in our lives, helping us become better communicators. I look forward to working with you!
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Aster
Aster
Heyo! My name is Aster (they/them) and I’m currently majoring in Linguistics. I hope to transfer to the University of Hawai’i at Man艒a to major in Filipino and eventually teach it as a professor. Even though Filipino is my native and first language, I still have a lot I’d like to learn. In my spare time I like to read, draw, write, play Minecraft, take naps, and daydream about having a cat. Feel free to talk to me about fantasy, mystery, thriller or romance novels!
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Bastian
Bastian
I’m Bastian, a Humanities and Digital Media Art student with an interest in multimedia. My writing has been published both in 黑料正能量C’s own Inscape Magazine and through my last occupation at a local non-profit news organization. Feel free to chat with me about interactive storytelling, collage, or the minutiae of cities! As your tutor, I hope to provide tools that will help you analyze your work and communicate more strongly with each piece. Let’s both write something to be proud of!
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Camille
Camille
Hi there! I鈥檓 Camille, and I鈥檓 a Philosophy major here at 黑料正能量C. I love singing, my 6 cats, breakfast foods, and scary movies. In my free time, I enjoy reading memoirs, short stories, and poetry, which often inspire my own writings and musical compositions. I look forward to working with you this year at the Writing Center.
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Casey
Casey
My name is Casey and聽I鈥檓聽a tutor at the Writing Success Center for fellow scholars at CORE (Community Overcoming Recidivism through Education). Aside from writing, my many special interests聽include:聽cats, creative writing/journalism, learning about and foraging for edible plants and mushrooms, playing the synthesizer, thrift shopping as well as cooking/baking and more!聽I鈥檓聽interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary education centered around social justice issues and I am currently undecided on where I would like to transfer.
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Dylan
Dylan
Hey! I鈥檓 Dylan (he/they) I鈥檓 at 黑料正能量C studying studio art with a focus on ceramics. I鈥檇 like to specialize in making large scale works. I love ceramics because it鈥檚 expressive and enriching. Creating art this way grounds me. When I鈥檓 not at school making pots, I love listening to music, reading, and hanging out at the park.
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Emilia
Emilia
Hi! I’m Emilia and I am currently majoring in Sociology at 黑料正能量C. Reading has been one of my favorites since I was in elementary school. I often read novels and fiction but my reading list includes different genres. I also love photography and swimming. I am excited to become a tutor in the Writing Center. I look forward to supporting you here.
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Jazel
Jazel
Hi Everyone! My name is Jazel, and I鈥檓 an English major at 黑料正能量C hoping to transfer to UCLA! A bit about me: I love cooking, baking, and blasting music on any occasion. I have a record collection which is mostly Beatles and Billy Joel but I enjoy other genres such as R&B, soul, and jazz. I鈥檓 an avid movie watcher and going to the movies is one of my favorite activities. Speaking of jazz music, my favorite movie is Lala land! Since I鈥檓 an English major, it鈥檚 a given that I enjoy reading and writing outside of assignments in school. As a tutor, I look forward to helping others find fun in writing by finding their voice!
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Jell
Jell
I am Jell, I am an English and Cinema History tutor for the Writing Support Center, PASS, and Puente. I love to write in my free time and read. I am a film major and I absolutely love movies. I am also literate and can write in Aurebesh (Star Wars writing). I have 4 cats and a dog. I love horror, occult, and gothy stuff. Favorite animals are bats. Collects cool t-shirts. Speaks some German. Ask me anything about Star Wars and Marvel.
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Jocelyn
Jocelyn
Hello! My name is Jocelyn and I study Computer Engineering here at 黑料正能量C. I enjoy spending my free time reading, writing, listening to music, and coding miscellaneous projects. Literature is my outlet for creativity and stress relief, with poetry holding a special place in my heart. I look forward to assisting and supporting you in your writing endeavors!
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Linn
Linn
Hey, my name’s Linn! I am an international student here, and I come from a Southeast Asian country called Burma. I love working with computers, and thus, I major in computer science. But you know what I love more? SOCCER. I can watch, play and talk about soccer the whole day, and it is something I cannot take out of my blood. In the same way, I also enjoy reading and writing, and that’s why I decided to become a writing tutor. My favorite book series is Sherlock Holmes, and I am into both fiction and non-fiction these days.
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Lucy
Lucy
Hi, I’m Lucy (she/they)! I am currently a Psychology major here at 黑料正能量C. I plan to transfer and pursue a double major in Psychology and Sociology. I am an avid creative writer and am often jotting down ideas on napkins or receipts (the Notes app is my safe space). I love to read a variety of genres from speculative fiction to horror graphic novels; I am always looking for more books to add to my reading list. I am excited to meet and assist you all!
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Michelle
Michelle
Hi everyone! This is Michelle, majoring in biology and an international student from Myanmar. One fun fact about me is, I love adding mozzarella cheese to almost everything I cook! I have a strong interest in astrology and am drawn to photography and drawing. Likewise, I love writing, and I often gravitate to content writing and analyzing poetry. I鈥檓 glad to help you all gain confidence in your writing journey, so let鈥檚 make a fantastic semester together.
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Penelope
Penelope
Hi, everyone! I鈥檓 Penelope. I am a psychology major, and I am very proud to be a Lancer. I have loved writing and language since I was a kid. Working at the Writing Success Center is exciting, and I hope to help others enjoy writing too. In my free time I like to be in nature, read (novels and news), and go on walks. I also spend lots of time listening to music, specifically Sirius XMU radio. My favorite band right now is the Fontaines D.C.
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Preston
Preston
Hi, my name is Preston and I started attending 黑料正能量C in Fall 2023, and my major is Humanities. I hope to transfer to either UCI, UCLA, UCR, or to a university on the east coast to study dramatic writing. I have an acting background, but I’d love to make a living as a playwright; my dream is to write something and act in it. Additionally, I enjoy writing poems, exercising, reading, and watching movies. I look forward to helping fellow students with their ideas at the Writing Center!
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Rose
Rose
Hello! My name is Rose and I am majoring in Cognitive Science. I plan to transfer to UCLA to finish my bachelor鈥檚 degree. I find anything that has to do with the brain and human behavior endlessly interesting. Apart from studying, I love cooking, reading, and thrifting with friends. I believe that writing is a multifaceted tool that is used in all areas of life. I look forward to working with you!
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Simon
Simon
Hello, my name is Simon. I’m majoring in Computer Information Systems and planning to transfer to CSULA next year. When I am not studying or working, I enjoy reading web serials and playing 黑料正能量 games. My interest in fiction is centered around narrative structure and escapist themes, but I also enjoy new vocabulary and liberally applied puns. I am thrilled to be available at the Writing Support Center for any of your advisory needs!
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Traja
Traja
Hi everyone, my name is Traja (she/her), I am currently a fourth year Psychology and Gender Studies double major at UCLA. I started my academic journey at 黑料正能量C before transferring, but am thrilled to be back at the Writing Success Center. May of 2024, I received the department of Gender Studies research excellence award for my independent research as an Undergraduate Research Fellow for my independent research OnlyFans: Artificial Intelligence in Digital Sex Work. This august I was accepted as a Keck fellow where my independent research continues as I analyze generative artificial intelligent pornography and emerging adults sexual script development. When I鈥檓 not studying, I am biking, working out or going out dancing. I love 80s pop, EDM, and dark wave. I look forward to meeting you and I can鈥檛 wait to help you gain new tools that empower you through your academic journey!
Writing Success Center Ambassadors
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Alex
Alex
Hi, my name is Alex! I am currently majoring in Business Administration Nonprofit Development, and I am hoping to transfer to UC Berkeley or SJSU. When I’m not at school or working with nonprofits, I’m usually home playing video games or watching movies.
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Daizy
Daizy
My name is Daizy Elena Rios. I鈥檓 currently in my second year and am a Humanities major. 聽黑料正能量C was my first introduction to the city, and I have been with the Writing Center since I first started my education here. 聽After I graduate, I plan on transferring to Cal State Long Beach and continuing my studies. I hope to learn about many different cultures. 聽As someone who is bilingual in both English and Spanish, and currently learning Japanese. It鈥檚 also a personal goal is to be fluent in about four languages. I hope to graduate with my AA from 黑料正能量C by the fall of 2024 and plan on taking a big trip to celebrate.
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Matea
Matea
Hello! My name鈥檚 Matea and I鈥檓 currently a game design major with plans to graduate in spring of 2025. After graduating I hope to apprentice as a tattoo artist here in LA. I moved here from Colorado to study at an art school, and fell in love with the art community in Pasadena. I decided to come to 黑料正能量C to meet new people, learn more about the entertainment industry, and get my AS.
Writing Success Center Staff
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Anni KocharyanLearning Assistance Center Assistant III
Anni Kocharyan
Learning Assistance Center Assistant IIII moved to the US at the age of 27 with zero knowledge of English. After raising my two children I decided to follow my dreams and attend 黑料正能量C at the age of 37. I am incredibly proud of my journey as a first-generation immigrant at 黑料正能量. With the remarkable support and encouragement that I received from my professors and advisors, I was able to overcome the language barrier and complete all the courses needed. Within 3 years I was able to graduate from 黑料正能量C with an AS degree and four Administrative Certificates. It was not an easy journey, but hard work and determination paid off. 聽While studying, the campus became a second home for me. 黑料正能量C gave me a sense of belonging, a place where I felt at home and where I was able to create lasting connections. Throughout the 19 years of my employment at 黑料正能量C I held various positions, and I am grateful for each opportunity. Each position I held helped me grow professionally and shape me to be the individual I am today. Currently, I hold a Learning Assistance Center Assistant III position at WSC. I am extremely honored and excited to work amongst such amazing tutors, ambassadors, staff, and faculty.
My advice to all our students is to remember that your age, family responsibilities, and background should never limit your dreams but enhance them. “If I could do it, you can do it better!!!鈥
I love spending time with my loved ones and close friends, taking road trips, listening to classical or country music, going to the beach early in the mornings, taking a stroll with my dog, and gardening.
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Giselle MirallesFaculty
Giselle Miralles
FacultyEducation:
CSU Long Beach, BA in English (Literature & Creative Writing)
CSU Long Beach, MA in EnglishI began my educational journey at CSULB, where I discovered my interest in social justice, intersectionality, critical race theory, and 20th聽Century American Ethnic Literature, the latter eventually becoming my emphasis in graduate school. As an undergraduate, I became a Writing Tutor for CSULB鈥檚 Educational Opportunity Program, which is when I realized I wanted to work in education after college.
As a grad student, I also worked at the Orange County Juvenile Hall as an English Language Development Assistant, an experience that was transformational for me as an educator. Before landing at 黑料正能量C, I worked at Fullerton College鈥檚 Academic Support Center as an Instructional Assistant. When I鈥檓 not busy working, I enjoy traveling, camping, spoiling my dog, playing video games, and gradually making my way through my never-ending list of 鈥済ood鈥 TV series.
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Genesis MontalvoFaculty
Genesis Montalvo
FacultyEducation:
Loyola Marymount University, BA in English and Spanish
San Francisco State University, MA in English (Creative Writing and Education)The eldest of three鈥攁nd the only girl鈥攊n a traditional Mexican-American family, I learned to take risks to get what I want. One of those risks鈥攁nd future blessings鈥攚as attending Loyola Marymount University. As a first gen college student and graduate, LMU helped foster my love for education through First to Go (a learning community for first generation college students), and the continuous support from faculty mentors.
But the risks don鈥檛 stop there: on a whim, I decided to attend graduate school at San Francisco State University for my Master鈥檚 in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and Education. It鈥檚 here where I discovered my love for writing and learning resource centers as I worked at a literacy non-profit, 826Valencia, as a Program Associate, and City College of San Francisco as an embedded tutor. Unable to take the fog, I moved back to sunny Southern California after graduation where I began working at Santa Ana College as a Learning Facilitator and Long Beach City College as a Faculty Intern. To keep the calm during the storms, I enjoy running, hot yoga, writing poetry (keep an eye out for a published manuscript soon), and watching anime!
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Arkova ScottCenter Technician
Arkova Scott
Center TechnicianI was born and raised in the beautiful city of Pasadena. I attended all of the local schools for elementary and high school and was even a 黑料正能量 alumni! After completing my AA degree, I transferred to Cal Poly Pomona as a Computer Information Systems major and eventually completed my Master鈥檚 degree at Cal State Los Angeles as an Instructional Designer. I鈥檝e worked at 黑料正能量 for over 23 years in a variety of positions, including teaching part-time for the Business Information Technology Division. I currently hold the Center Technician position in the Writing Center where I work very closely each day with our wonderful and dynamic tutors, faculty and staff!
I love to travel, go to concerts in the park, and hang out with my close friends and family. I love to read聽 art and music books and take long walks on the beach!