Writing Center

Director: Felice Lopez Bell
Location: Renfro 133

The MHU Writing Center will open for Fall 2025 on Monday, September 8.

We offer free help on any writing assignment of any length for any class at any point of your writing process. We can help with brainstorming, writing a thesis, formatting, citing, meeting word counts, organizing, proofreading, polishing up the paper, and more! We work to not only help you create a better paper but to help make you become a stronger, more confident writer!

Drop-In Tutoring Hours: (Stop by the writing center! No appointment necessary!)

• Daytime Drop-In Hours: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
• Evening Drop-In Hours: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday

Tutoring by appointment: (with advance notice)
You can use the Penji system to make a one-on-one appointment with a tutor by selecting from a list of available hours and also from available tutors. You can use your MHU username and password to sign in and create an account. It is quick and easy.

Remember, that you need to schedule in advance if you’d like to meet for an appointment.

We occasionally close for inclement weather, holidays, and university breaks. Please keep an eye on your daily emails for news about Writing Center closings.

If you have any questions or difficulty with the Writing Center or Penji, please email flopez@mhu.edu.

FAQ

• How do I get to the Writing Center? (video)
• What is a Writing Center session like? (video)
• How do I make an appointment using Penji? (video)

WHO WE ARE

The Writing Center is staffed by trained peer tutors, students with strong writing skills and a desire to help others. To become a peer tutor, students must have successfully completed English 111 and 112 (or 113); additionally, tutors must enroll in a one-credit- hour course, ENG262-Peer Collaboration in Writing.

Mrs. Felice Lopez Bell
Writing Center director and instructor of English

I have been teaching English courses at Mars Hill since 2008. I received my bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and my master’s degree in fiction (M.F.A.) at the University of Florida. I teach composition classes, creative writing classes, and business writing classes, and an occasional literature class. I am the faculty adviser for the Cadenza Literary Magazine. In addition to working with the students here at MHU, I also coach and play soccer in Asheville.

OUR TUTORS….

RayRay Ellis

Hello! My name is RayRay Ellis and I am from Sevierville, Tennessee. I am part of the 2027 graduating class and am on the Women’s Soccer Team. I am a Psychology major with a minor in Data Analytics. I am also an Honors Program member, a First Year Mentor, and an intern at the Cothran Center. I look forward to working with you all!

Natalie Freise

Hi! I am Natalie Freise, and I was born and raised in La Vernia, Texas. I’m a Criminal Justice major and plan to graduate in 2028; I am also a Lion Leader here on campus.

Delaney Griffin

Hi! My name is Delaney Griffin, and I am class of 2027. I am from Knoxville, TN and am majoring in business with a minor in criminal justice. I am also a member of the women’s soccer team! I look forward to working with you!

Abbie Huff

Hello! My name is Abbie Huff, I am from Johnson City, Tennessee. I am a Biomedical Science major that will graduate with the class of 2028. I am a member of the Pre-Health Professions Club, STEM Club, Honors College, and FCA. I am looking forward to working with everyone!

Laela Jimenez

Hi! My name is Laela Jimenez, and I am from Naples, Florida. I am a nursing major and a psychology minor. I am part of the class of 2026, the women’s volleyball team, BSA, and FCA! I look forward to working with you!

Sarah McNeil

Hello! My name is Sarah McNeil. I am originally from Hickory, North Carolina and am majoring in Zoology with a minor in pre-professional studies. I am part of the class of 2027 and MHU’s cross-country and track teams! Outside of athletics, I am a member of the honors program, TriBeta, and NOW. I look forward to working with you!

Miranda Overby

Hi! My name is Miranda Overby. I am from Chesterfield, Virginia. I am a transfer from Virginia Commonwealth University and a member of the class of 2026. I am a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology. I also am a member of the Mars Hill women’s lacrosse team. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

Matthew Pacheco

Hello! My name is Matt Pacheco and I am from Orlando, Florida. As a student-athlete on the baseball team, I am majoring in Community & Non-Profit Leadership with a minor in Religion & Philosophy. I anticipate to graduate in 2026!

Ioana Poenaru

Hi! My name is Ioana Poenaru, and I am from Kolding, Denmark. I am a business major and a psychology minor. I am part of the class of 2027 and the women’s volleyball team. I look forward to working with you!

AJ Rivers

Hello! My name is Artakia Rivers, but I prefer being called Aj. I am studying in the Art Therapy major with the class of 2028. I’m from a small outskirt city called Douglasville, Georgia, and I am pursuing my bachelor’s in the social sciences discipline. As a Mars Hill Student Ambassador, I look forward to working with you!

Leah Wilson

Hi! My name is Leah Wilson. I am from Knoxville, Tennessee and am part of the Class of 2027. I am a Criminal Justice major, member of the Honors Program, and a First Year Mentor. I am also a member of the MHU Dance Team, MHU Cheer Team, and the Bailey Mountain Cloggers. I look forward to meeting and working with you!

WHAT STUDENTS AND FACULTY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MHU WRITING CENTER:

Tutoring sessions are limited to 45 minutes maximum. If your assignment requires more time, please make an additional appointment for later in the week. Also, we have a 10-page maximum restriction on all assignments. These parameters help to encourage students seeking writing assistance to be actively engaged in the tutoring experience.

WHAT WE DO…AND DON’T DO…

Peer tutors in the Mars Hill University Writing Center WILL…

• assist with writing assignments at any stage of the writing process
• provide kind, considerate, and professional tutoring
• help writers develop a clear sense of “the next step” for writing assignments once they leave the Center
• tutor up to 10 pages of text per 45-minute session
• complete a tutoring report for each student who receives help from a tutor in the Writing Center

Peer tutors in the Mars Hill University Writing Center WON’T…

• write papers for students
• correct written work (tutors work with students to find problems and to eliminate them)
• give students topics (that’s up to students and/or their professors)
• guarantee an “A” for having visited the center (students who seek help with writing assignments at the Writing Center will most assuredly improve in their writing, which is the main goal of the center)
• work on assignments that are longer than 10 pages (if your assignment is longer, you must return for a separate tutoring session for each 10 pages)