Writing Center

Director: Felice Lopez Bell
Location: Renfro 133

The Mars Hill University Writing Center, located in Renfro Library, room 133, offers free writing tutoring for all MHU students. Writers are encouraged to make an appointment, but drop-in visits are welcome, time permitting.

Writing Center tutors are trained to provide assistance at all stages of the writing process, from prewriting to revising final drafts, and they work with writers in all disciplines. Whether you’re working on that first essay for your first-year English class, tweaking a major research paper, or polishing your résumé for a job application, the tutors in the Writing Center can help you become a better writer.

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

APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Our tutors are available to help you throughout the day and evening on Zoom, FaceTime, and/or in-person. Use the Penji scheduling app. to see your options and make an appointment.  Users can access Penji through our webapp (no downloading necessary!) web.penjiapp.com. They can use their MHU username and log-in to create an account.

• Quickstart video for the Penji appointment scheduling system. Video: Student Quickstart
• Student experience screen shots: Screenshots: Student Experience

The MHU Writing Center will open for drop-in appointments for spring 2025 on Monday, February 3.

For spring 2025 we offer evening drop-in hours from 7–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and daytime drop-in hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

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.

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.

 

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OUR TUTORS….

Sam Brooks

Hello! My name is Sam Brooks, and I’m from Mooresville, North Carolina. I am a Business Administration major who concentrates in Finance and Economics as well as earning a minor in Spanish. I am a member of the 2025 class! I am a member of the Mars Hill swim team and the co-president for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. I look forward to working with everyone!

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Skylar Camby

Hello! I’m Skylar Camby, a psychology major hoping to graduate in spring 2025. I’m originally from Haywood County where I attended Haywood Early College and graduated with my associate in arts. As of the 2024 spring semester, I am enjoying being a part of the Cadenza editing team! I am an avid reader that mainly enjoys reading foreign classics and fantasy. I have been writing more often myself lately as well; particularly poetry. I hope that I can be someone that can encourage your writing growth! Looking forward to working with you!

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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!

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Brooke Grabowski

Hello! My name is Brooke Grabowski. I am from Morganton, North Carolina, and I am part of the class of 2025. I am double majoring in art therapy and psychology with a minor in studio art. I am a proud Bonner Scholar. I am very eager to meet you and take on some writing!

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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!

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Carmen Hughes

Hello! My name is Carmen Hughes. I am from Hendersonville, North Carolina, and I am part of the class of 2025. I am a zoology major with a minor in Spanish. I am also a first year mentor and a math lab assistant. I am a part of the TriBeta biological and zoological honors society and a choir member. I look forward to working with you!

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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!

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Aurella Kowalski

Hi! My name is Aurella Kowalski. I am from Greenville, South Carolina and I am majoring in Business with a Marketing focus and minoring in International Studies. I am part of the Class of 2027 and the MHU Women’s Soccer Team. I look forward to working with you guys!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Haley Stallings

Hi! My name is Haley Stallings and I am from a small town, Marydel, located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I am a transfer from Chesapeake Community College back home, making me a part of Class of 2024. I am currently majoring in criminal Justice with future plans of attending law school. I am also a member of the women’s lacrosse team here at Mars Hill! I am looking forward to meeting and working with you!

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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!

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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)