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 Writing Center opens for fall 2023 on Monday, September 11, 2023!

For fall 2023, 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.

You can also schedule an appointment with a tutor (either in-person or on Zoom) using the Penji link. You’ll need at least 12-hours advance notice to make an appointment.

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….

Chandler Adams

Hello! My name is Chandler Adams. I am from Apex, North Carolina, and I am part of the class of 2024. I am a nursing major with a minor in history. I am also a resident assistant, first-year mentor, and student support services academic coach. I am part of the women’s basketball team, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the honors program. I look forward to working with you!

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Faith Giles

Hello! My name is Faith Giles. I am from Boone, North Carolina, and I am a part of the class of 2024. I am a double major in theatre arts and English. I am also a part of the Mars Hill University spirit teams (cheerleading & dance teams), a member of the honors program, and in the Alpha Chi Honor Society. I look forward to working with you!

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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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Hosanna Guess

Hi! My name is Hosanna Guess, and I am a zoology major a part of the MHU class of 2024. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York, but I currently live in Columbia, South Carolina. Along with being a Writing Center tutor, I am also an RA and member of the MHU dance team. I look forward to seeing and working with you!

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Tayler Hodges

Hello, my name is Tayler Hodges. I am from Hendersonville, North Carolina. I am currently an English education major with a minor in music. I am part of the class of 2022. I look forward to meeting 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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Jade MacDonald

Hello! My name is Jade MacDonald! I am from Knoxville, Tennessee, and in the class of 2024! I am a double major in psychology and integrated health sciences with a concentration in physical therapy. I am also on the women’s soccer team and am part of the honors program! I look forward to working with you!

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Ellie Rose McLain

Hi, my name is Ellie Rose McLain! I am from Johnson City, Tennessee, and I am part of the class of 2024. I am a political science major with a minor in pre-law at MHU. I am also a member of the women’s swim team and MHU Student Support Services. I look forward to working with you!

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Lauren Sermersheim

Hey! I’m Lauren Sermersheim, and I am part of the class of 2024! I was born and raised in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, but, my family fell so in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains that we very recently moved to Asheville! I am a Bonner Scholar and love volunteering in the community. I love spending time out around campus, but you’re most likely to find me in my favorite spot on the bench under the tree outside of Wall Science Building. I look forward to meeting you and working with you to achieve your best quality of writing!

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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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Amaya Tipps

Hello, my name is Amaya Tipps, and I am from Statesville, North Carolina. I am a part of the class of 2024, and I am currently a Bonner Scholar. While here at Mars Hill University, I plan to major in zoology.

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Bailey Whitehead-Price

Hello! My name is Bailey Whitehead-Price! I am from Boone, NC, and I am part of the class of 2024. I am an elementary education major with a minor in psychology at MHU. I am also a member of the women’s soccer team, MHU Honors Program, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). I look forward to 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)