About

OUR FACULTY

I used to teach composition classes, so I have experience in all things writing research, argument, and analysis. When I work with a student, my goal is to demystify what is being asked of them and reveal the smaller hidden aspects within the assignment so students can learn to recognize form and style and confidently see what an instructor is asking of them. Anytime I’m working with someone, I hope that they learn something about communication that goes beyond just fulfilling the assignment, or at least they come away with a broader understanding of how they can use writing for their own purposes.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: citations, structures of argument, audience awareness, and rhetorical analysis

I used to teach composition classes, so I have experience in all things writing research, argument, and analysis. When I work with a student, my goal is to demystify what is being asked of them and reveal the smaller hidden aspects within the assignment so students can learn to recognize form and style and confidently see what an instructor is asking of them. Anytime I’m working with someone, I hope that they learn something about communication that goes beyond just fulfilling the assignment, or at least they come away with a broader understanding of how they can use writing for their own purposes.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: citations, structures of argument, audience awareness, and rhetorical analysis.

SPECIALTIES: citations, structures of argument, audience awareness, and rhetorical analysis

I’m Beth and my goal in the writing centers is to make each writer feel comfortable with the writing process and confident with their work. I love coaching in the writing center because it fulfills what I most miss about teaching—working one-on-one with students helping them develop their voices and build their writing confidence. Whether we’re brainstorming ideas for an essay topic or polishing up final draft of a cover letter, I thoroughly enjoy my work with MCC students and learn so much from all of them. 

Stories bring people together. 

My name is Brenda and I come from a long line of storytellers. Though I have both educational and professional experience in communications and writing, I have never really thought of myself as a writer. I consider myself to be more of a storyteller, like the amateur musicians , artists, and comedians in my family. Storytelling is an art form that has its origins in early humanity. I believe this means that we are all storytellers in our own way.  I would like to help others share their stories too. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, essays, articles, Spanish papers and translations, research papers, and scientific papers or lab reports.

Brett Mertins (he, him, his) has a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has taught and worked in the Writing Center at MCC since 2003. (it’s been on and off since then, but I feel like I’ve been part of the WC family that whole time😊)  

Specialties: Fundamentals of College Writing, Composition I, Composition II, Literature, Creative Writing 

As a Writing Center Consultant, I look forward to helping you put your best work forward for any class. Sometimes, we just need a second set of eyes to help us understand an assignment. I like talking through assignment details with students and helping them make a plan to finish the work with confidence. I’ll always do my best to make sure you have a plan to take with you after the appointment ends. No questions are too big or small for me. I have a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: composition, speech, history, literature, psychology, creative writing

My name is Bronagh(pronounced bro+ nah). When I work with students, I try to make sure they understand the assignment so that they feel comfortable with their instructors’ expectations. From there, I enjoy helping students with any part of the writing process, whether we brainstorm ideas together or talk about teacher feedback. My goal is to assist students to find and use their voice through writing. I have been an ESL teacher for over 20 years, so grammar, syntax and essay organization are my specialties. If you are a non-native speaker and need ESL help, please come and see me. In my spare time, I enjoy walking my dog, gardening and reading. I have a BA in French from Creighton, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the School for International Training. 

She/her/hers

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: grammar, syntax, organization

Each session at the Writing Center brings a new opportunity to provide information, suggestions, and feedback for your writing projects. Your needs and goals drive each conference. Listening to you helps me gain a better understanding of how I can best support you with the task at hand and plan for “what’s next” for your writing assignment. I love those “aha” moments when ideas become clearer and inspiration takes over.  My main goal is for you to leave the session more focused and confident in your writing than you were before the conference started.   Working with students individually is what I enjoy most about working at the Writing Center. 

My career spans 40 years of teaching high school English and ESL in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. My goal has always been to help students become better communicators. The more you write, the better you can communicate your ideas precisely, fluently, and accurately. I look forward to meeting you and helping to support you at all stages of the writing process. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE:  brainstorming, creative nonfiction, essay writing, MLA style and formatting, reading comprehension 

I have been a professional writer for over thirty years, and I wrote hundreds, perhaps thousands, of book reviews for newspapers and magazines before finally getting up the courage to write books of my own. I know writing can be scary because, even after all this time, it still is for me! That’s why my main goal is to relieve your anxiety about the process while helping you express yourself as clearly and authentically as possible, be it in an assigned essay, an important work email, a short story, or a poem. Not every writing strategy works for every writer, and I enjoy the challenge of figuring out individualized plans for each person who works with me. I take writing seriously but also value humor; if you’ve seen a funny movie or TikTok lately, tell me about it! I grew up in Nebraska, but have lived in many states since—Texas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, New York—because my husband, daughters, and I like to explore new places. After long considering myself a cat person, I adopted a rescue dog in 2022, a sweet Weimaraner/bully breed mix named Yuki.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: helping students structure and support arguments over the course of long, or long-ish, persuasive essays. I also like helping ELL students with college coursework and professional development. In the past I’ve tutored students from Mexico, Colombia, China, Korea, Japan, and Albania. I’m a fan of Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein’s They Say/I Say approach to teaching academic writing. I love helping writers view their work as valuable contributions to ongoing conversations. I also think this approach gives struggling writers an accessible route to understanding structure

I am an aspiring creative writer with a passion for writing and learning. I have 10+ years of teaching writing to second (and third and fourth) language learners, as well as some composition and literature courses in my past. In addition to teaching, I also continue to put in my time as student and am currently taking gerontology courses with an interest in narrative medicine. 

SPECIALTIES: History, philosophy, politics, and theology papers, nature writing, creative non-fiction, narrative writing, scholarship application essays, ESL (including essay assignments and vocabulary building) 

(she/her/hers) 

My goal for each appointment is to have you leave feeling more confident in your writing and the direction your project is taking. I love brainstorming, mapping out your ideas, and helping you get started on a project. I also enjoy the final steps of the paper and working together to polish it up through proofreading and processing your instructor’s feedback. Regardless of the class or your comfort in English, I’m confident we can work together in a way that can not only benefit you but also help broaden your understanding of writing. I teach English composition and creative writing courses at UNO and UNL and have over four years of experience teaching college-level writing. I have a Master’s degree in English specializing in Creative Nonfiction and have been published in Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Pithead Chapel, and other literary journals. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Creative Nonfiction, Creative Writing, English Composition, Essay Structure, Workplace Communication, MLA/APA  

 

Elizabeth holds a BFA in Creative Writing and an MA in English/Creative Nonfiction emphasis from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. For online writing resources, visit MCC Writing Center’s blog, which Elizabeth maintains, at WritingCenterUnderground.wordpress.com. 

SPECIALTIES: resume and cover letters, narrative essays, and developmental writing. 

I am a teacher and artist who values queer ways of thinking and writing, which means I often enjoy working in circles more than straight lines. There are so many ways for people to get to the same kind of goal. This is true for writing too. I am interested in honest writing that looks at an idea from many angles or at least some different kind of angle. My goal is to understand how you like to think and write and make more of that happen in your schoolwork. I will ask a lot of questions, which comes from my genuine curiosity about the ways your writing process works and how you see the world. I especially enjoy talking about transitions/getting from one idea to the next. 

My pronouns are she/they, and I earned a Masters in English in 2020 and have worked in writing centers for at least five years. Currently, I teach Essentials of Scholarly Writing at Clarkson College and take a lot of pictures of the flowers and birds in my backyard. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: transitions, APA, scholarship essays, creative writing, non-linear approaches  

Emily Borgmann (they/them/theirs) is a poet, essayist, and teaches creative writing classes. They are the recipient of an Academy of American Poets Prize, a Nebraska Arts Council Fellowship in Literature, and a Champion of Youth advocacy award. Emily’s writing has appeared in such journals as Waxwing, Copper Nickel, The Laurel Review, and Green Mountains Review. In the Writing Center, Emily’s main goal is helping students to believe what amazing things they’re capable of writing. Emily also wants to encourage students to see much growth is possible if they keep working at it. 

Specialties: ESL and ELL, Creative Writing, Poetry, Narrative Writing, Scholarship Essays, Brainstorming 

 

My favorite moments in the writing center happen when good conversations turn into ideas and words on a page or screen. I know that everyone can write, so I like to use talking and listening to help students think about their writing tasks in new ways and translate their ideas from talk to text. I can help writing center visitors read and understand their assignments, brainstorm ideas, research support for their ideas, organize and structure ideas, and revise the language to communicate those ideas to readers. I also have a lot of experience helping writers break a big job into little ones to help calm their nerves about deadlines and due dates. 

 

I’m celebrating my ten-year anniversary with the writing center in the summer of 2023. I hold a Ph.D. in Literature and Critical Theory from the University of California-Davis and have taught at UC-Davis, Creighton, and MCC. Now, I teach full time at UNO, including classes such as Comp I, Comp II, British Literature, Ecological Writing and Analysis, and Critical Approaches to Literature. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: In addition to English classes, I have helped clients with writing in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and counseling classes, as well as resumes, cover letters, and other professional tasks.. 

Hi, I’m Erin (she/her/hers). I have lived in Omaha, Nebraska all my life. I was privileged to grow up in a house full of books. My mother was a college English teacher. As a pre-teen, I spent evenings helping my mom grade grammar quizzes and reading her students’ personal essays. My mom also tutored some of her students at our home, and I was blessed to meet people from all over the world.

Because of those influences, I began writing at an early age. But I didn’t go to college right away. First, I became a wife and mother. I didn’t earn my undergrad degree in English until I was in my 50s.

SPECIALITIES INCLUDE: I must admit that creative non-fiction is my passion. I received my MFA in creative writing, with a focus in creative nonfiction, from the University of Nebraska in 2008. In 2012 I received my MA in English and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Writing. I even wrote and illustrated the first ever graphic memoir submitted to UNO, for an MA in English thesis. It was called A.W.O.L.: A Graphic Memoir. So, if you need to write personal essays or essays for scholarships, I’m eager to cheer you on.

But I also consider myself an expert in APA style writing. I was an adjunct instructor for Clarkson College, teaching The Essentials of Scholarly Writing to nursing students, and I currently work as an adjunct instructor for the UNO College of Criminology and Criminal Justice teaching Writing for Criminal Justice. I am an excellent resource if your psychology, sociology, human relations, or any other social science papers require APA style writing.

But I’m not picky. I don’t care what type of writing you bring in. I love it all. Come see me!

I believe when students come to the Writing Center, they leave having learned a new skill, developed their voice, and gained confidence as a writer. Students have been communicating their whole lives, and it is my job to foster their communication skills as new and emerging writers. I have an MS in physiology and biomechanics, an MA in English, and an MFA in creative nonfiction. I work as an instructor of English at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Nebraska Methodist College.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Creative Nonfiction, Science Writing, Medical Writing, and MLA/APA Styles and Formatting

I, Genevieve (she/her), will work with you on any writing assignment or project regardless of discipline. Enjoying all stages of the writing process, I meet you where you are and acknowledge the varied language contexts from which you write. I have an MFA and BFA from University of Nebraska at Omaha, have worked in writing centers since 2016, and have taught English since 2018. My poetry won two Academy of American Poets Prizes, won an Edward Stanley Award from Prairie Schooner, was nominated for Pushcart Prizes and Best of the Net, and appears in Prairie SchoonerNimrodThe American Journal of PoetryMid-American Review, and Verse Daily, among other journals and anthologies.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, English Composition, APA/MLA, Letters of Intent, Cover Letters, Personal Statements

When I work with a writer, my goal is to reinforce the truth that their voice, their story, is important in the world. I want to help each writer develop skill and confidence in their ability to communicate clearly and effectively on the page. My teaching experience includes working with writers ages 5 to 90, coaching classroom teachers in effective reading/writing instruction methods and providing peer feedback in an on-going weekly workshop group. 

After retiring from a 25-year career in elementary education, I returned to UNO and earned an MFA in Creative Writing with a focus in creative nonfiction. I’ve been published in The Tishman Review and on Aquifer, the online presence of The Florida Review.  

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Some of my areas of strength include brainstorming, finding sources for research, increasing reading comprehension skills, writing personal essays, creative writing, and early childhood development. 

Sometimes it’s hard to write. To find and maintain focus. To use written words to describe all that rich complexity of your mind. I get it. I work with writers to understand the assignment, so to speak, to make it more manageable, to empower them to find their own way to complete it, to make it unique and their own. It’s a lot to be a student, to prioritize learning on top of all the daily minutiae of living. But you’re doing it and you’re going to finish it and you should be proud of the work you do while getting there. 

I am a writer and a student. I have written a chapbook of poetry and a book of creative nonfiction and am currently working on a short story collection. I work during the week as a librarian now, but prior to that I coached slam poetry while baristaing and waitressing and prior to that I worked for many years in office administration roles.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: I am happy to work with you on creative work, academic essays, resumes, cover letters, whatever it is you want or need to finish, or even just start.

My desire is to help others express themselves fully through the written word. Writing is one of the fundamental ways people communicate, and it is a skill people use throughout their entire lives—at work, in school, with friends and family, and for personal reasons. It’s a creative process. To be able to help others improve this skill is a privilege. I have an MFA from the University of Nebraska and am a writer and editor. I also worked for almost 20 years in corporate America and have a business and marketing background.  

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Fiction and Novel Writing, Business Writing

I’m Jeanette. I’ve been working at MCC since 2009 and love the diversity of our community! I have an MA from the American Univ of Paris and and BA from UNO. I teach French 1110 and French 1120 online, but also delight in helping students organize their works at the Writing Centers. I enjoy hearing students’ stories of where they came from, where they’re going, and who they aspire to be. I like helping students get organized for the research process by introducing them to the online library and showing them tools to make the process easier. I’ve recently helped students at ATC to demystify the hiring process through workshops on resumes, cover letters, and interviews. In short, I enjoy sharing what knowledge I have gained to move students forward and empower them to lead their own success stories.
SPECIALITIES INCLUDE: resumes, cover letters, scholarship essays, starting the research process, outlines

I help students take creative liberty within the confines of academia.  I’m great at teaching students how to interpret and thoroughly answer assignment questions.  I write and perform poems and make zines. I have a BA. I self-publish. My pronouns are he/him.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Personal Essays, Poetry, Creative Writing, Brainstorming, Citations, and Making Academia Accessible.

(she/her/hers)
I really enjoy working in the writing center. I love the connections I make with students as I support them during the writing process. I am married with three children, two beagles, one cat, and usually a litter of foster kittens. In my spare time, I play tennis, eat tons of chocolate, and read. I earned my MA in reading at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and have been teaching for 22 years.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: summary paragraphs, response paragraphs, thesis writing, essays, 0950

I welcome any opportunity to help students find their voice and confidence in writing and especially love doing so when something is riding on it—such as a job or a scholarship.  I consider writing center work a calling and a privilege and appreciate all I learn from students along the way.  Aside from being the Writing Center Coordinator and a consultant, I teach English here at MCC.  My favorite class is Technical Writing for Culinarians.  As a side gig, I teach and practice mindfulness here and at various local non-profits and organizations. My Ph.D. (from UNL) is in Composition and Rhetoric with an emphasis in writing center theory and pedagogy. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: technical writing, business writing, job documents, scholarships

I love the art of the essay and have a soft spot for creative nonfiction, but literature is also my jam. If you have questions about research, citations or grammar, stop by and chat. I’m a former high school English teacher and journalist. I received my B.A. from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and my M.A. from UNO.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: composition, journalism

I love working with students at every stage in the writing process, but particularly in the early stages of brainstorming and outlining ideas. I also love working with students who have yet to find their confidence as a writer because one of my strengths is seeing the potential in your work and your process!  I have a BS in Sociology, an MFA in Creative Writing, and an MA in Education.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Public Speaking, Sociology, Creative Writing, and English Composition. 

I find the writing process truly fascinating. I love working at the writing center and witnessing how different individuals practice their craft. I’m also eager to help when someone needs assistance. With my broad experience, along with my education, I approach multifarious challenges with an unwavering curiosity and focus. I have worked as a reporter, editor, content creator, publishing assistant, and bookstore manager, and I have also received an MFA in creative writing from Creighton University. My own writing has appeared in various journals and magazines. In 2018, Ghost City Press published my micro-chapbook of fiction, Space, Collisions. It is through engaging with so many different projects and perspectives that I have learned to keep an open mind about the craft. At the writing center, I hope to address issues by actively listening, offering helpful tools, and instilling confidence in the writer and their practice.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: flash fiction, short stories, novels, reviews, interviews, lifestyle articles, news writing

Hi, I’m Leah! I can help you with any phase of the writing process, from brainstorming to proofreading. If you’re anxious about writing for an audience, if you lack confidence, or if you struggle with perfectionism, I have strategies to make writing easier and more fun. Bring your professor’s instructions, and we’ll figure them out together. Or bring a full draft and we can read it together, to make edits or simply to chat about your ideas. My goal is to help you see the strengths you already have as a communicator. 

About me: Alongside working in the writing center, I’ve taught English composition and creative writing at MCC since 2017. In my free time, I love to read sweet romance novels, bake birthday cakes for my friends, and binge-watch old sitcoms. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: confronting writing anxiety; brainstorming ideas and getting started; ENGL 1010, 1020, & 1310 assignments 

I rely on decades of experience teaching students of all ages and ethnicities in ESL and English Language arts, helping them to gain skills, understand rules, and increase fluency and confidence in using and writing English. As English Language Learning Specialist in the Writing Center, I enjoy assisting students with interpreting assignments, brainstorming ideas, accessing their own life experiences, as well as improving skills in organizing content, developing paragraphs, and completing grammatically and clearly understood assignments.

My BA in English/Journalism and MA in English are from UNO, and my Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing is from UN-L. My writing and teaching have received many awards, including a nomination for a Pushcart Prize, the Spirit Award from the Literacy Center of the Midlands and an Excellence in Teaching Award from MCC.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: ESL, grammar, Creative Writing, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, editing.

I’m Michael, and I’ve been working in the Writing Center at Metro for over 10 years. I really enjoy helping students overcome fears and anxieties about writing. I try to help every student simplify the writing process to make it more manageable and productive. I not only work in the Writing Center, but I also teach English Composition I and II at both Metro and the University of Nebraska-Omaha. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a student, and earned Bachelor’s degrees in History and Film Studies, as well as my Master’s in English. When I’m not working, I’m hanging out with my family, watching soccer or basketball, reading, or cooking.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: organization, research papers, arguments, MLA formatting

When I am not trying to write the world’s most honest memoir on travel, food, and love, I can be found tearing up the city streets on my bicycle named Lola.  My favorite color is yellow. I have never met a donut I didn’t like.  I will never turn down the chance to do something brave.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: I am wicked good at Comp I essays, poetry, the life of dirty words, and rock ‘n roll.

I am a poet, artist, and nature lover. In the Writing Center, my goal is to help students explore how language can empower them both inside and outside of the classroom. With a background in creative writing, I believe that people’s stories matter, so I enjoy having conversations with students about how their experiences influence their writing. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: While I’m prepared to help with all writing questions, I especially enjoy discussing creative writing, poetry, narrative essays, and scholarship essays.

I have worked at Metropolitan Community College since 2003.  During that time, I have taught ENGL 1010 and 1020 as an adjunct, both on campus and online, and worked as a consultant in the EVC, FOC, SOC and Online Writing Centers.  I am married and have three wonderful and challenging children, a lovable but moody mutt, and a turtle.  I love reading non-fiction and any newspaper I can get my hands on.  In addition to reading, I like to listen to music, play tennis and take walks.  I am grateful to be a teacher and work in the Writing Center because I get to witness people build their confidence as writers.  I feel like I learn as much as, if not more than, my students each quarter by hearing about their life experiences and watching them grow as students and people. I earned my MA in English from Creighton University. 

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Thesis statements, research, proofreading and writing resumés.

What I enjoy most about working at the Writing Center is diversity among the students. I have taught at MCC for the past 15 years, and my focus is ENGL 0960. I like to help students improve structure and organization in academic writing, while encouraging the writing process to develop their skills, voice, and confidence.

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: communication and scaffolding academic writing support. I also enjoy creative writing, poetry, and writing about art. (She/her/hers)

MA (2004) California State University, Los Angeles

BA (1992) Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada