Writing Studio

Meet the Undergraduate Staff

Hello! My name is Ingrid Becker and I am a Senior here at Concordia. I am majoring in liberal studies, elementary education with a concentration in Christ College. As an avid procrastinator, you can find me reading (my favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë!), being with my friends, grabbing some boba, or going on spontaneous adventures. Writing has always been a passion of mine and my love for writing led me to join Concordia’s speech team and it gives me great joy to be able to write about and perform topics that are of importance to me. I have experience working with MLA, APA, and CMS formats. I love tackling papers head on like I’m heading into a battle so I am here to assist you in any way I can!

Hello! I'm Owen Duncan, and I'm currently a Senior. I'm from Fargo, North Dakota (which is exactly like the movie). I'm a pre-seminary student here with a double major in English and Music. I have experience working with both MLA and CMS formatting styles, and I have a great love for reading fiction and stories of all types (and editing them). I also have a soft spot for experimental stuff (think Alejandro Zambra), so if you're ever working on a story for a class without any punctuation and you like it that way, I'm your guy. If you don't like it that way, I'm also more than happy to help you with that too. When I'm not working on classwork, you can probably find me in Sigma's practice rooms practicing trombone for the Wind Orchestra, Sinfonietta, or Jazz Band.

Hi! My name is Jordan Kaiser. I'm a reader, writer, archeophile, lover of legend, and now a Senior with a Humanities/Creative Writing major. I have been an active blogger since 2014, and have graded high school papers for the last two years, critiquing genres from fiction and dialogue to exposition and persuasion. For me, words mean something so like any smith who beats and hammers bronze or iron into something beautiful or functional, I love to shape and fashion words into writings that reflect, illuminate and edify.

Hi! My name is Alec Leissring and I am from the great state of Wisconsin! I am a junior English major with a minors in Lutheran Teaching and Global Cultural Studies. I hope to become a Lutheran High School English teacher in order to have meaningful discussions with my students about literature in relation to life. I also hope to help them become strong writers in order continue to succeed in whatever they do in life. I have experience writing MLA and CMS formats as well as with resumes. I have written for professors such as Norton, Santin, Schmidt, Danger, and Solis (among others). I love writing because it allows you to organize and process your thoughts and experiences in order to add deeper insight and express yourself. I believe that writing is one of the most important skills to have in life, which is why I look forward to working with you to help you grow in your writing abilities.

Hi! My name is Makenna Myers and I’m from San Diego, California. I have a passion for words— reading, writing, and editing them. You can find me at my happiest with a pen in my hand and a blank page before me. Appropriately, I am a junior majoring in Humanities with an Emphasis in Creative Writing and a minor in English. Outside of my love creative writing, I have experience writing CMS and MLA formats and have written for professors such as Danger, Armstrong, and Elliott (among many others). I cannot wait to see you in the studio; keep conquering that blank page!

My name is Denise Sprimont, and I am a History and Political Thought major with a Law and Politics minor (although, I spent my first year and a half at Concordia as a Chemistry major). I have experience with MLA, APA, and CMS, and a variety of writing genres. As a senior at Concordia, I have written for many professors, including Armstrong, Koenig, Raghinaru, Karges, Broadbent, and Mallinson. I hope to not only be a kind helping hand but to be a guiding force on the road to good theses and strong sentence structure. I hope to transform the way you see literature and writing and be a stepping stone that you can use to reach success in written communication.

Hello! My name is Noorah Alfaddagh and I transferred to CUI last year. I am a fourth year majoring in Communications. I’m from Saudi Arabia, and reading English books from a young age helped me learn to write until writing became a hobby of mine. To me, writing is not only words and sentences on a piece of paper, but also an outlet of expression. When I’m not on campus, you can find me at the movies or walking my dog at the beach. I’m very excited to be part of the Writing Studio this year and to be able to guide and help my fellow students through the writing process!

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Gleeson. I am currently a junior at Concordia and am very excited to work at the Writing Studio! My degree is a BA in Humanities with a double emphasis in Creative Writing and Spanish, as well as a minor is Marketing. In terms of writing, my specialization is in non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. I have experience in MLA and CMS, as well as in extensive academic research papers. I have written for classes with many professors, including: Danger, Jones, Soper, Ring, Croll, Karges, and more. As far as business and marketing go, I have worked on and developed business plans and marketing plans, and understand the fundamental necessities for those assignments. My hope with my appointments is to help students develop and fine-tune their papers while also teaching them tactics that can make the writing process easier or more efficient in the future.

Hey! My name is Zoie Moore and I’m a junior Liberal Studies major from Southern California. I plan to graduate with my teaching credential and go on to become an elementary school teacher. I’m also the Resident Assistant for the Honors LLC and a part of the Concordia Speech Team, so you may have seen me around! You’ve probably also seen me at Eagle’s drinking coffee and eating all of the tater tots. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and while I feel my strongest area is academic writing such as research papers, I am also experienced in creative writing, poetry, and constructing speeches (I can help with your public speaking class!) I’ve worked with MLA, CMS, and APA styles and would love to encourage you in your writing process, so come on in and say hello!

Hey! My name is Kirstie Schierkolk. (If you Google “words that rhyme with Kirstie,” literally the only option is “thirsty.” Go figure.) I grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico, where I learned to speak Spanish and dump hot sauce on my popcorn. I’m a junior studying Liberal Arts with a literature emphasis, along with some scattered science classes to eventually pursue a nursing career. I also participated in the sixth Around-the-World Semester and was a finalist in the President’s Academic Showcase. What I hope to convey as a writing consultant is that words can be powerful in the hands of people who want to use them well. If you think you hate writing, come talk to me! If English is your second language and you can’t figure out what to say, come talk to me! If you’re a word nerd and you want to hone your nerdiness, come talk to me! Everybody uses words. I’d love to give you tools to use them well.

Hello! My name is Natalie Wellman, and I’m a senior here at Concordia. I am majoring in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Psychology and a minor in Communication. Although I am not majoring in English, I have always loved reading and writing! I am currently a part of the Concordia speech team which allows me to be creative while talking about my passions and editing/organizing different types of writing. When I’m not at a speech practice or tournament, you can find me hanging out with friends, drinking boba, or off to Disneyland! I have the most experience with APA formatting, but I’ve also written papers in MLA and CMS. I have always loved helping people, so I am excited to help you achieve your best version of writing!

Meet the Professional Staff

Hello, my name is Elisa Andersen, and I've been working at the Writing Studio since 2016. I have a BA in English and a minor in Creative Writing from Concordia University Irvine and an MA in Publishing from City, University of London. While studying at Concordia, I was lucky enough to be the Editor of The Aerie, Concordia's Literary Magazine, and a Core Peer Tutor for CENG 202. Currently, I work as an Editorial & Marketing Assistant at Plural Publishing. I look forward to another year of helping graduate and online students as an OWL consultant! My best advice for all writers is that your topic is everything. The best essays are the ones that you've enjoyed writing.

Hi! I’m Kendall Davis and I graduated from CUI back in 2016 with a BA in Biblical Languages and Theatre. While an undergraduate at CUI I worked for the Writing Studio and the OWL. I’m currently working on my MDiv with Concordia Seminary St. Louis where I have continued to provide writing tutoring and editing services to both Masters and Doctoral students at the Seminary. I am currently living in Wichita, KS while serving on my vicarage. In the past year I helped to start Concordia Seminary’s student journal, Grapho, which published its first issue this past May. I have a deep love for helping people utilize writing as a medium to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively and persuasively. I look forward to reading your work.

Hi there! I’m Zach Dean, and I graduated from CUI in 2013 with a BA in English and a minor in Global Cultural Studies. After spending over two years in human resources, I made the decision to pursue graduate studies as a full-time student at Cal State University Long Beach, where I am working towards my Masters in English Literature. Ultimately, my hope is to teach literature and writing to undergraduate and graduate students like yourself. My favorite activities include reading, traveling, baking, and spending far too much time browsing cat videos on Youtube. I am thrilled to be a part of the OWL (a secret dream of mine since my years as an undergraduate at CUI) and am looking forward to reading your essays, stories, emails, and whatever else you pass along to us!

Hello all! My name is Kristina Deusch, and I graduated from CUI in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Marketing. As an undergrad, I worked with other students as a Core Peer Tutor and a Writing Studio Consultant during much of my time at Concordia. Since then, I've studied book and magazine publishing for a summer at NYU, and I've worked as an Editorial Assistant at Cambridge University Press in New York City. I now live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and I work as a Production Editor at Oxford University Press, helping to publish academic journals for the benefit of writers and researchers like you. My hobbies include humming along to classical music, eating lots of chocolate, and collecting far more books than my shelves can hold. I love reading OWL papers, and I look forward to working together with you from here on the East Coast.

Hi there! My name is Margaret Langdon, though everyone calls me Maggie. I graduated summa cum laude from CUI in 2014, with a major in International Studies and a minor in Creative Writing. While there, I was, among other things, a section editor for the Concordia Courier, a co-editor for the 2014 edition of the Aerie, and the periodic president of the poetry club. I continue to believe everyone is a poet, even if they don’t know it! After graduation, I branched out into the world of technical editing, working for an engineering firm. Since then, I’ve returned to CUI to pursue a master’s degree in Theology, and remain involved on campus with the Master’s Chorale. I’m excited to encourage you in your work, and I’m looking forward to helping you express your great ideas!

Hi, my name is David Moore! Learning and helping others learn are my passions. When we discover goodness, truth, and beauty in the world and in others, we learn more of what it means to be. It is all very exciting! One of the ways by which we discover the meaning of being is through writing. When we write about something—whether it be about an important topic or even mundane activities—we take it in and make it a part of ourselves. The better our writing is about a subject, the better we understand it. Therefore, it is my goal to help you produce the best writing that you are able to create—not only for the benefit of your readers, but also for your deeper understanding. It is my pleasure to assist you on this journey!
I hold a BA in Philosophy from the University of Missouri and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University. I am currently earning my MA in German Studies from the University of Missouri.

Hi! I’m Kellie Moore. I graduated from CUI in 2010 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Creative Writing. I worked in the Writing Studio for two years as an undergrad, and I'm delighted to be part of the Online Writing Lab team. At CUI, I fell in love with journalism through my work as an editor of The Concordia Courier. I went on to earn a master’s degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. Since then, I've managed a religion news website, reported for an NPR affiliate, taught high school English, and worked as a copy editor. Now, I'm a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer/editor. I live in Texas with my husband, our daughter, and our cat.

Hello! I’m Stacey Parker. I graduated with a BA in English and minors in creative writing and marketing from CUI in 2010. I am currently serving as the Student Services Assistant for the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program, a creative living-learning community for students interested in writing and the arts, at the University of Michigan. I am a freelance copy editor for Concordia Publishing House and the editorial assistant for Lutheran Mission Matters, a journal published twice a year by the Lutheran Society for Missiology. I love spending time with my husband and my pugs, Duke and Chewy, watching movies, reading, traveling, and sending real mail to my family and friends. I’m passionate about editing and working with people, and I consider it a privilege to get to work with you.

Hi, I'm Johanna Saleska Lange -- writer, instructor, tutor, editor, and all-around lover of language! I hold a BA in English from CUI and an MA in rhetoric and composition from the University of Missouri, Columbia (Go Tigers!). As Lead Writing Consultant, I help train our Writing Studio and OWL staff members, develop and run academic writing workshops, and create/collect writing resources for students and faculty. I have taught courses across disciplines, including Freshmen Seminar, Writing and Research, Art of the Essay, Business Writing and Presentation, and Intro to Genre and Craft in Creative Writing. I am also a freelance dissertation editor. When I'm not teaching, editing, or "OWL-ing" (totally a word), you'll likely find me exploring local wilderness trails, making messes in my kitchen, reading copious amounts of fiction, writing weird short stories and poems, busting out yoga poses, or consuming way too much coffee. Contrary to popular belief, reading OWL submissions is actually quite fun and often wonderfully enlightening! I look forward to working with you!

Greetings! My Name is Joe Sampson and it is my privilege to serve as a consultant for the CUI Writing Studio. I hold a BA in Spanish from the University of LaVerne, and an MA in Religion Education with an emphasis in cross-cultural education from Concordia University Irvine. I went through the doctoral program in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership at Arizona Northcentral University and recognize the complexities of the dissertation process. I have been blessed to have found career success as a teacher, DCE, and most recently as a law enforcement executive management consultant for the State of California Department of Justice. My hobbies include, playing drums, coaching girls’ volleyball, and of course, reading and writing. Let’s get writing!

Hey I'm Jenna Spradley! I'd like to share a thought with you:

"All stories have a beginning, a middle, and an ending, and if they're any good, the ending is a beginning."
~James Clavell

This quote reminds me of the beauty in process—in writing, my Christian faith, and social work. Each of these things are close to my heart. I have a B.A. in Psychology and a Master of Social Work (MSW). I’m honored to be invited into each story—spoken and written, and I’m delighted to work with you on the Online Writing Lab! I promise to provide non-judgmental, humble yet critical, analysis and advice for whatever style paper you have.

Hi! My name is Lauren Taylor. I graduated from CUI in the winter of 2016, where I studied English and creative writing. I have a master’s degree in English Studies: Contemporary Writing. I am from a little town up in the Great Gray North (a.k.a. Washington State). When I was a student at CUI, I had the opportunity to co-edit The Aerie and help revise student papers as a T.A. for Dr. Cosgrove. Now, as a graduate, I have been working as a substitute teacher for middle and high school students while pursuing my teaching license. I love to read, over-analyze movies, craft, make horrendous puns, and discover long and unusual words. I’d love to help you out with forming a strong thesis, using appropriate syntax and evidence, and, hopefully, aid you in discovering your voice and style as a writer.

Hello! My name is MacKenzie Feeken and I graduated cum laude from CUI in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Psychology. During my time as an undergrad, I worked for two years as a Writing Studio Consultant. I have experience with helping student writers across a wide range of academic disciplines including Business, Athletic Training, Psychology, and more. When I wasn't at the Writing Studio or writing essays for class, I was usually at cheer practice or hiking French Hill. Currently, I am pursuing an Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in School Psychology at California State University, San Bernardino. The Ed.S. program has given me much practice in writing concisely and persuasively while maintaining legally defensible language for special education. I look forward to reading your OWL submissions and walking alongside you throughout your writing journey!