Meet Our Staff

Alex Hack is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California, where she received her Master’s in the same field. Having previously received her B.F.A. from Parsons School of Design, she has a background in communication and UI design. Her dissertation project takes up medicine and its software as fertile ground for humanistic analysis as they force us to consider that racial harm lies too in supposed benevolence, that it has become elemental and rhizomatic, and that its killer instinct doesn’t simply resolve with more training or better data. Alex loves teaching and has experience teaching in both Cinema and Media and Gender Studies, and her writing utilizes both these fields, as well as African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Sociology, Environmental Studies, History, and the Medical Humanities. She has experience with short and long-form personal and academic essays, research papers, resumes and C.V.s, script writing, cover letters, personal statements, and more. Alex is a potter in her free time and also enjoys a good period drama.

Amelia “Amy” Cruz (she/they) is a Ph.D. candidate in the English Department at USC Dornsife. She earned her B.A. in English Literature and Women’s and Gender Studies from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Amy’s work sits at the crossroads of literary, disability, neurodivergence, and queer studies. Her dissertation interrogates the “leaky” boundaries of the human/inhuman binary, and the subversive potential of the autistic way of being. Amy served as an Assistant Lecturer in the Writing Program, so she has lots of experience with the ins and outs of Writing 150. Feel free to ask for tips on how to thrive in college or graduate school while neurodivergent (i.e., a person with one or more learning and/or cognitive disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc.)! Amy’s favorite part of teaching is working with students to find solutions that work with their brain, rather than against it. In her free time, Amy enjoys seeing Ghibli movies at the New Beverly Cinema, rewatching Criminal Minds for the fourteenth time, and cross stitching with a fuzzy orange cat on her lap.

Brian Arechiga (he/him) is currently a Ph.D. candidate studying English Literature at USC Dornsife. Although he researches Mexican-American and post-modern literature, his primary research focuses on conspiracy theories. By studying them through the lens of literary analysis, he hopes to understand how conspiracies pervert traditional storytelling techniques in order to push their twisted narratives. Prior to USC, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA with a degree in English and minor in History. His undergraduate research thesis focused on a semiotic analysis of the 2016 conspiracy PizzaGate. For the last six years, he has guided high school and college students through their numerous essays, college applications, cover letters, résumés and other miscellaneous writing tasks. Outside of schoolwork, Brian enjoys playing music, creating video games, writing screenplays, and taking care of his cat, Kiwi.

Camila Reyes (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the English department and a Wallis Annenberg Endowed Fellow at USC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, where she was a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow and won the English Department’s Undergraduate Student Essay Contest Award in 2018. She also previously worked at UC Riverside’s Writing Center. Her research interests lie at the intersections of girlhood studies, queer theory, and early modern English literature. Other research interests include law and literature, and performance studies. Camila served as an instructor for Writing 150 and her main areas of writing experience are in the humanities and social sciences. She also has experience working with first-generation students, English as a second language students, and nontraditional students. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and birdwatching.

Carolina Muñoz (she/her) is a second-year Ph.D. student studying English Literature at USC Dornsife. She earned her BA in English and minor in Education at the University of California, Riverside. Carolina has served as the Assistant Editor-in-Chief for the UC Riverside Undergraduate Research Journal, where she aided in publishing student research articles from various disciplines. Additionally, she has tutored community college students and taught undergraduate students, helping scholars’s develop reading and writing skills and providing mentorship on topics related to navigating higher education. Through her mentorship, she also has experience building and editing resumes. Carolina’s research lies in the field of Chicanx and Latinx studies. Her interests include hiking, cooking and baking, crocheting, and exploring taco trucks around Los Angeles.

Celeste Oon (she/her) is an M.A. student and TA in Cinema and Media Studies. She previously completed her BA in Linguistics and Asian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research revolves around internet platforms, online communities, and celebrity/fan relations. She’s particularly interested in how power and intimacy are negotiated among individuals in digital spaces. Her main areas of writing experience are in the social sciences and humanities. She also has a passion for helping students with application materials (for schools, scholarships, special programs, etc.) and has worked with many non-native speakers. In the past, she has served as a writing coach, tutor, and editor-in-chief for student publications, and as a translator for unions. Nowadays, you can find her dipping her toes into the podcasting space. Outside of her studies, she enjoys finding good restaurants around L.A., listening to loud music, and wasting time watching Reels and TikToks.

Cory Elizabeth Nelson (she/her) holds a PhD in English and American literature and is an Associate Professor (Teaching) in the Writing Program.  Cory has been teaching writing for over ten years and has particular experience working with graduate students on papers/articles, dissertations, and job-application materials.  However, she is also eager to work with undergraduates and is familiar with writing conventions in a wide range of disciplines.  Outside of USC, Cory enjoys sketching and painting, playing board games, and cheering on her favorite sumo wrestlers.

Dr. Dan Rosen (he/him) has a Ph.D. in Cinema and Media Studies from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He received his B.A. in Anthropology, with minors in linguistics and classics, from the University at Buffalo and his M.A. in Cinema and Media Studies here at USC. Dan is familiar with the expectations and nuances of writing across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. His areas of writing experience include anthropology, archaeology, film and media studies, gender and sexuality studies, linguistics, critical theory, classics, and game studies. Before returning to graduate school, Dan worked in the non-profit sector and also has experience with résumés, cover letters, graduate school applications, and other forms of professional writing. His research focuses on how social and political ideas and positions are coded into digital media, web platforms, and video games.

Ellie Xu (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in Clinical Science. Her research focuses on understanding how deficits in emotion regulation contribute to the development, maintenance, and recurrence of affective disorders, such as depression. Ellie received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from the University of Chicago, and has experience reviewing academic essays in those fields, as well as résumés, CVs, cover letters, graduate school applications, and fellowship applications. Outside of work, Ellie enjoys hiking, reading, and exploring neighborhoods and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Jaden Morales (they/them) is a second-year Ph.D. student and Teaching Assistant in the Department of American Studies & Ethnicity. Prior to USC, Jaden received their B.A. in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration from Yale University. Their graduate research considers the social and political intimacies that link the geographies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean to the Pacific vis-á-vis transnational circuits of bodies, capital, commodities, and knowledges to examine the formation of U.S. empire and global colonial-capitalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jaden’s area of writing experience spans the humanities—history, ethnic studies, cultural studies, gender and sexuality studies—as well as application materials such as résumés, cover letters, and personal statements. Before graduate school, Jaden worked for two years as a litigation paralegal for an employment and labor law firm in Washington D.C; thus, they’re also apt to assist with legal and business writing. Outside the classroom, Jaden enjoys curating playlists, exploring L.A.’s food scene, and teaching themselves to rollerskate.

Janet Song (she/they) is a Ph.D. student in the English department. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies at Vassar College in 2023. Her research interests are centered around American literature, focusing on the 19th century and on Asian American literature. She can assist in academic essays, graduate school applications, and works of creative writing.

Kalaiah Vaughn (she/her) hails from Dallas, Texas and is completing her MFA in Writing for Film and Television at the School of Cinematic Arts. She previously graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Master’s in Liberal Studies with a concentration in American Studies. She received dual BA Degrees in English and Sociology from the University of Houston. Currently, her writing centers on telling stories from unheard perspectives for both film and television. She is particularly interested in stories that center women as multi-dimensional. Prior to coming to USC, she was a high school English teacher, specializing in AP English Literature and AP English Language and Composition. Currently, Kalaiah enjoys helping scholars write essays, research papers, annotated bibliographies, literature reviews, discussion posts, resumes, cover letters, creative writing, speeches, blog posts, as well as brainstorm before they begin writing. When she’s not writing scripts, Kalaiah enjoys walking the beach and giving free belly rubs to the dogs in her neighborhood

Kat (Katrina) Tran (she/her) is a Rossier EdD candidate researching effective reflective discourse practices alongside educational leaders. After earning a B.A. in Communication Studies at UCLA and an M.A. in Elementary Education from LMU, Kat taught elementary, middle school, and high school students for over a decade. With twenty years of writing and editing experience for various publications and populations, she offers students support in reviewing personal statements, creative pieces, and research papers. Outside of “dissertating,” Kat enjoys reading, adventuring, and seeking out the next delicious meal.

Mahnoor Ali (she/her) is a Ph.D. student studying Comparative Media and Culture at USC Dornsife. Her work operates on the intersection of literary and museum studies and explores themes of spatiality, communal memory, and cultural identity. She is interested in how these themes shape visual and literary narratives of displacement and diaspora. Mahnoor completed her B.A. in Comparative Literature at Harvard with a secondary field in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. She also has an MPhil in English Criticism and Culture from the University of Cambridge. She has done ethnographic research in France and literary research in Turkey and can advise on fellowship and internship application materials (personal statements, cover letters, etc.) in addition to essays across disciplines. She also enjoys writing fiction and would be happy to discuss your creative projects! Outside of the classroom, Mahnoor has made significant progress in her quests to find the best pain au chocolat on the West Coast and to prove that Los Angeles is, contrary to popular opinion, a walkable city.

Mandy Hobmeier (she/her) received her Ph.D. in English from University of Washington in 2014. As an Associate Professor of Teaching in the USC Writing Program, she teaches in both the lower-division and upper-division writing curriculums in the areas of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Globalization, as well as specialized coursework in Grant Writing.  Mandy has spent time working internationally and her research has focused in cross-cultural perspectives related to educational development, particularly in writing studies. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, and thus enjoys working with students from various backgrounds across writing genres. Mandy has great interest in writing for specific purposes such as fellowships, scholarships, grants, manuscripts, and application dossiers for higher education. She embraces consulting with students at all stages of the writing process, and thrives in collaborative learning environments like writing centers.

Morgan Lynch (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Clinical Science area of the Psychology Department in Dornsife. Her research explores the various factors that contribute to why and how people age differently, spanning from the cellular level to the individual and broader community levels. She is passionate about the strength of social connections in preventing or delaying neurodegeneration. Morgan has worked in psychology, neuroscience, and biology research for about 10 years. During that time, she has built expertise in reviewing essays for academic courses and manuscripts for journals, as well as résumés/CVs, cover letters, graduate school personal statements, and conference/fellowship applications. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys taking her dog to the park, hiking, and trying new ice cream flavors.

Robert Waller (he/him) is Director of the Writing Center and an Associate Professor (Teaching) in the Writing Program. Professor Waller received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, where he studied oral history and music, and has a degree in creative writing from USC.   Robert has over 20 years of experience teaching writing with a particular focus on using writing as a tool to explore and reveal the creative process. At USC, he developed the popular Special Topics WRIT 340 course, Writing for Visual and Performing Artists, that aims to help students articulate their own aesthetics and through this process expand their understanding both of writing and the meanings and purposes driving their work.  In addition to his work at USC, Waller is also an active performing songwriter and musician who has toured internationally and had his songs appear in TV and film. Robert lives in Highland Park with his wife, three children, and two cats.

Roberto Diaz (he/him) is a J.D. candidate in USC’s Gould School of Law. He received his B.S. in Foreign Service with a minor in French from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 2019. He taught several high school social studies courses, including AP government and AP microeconomics, at a public charter school in Texas for three years. Additionally, Roberto spent a year as a publicist for the economics department of a Washington D.C. think tank, where he edited op-eds and pitched them to major news publications. Roberto is interested in researching and writing about numerous topics at the intersection of economics, law, and policy.  Outside of his studies, Roberto loves to run and watch Lakers basketball games.

Sandra Ross is a second generation Trojan and native Angeleno who spends her time away from USC exploring bookshops, theaters, and art galleries from Venice to East LA. She is a fan of punk rock and an avid art collector, with a focus on contemporary Southern California artists. Sandra also collects pulp fiction novels from the 1950s, finding them insightful sociological documents of the time period, as well as examples of overwrought prose. An advocate for social justice and free speech, she draws inspiration from her students. She presented “The Rhetoric of Apology: Or I’m Sorry YOU Feel that Way” at the 2015 CCCC, “The Erasure of Memory in Los Angeles” at the 2016 PAMLA Conference, and “Race, Class, Gender, and Zombies” at the 2018 FWPCA Conference. In addition, she is writing a murder mystery set in Echo Park which focuses on a nefarious cult of vegan hipsters.

Skyler Osburn (he/him) graduated summa cum laude, with degrees in English and philosophy as well as a minor in French, from Oklahoma State University. He completed his MA in cinema studies here at USC and is now a PhD student in the same discipline. His primary areas of writing proficiency are the formal analysis of film and literature, philosophical history and argumentation, and literary theory and criticism. He has presented his work for the Popular Culture Association and the Society for Cinema and Media Studies. His current areas of focus are the Marxian-economic analysis of film history, the political philosophy of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, and Buddhist readings of film theory.

Stephanie Mullings (she/her) is a Ph.D. student in Creative Writing and Literature. She received her B.A. in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Michigan and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University. Her main areas of writing expertise include creative writing, social sciences and humanities, history, and academic writing. Stephanie’s fiction writing has appeared in various literary magazines, including Boulevard, Catapult, the Los Angeles Review, and elsewhere. She is originally from Chicago, an avid WNBA and N.B.A. fan, and a proud sneakerhead.

Uchechukwu (she/her) is an accomplished scholar with a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the African University of Science & Technology (AUST), specializing in nanomaterials and sustainable solutions (Biomaterials), having earned her bachelor and master in Biochemistry. She is pursuing her MBA at USC Marshall School of Business as a full-merit scholar and Forté Fellow. Prior to MBA, she was a lecturer at AUST. Uchechukwu brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and business acumen to the Writing Center, where she is passionate about helping students articulate their ideas clearly and confidently. With a strong commitment to mentoring, particularly for young women in STEM, she enjoys guiding students through the writing process while encouraging their academic growth. Outside of work, Uchechukwu is an avid traveler and community advocate, dedicated to coaching and volunteering in her spare time.

Yousef Alghawi (they/them) is a third year Ph.D. in the Division of Cinema and Media Studies in the School of Cinematic Arts. They received their B.A. in Political Science and English, with a minor in philosophy, from the University of Florida and an M.A. in Cinema Studies at New York University. Yousef is a cross-disciplinary writer who works throughout a range of discourses, subjects, and mediums, including political science, literature, film, theory, sociology and anthropology, among others. Yousef has also worked many years in non-profit, political, and activist spaces, with a wealth of experience with CVs, applications and résumés. Yousef’s research revolves around film as philosophy, ethics, postmodernist literature, audio-visual decay, phenomenology, gender, and political ideologies.

Zaina Ujayli (she/hers) is a Ph.D. student in the American Studies & Ethnicity Department. Her research is currently on the female writers and activists of the twentieth-century Syrian American diaspora. You can read her published work on them in ArabLit Quarterly and American Periodicals. Before she came to Los Angeles, she completed her M.A. in English Literature at the University of Virginia. In the past, she has worked with students on research papers, personal statements, dissertation chapters, cover letters, and fiction. When she is not sifting through archives, she is fighting with other screenwriters over tables at her favorite coffee spots to try to make progress on her own screenplays.