Getting Students on the Write Path

Hannah Wood ’17 coordinating students and tutors

Hannah Wood ’17 eats, breathes and sleeps words, and she thoroughly enjoys sharing that passion.

As associate director of the Academic Center and coordinator of accessibility at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus, she handles scheduling and coordinates students and tutors. A published author and the holder of two master’s degrees, including an MFA via The Writer’s Foundry at St. Joseph’s University, Ms. Wood is not shy to jump in and tutor students herself.

“Hannah is well-liked and respected by students and faculty for her contributions as an instructor, tutor, and adviser. We look forward to her … adding her own unique talents and skills in leading the center,” said Associate Dean for Student Success Joseph Ross, Ph.D.

The Academic Center is a resource for students seeking help in any aspect of writing. Professional tutors provide expertise and individual assistance on fundamentals, from planning and drafting, to editing and revising assignments.

“Tutors help students with any stage, from brainstorming to outlining, making a thesis, drafting, being that final eye before they turn work in,” explained Ms. Wood, who has worked at the University for six years. “We can help them understand professors’ comments and the assignments in general, and we can also help them study for tests.”

STEM peer tutors help with math, science and business marketing.

“It’s really a resource for students to come to get help with classes, but also just to build up their study skills and organizational skills,” Ms. Wood said.

Ms. Wood’s chief role is to ensure that the tutoring center runs smoothly. She assists the tutors and creates the schedule of tutoring sessions, testing and workshops.

The desired outcome is for a student to feel supported.

“We like to emphasize that we’re not a proofreading service,” she said. “We want these services to enable students to take the learned steps themselves and gain understanding, knowledge and confidence in their ability to organize and write a paper.” she said.

Ms. Wood’s involvement with the Academic Center stemmed from her studies with The Writer’s Foundry.

“My friend was a tutor, and the next year they were hiring and I’ve been here ever since,” she said. She has aspirations to teach college level creative writing, which her MFA allows her to do.

“My Master of Arts is in European and Mediterranean studies, and I focused on Irish literature and culture, so that allows me to teach also,” Ms. Wood said. “The MFA is more specific, since it’s creative writing based.”