All of our Graduate Peer Writing Consultants participate in extensive training before they are available for appointments.

Joanna Ye

Joanna is a third year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2019 with a BA in Public Health Studies, where she gained extensive experience in scientific writing as well as writing for social media platforms. Joanna serves as the 2022-2023 President of the University Student Government Association (USGA) to improve the student experience and to advocate for all UMB students. She is excited to meet the vibrant and passionate writers of UMB and to assist you in meeting your writing goals. Outside of the classroom and clinic, Joanna is an avid reader (especially, recently, of the xianxia genre), a proud Navy spouse, and cat mom to three cats.

Parul Sarma Aryasomayajula

I am Parul Sarma Aryasomayajula, passionate biotechnologist intrigued in the pharmaceutical sciences. I am currently pursuing MS Pharmaceutical Sciences at UMB Graduate School. I am from India and multilingual. I like to interact with people from diverse culture and fields. I have great interest in writing and I have previously worked on scientific reports and publications. I believe there is no one perfect way of writing. Writing is very subjective to me. I am open to have deep conversations which can help you and me to bring the best outcome.

Rajlaxmi Deshpande

Originally from India, Being an avid reader and active listener, I have always enjoyed exploring different aspects and forms of language and literature. I personally thank my mother who introduced me towards reading since primary school. I love expressing my thoughts, views and ideas about random things I read, into a diary. In my opinion, writing our hearts out is the best way to express yourself to any kind of audience. As invested as I still am in reading, I have experienced a variety of writing styles and types. Creative writing, articles, poems, essays, research papers, etc. all are my favorite. If I was ever given a chance to pursue my hobby as career, I would definitely end up being a writer.

Rebekah Schrier

Rebekah Schrier grew up in Anne Arundel County, MD and now lives in Prince George's County. She is completing a dual degree in Social Work and Public Policy (at UMD College Park). This year she is interning at the Maryland General Assembly with Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. She completed her undergraduate degree at University of Delaware where she majored in Human Services and minored in Psychology and Cognitive Science. She worked as a peer writing consultant starting sophomore year of undergrad. She loves that she's had the opportunity to continue working in a writing center at UMB. She is grateful that UMB's Writing Center centers anti-racism and anti-oppression, acknowledging the ways that white supremacy ideologies are embedded in writing. She appreciates having critical conversations about the history of white language supremacy and standardized English. In her free time she enjoys tap dancing and listening to the Dissect podcast. 

Rupini Shukla

Rupini is a 4th year dental student at University of Maryland School of Dentistry. She graduated from UMBC in 2016 with a BS in biology and BA in psychology, where she worked as a writing fellow for peers. She then pursued her MPH at University of Maryland School of Medicine. Rupini is passionate about the crossover between oral and public health, and hopes to specialize in pediatric dentistry. She's been working with clients at the UMB writing center since 2017 and loves her job! In her free time, Rupini enjoys listening to the newest audiobooks and podcasts, exploring coffee shops, baking, and hiking. Fun fact: Rupini has a small baking business via Instagram, check her out at @the_smart_cookie_rups!

Victoria Hudson

Victoria Hudson is a 2nd-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student. She earned a BS in International Health from Georgetown University in 2016. She has spent five years working in community health education and national health policy in the public health sector. She strives to become an equity and integrative health-focused health care practitioner who seeks to support underserved patient populations. While serving as the USGA programming coordinator for the executive board, her goal is to promote diverse, accessible, and safe events for all students. Additionally, Victoria is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within UMB. In Victoria’s spare time, she enjoys going on runs, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with her husband and two cats.

Victoria Palandati 

Victoria Palandati (she/her/hers) grew up in the mountains of New York. She first came to Baltimore over 10 years ago to study Anthropology and Writing at Hopkins. Upon graduating Victoria worked as a teacher with AmeriCorps and The Peace Corps. She missed Baltimore, so returned and started work with Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School. Now, she is currently working on a second Bachelors at the School of Nursing. Victoria loves the outdoors and can often be found climbing, hiking, skiing, or canoeing. When she isn't out in nature she is sewing or playing lacrosse with her toddler. 

Isabell C. May, PhD

Dr. Isabell May (she, her, hers) has been directing the Writing Center at UMB since early 2017. Dr. May also serves as faculty in the UMB Graduate School's Science Communication Program, where she teaches "Technical Writing" and "Writing a Journal Article." Before her tenure at UMB, Dr. May oversaw the Writing Center at the University of Baltimore, founded the Writing Center for Academic English at Leuphana University in Luenburg, Germany, and directed the Center for Academic Success at the Universities at Shady Grove. She earned her PhD in American Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. A native of Germany, Dr. May came to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship in 1999 and has resided in Maryland, with a two-year interruption in Lueneburg, Germany, ever since. If Dr. May is not busy writing her blog, researching, or working with writers, she can be found swimming in URecFit's amazing pool or at an Orioles game. Email: imay@umaryland.edu

James Wright, MFA

James Wright (he, him, his) is a white settler raised in a subdivision on Shawnee ancestral lands in rural Central Kentucky. His father, Dale, was was a country lawyer, Democratic politician, and son of Virginia Wright, a resilient homemaker and minister to the congregation of her spouse, the Reverend Carl Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. James’s mother, Charlotte, taught business math at local high schools and, in the last decade of her career as an educator, administered technology services in the Anderson County School District. She is the daughter of Louise Bowen, whose humor, compassion, and dedication to her community transformed lives, and Ollie Bowen, who, after losing both of his parents by the age of 12, went on to attend George Washington University Law School and then returned to his hometown to serve as a legislator, county attorney, and district judge. The presence of these relatives carries James through his work as associate director and multilingual writing specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Writing Center. He collaborates with peer consultants, faculty, staff, and students on writing pedagogy, writing curriculum development, faculty development initiatives, and writing center practice. His doctoral research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, draws on theories of language, race, (im)migration, and identity to describe and understand more just and equitable approaches to writing and literacy education in the academy, Baltimore communities, and beyond. Email: james.wright@umaryland.edu

Sharéa Harris, MFA

I'm Sharéa, a black woman writer and educator from the American South; I have a passion for communication. I love learning, exploring, and creating new ways to language. I've worked in academia for the past decade guiding learners as they compose effective language for their classes and their life. Over that same decade, I've released and managed several creative projects that've brought me joy. I love facilitating growth and confidence in an individuals use of their voice.

Hannah Mueller, MA

Hannah (she/her/hers) first connected with the Writing Center in 2019 when she did a practicum in anti-racist writing center praxis as part of her MA in Education program with Prescott College. Now, she’s back as a writing specialist, pursuing her passion for collaborating with graduate student writers and dismantling standardized English ideology. She's also building her writing coaching and editing business, Hannah Mueller Editorial. Originally from North Jersey, Hannah has a BA in English from Bryn Mawr College and environmental education and farming experience from AmeriCorps in Vermont. She worked for 6 years with Baltimore’s immigrant community as a program coordinator with the Esperanza Center’s Educational Services. In her free time, she loves reading, spending time with family and friends, contra dancing, hiking and camping. Email: hmueller@umaryland.edu