Meet Our Writing Assistants
Highly trained and experienced writing assistants are available to help you either in-person or over Zoom to become a more confident and skilled writer.
Tait Vigeland
Hello! My name is Tait Vigeland (she/her). I am an English major with Spanish and Political Science minors (class of ' 25) and I came to UP from San Juan Capistrano, California. I enjoy cooking, reading, being outside and hanging out with my friends. I also love school and always want to help my peers, so I’m excited to be in the position of a Writing Assistant and I look forward to working with students in their writing processes.
Charlie La'Porte
Hi! My name is Charlie, and I am a Psychology major with a gender, women, and sexuality studies minor (class of '25). I am from Seattle, WA, and like to read, hang out with my friends, and throw a frisbee around. I am excited to be a WA because I want to talk through people's writing with them!
Robin Aughney
Hello! My name is Robin (he/him), and I'm an English and Environmental Ethics & Policy double major (class of '26). I'm from Pacifica, California, and I do multidisciplinary research with CHIRP Lab and environmental policy here at UP. I enjoy reading with my cat, listening to NPR, making art, and exploring forests with friends. If you're looking for someone to talk to about your writing in any field, I'd be happy to. Hope to see you in the Writing Center soon!
Annika Maxwell
Hello everyone! My name is Annika Maxwell (she/her), and I’m an English major (class of '25) from San Diego. My favorite things to do are to cook, play Sims, and take excessively long naps. I love to get to know people and work with them on their writing, so I can’t wait to see you at the Writing Center!
Frances Cardenas
Hi! my name is Frances and I use she/they pronouns. I am a Psychology and Sociology major with an emphasis in Criminology and a Fine Arts minor (class of '26). I’m from Reno, Nevada (I love the Reno/Tahoe area). I love to read, I love baking/cooking, I love to make friendship bracelets, and I love music. I hope to be able to assist you with your writing.
Kimberly Cortez
Hey! My name is Kimberly Cortez (She/They), and I am a junior social work major with a Spanish minor. I am originally from Orange County, California, but I consider Portland my home. Besides writing, I love to rock climb, hangout with friends and spend time with my cat Skimble. I became a WA because I know what it's like to be scared of the writing process. I hope that by meeting with me, you can feel empowered to write and to feel more comfortable tackling any writing assignment that comes your way.
Tiffany Marques Escobar
My name is Tiffany (she/her/ella). I’m a Political Science and Global Affairs major with minors in Writing and Spanish (class of '25). I’m from San Jose, CA. During my free time I like to read and watch lots of movies and TV shows (sometimes the same ones over and over). As a WA, I want to help struggling students feel supported and develop confidence in their writing. This is a judge-free zone!
Claire Beaumont
Hello! My name is Claire Beaumont (she/her). I'm an English and Secondary Education major and French minor (class of ‘26) from Seattle, Washington. When I'm not hunkering down at a table in P House or the quiet level of the library, I enjoy reading articles on Literary Hub and The Guardian, listening to the same song on repeat, and daydreaming about international travel. I'm excited to help my peers discover and polish their unique writerly voices!
Anthony Giesch
Hello! My name is Anthony Giesch (he/him). I am a French and Political Science double major (class of '27) from Newberg, Oregon. I’m on the Cross Country and Track team, I love coffee, and I find pleasure in spending time outdoors. I enjoy being a Writing Assistant because I love getting to meet new people frequently. I want to inspire students to take pride in their writing and become more confident writers.
Kaylee Monahan
Hi, everyone! My name is Kaylee (she/her) and I’m an English and Political Science & Global Affairs double major (class of ‘26). I’m a Portland local, and after transferring to UP my sophomore year, I’m so happy to be back home. I love all things literature, and if I’m not nose deep in a book, you’ll find me cooking, running, or perusing local antique shops. The writing process can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be solitary. I’d love to collaborate with you in the WC!
Niall Sexton
Hello! My name is Niall (he/him), and I’m an English and Secondary Education double major (class of ‘27) from Minneapolis, Minnesota. In my free time I like to read, snowboard, and play/watch hockey. I am excited to be a Writing Assistant because I really enjoy talking with people about writing. Hope to see you in the Writing Center soon!
Emma Abraham
Hi y’all! I’m Emma Abraham (she/her/hers). I am a Psychology major (class of ‘27) from Portland, Oregon. My passions settle in illustration and creative writing, experimenting in tea and coffee drinks, and discovering/creating music! I’m excited to be of help as a Writing Assistant on campus, to provide assistance and guidance to all writers in any stage of the process. I hope to encourage students to improve and become comfortable in the professional world of language, while growing as a writer myself!
Ash Brady
Hi! My name is Ash (she/her) and I’m a nursing major from San Francisco, CA. In my free time I like to rock climb, run, hike, read, and try different snacks from Trader Joe’s. I get so much value from the Writing Center as a student, and I hope you will too. I’m excited to help you with your writing!
Pearl Hilton
Hiya! My name is Pearl, I use she/her pronouns, and I'm from St. Helens, Oregon. I'm studying biochemistry (class of ‘27) in hopes of becoming a medical laboratory scientist. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, playing The Sims 4, and petting neighborhood cats. I became a Writing Assistant because I gain fulfillment from connecting with my community and engaging in academic discussion. I hope to see you in the Writing Center this semester!
Maggie Mailee Redden
Hi, I am Maggie Mailee (she/her). I am a history major (class of '26) from Portland, Oregon. I love reading, cooking, and collecting house plants! While I am always here to help with your history papers, I also love any opportunity to talk with anybody about their writing and their writing process. I look forward to helping you grow as a writer.
Gianiel Carvalho
Hi everyone, My name is Gia(she/her) and I’m a nursing major (class of ‘26) from Oahu, Hawaii. In my free time I like to find new foods to try, hang out with my friends, or just drive around. I became a Writing Assistant to be able to help people find the joy and fun in writing. I hope to see you in the Writing center this semester!
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