University Writing Center Welcomes Three New Assistant Directors

The University Writing Center (UWC) welcomes three new assistant directors for the Fall 2026 semester, including its first-ever Undergraduate Assistant Director. PhD students Nandi-Tiye Mainer and Rachael Whitehouse, both pursuing degrees in Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication, join the UWC as Graduate Assistant Directors, while Axel Snyder makes history as the center’s first Undergraduate Assistant Director.

Mainer, a second-year PhD student, previously worked as a writing center consultant during her master’s program at the University of Central Florida. Her interest in writing centers has since expanded to writing across the curriculum and community outreach. She has already represented the UWC at several Fall 2026 orientations, connecting with students, faculty, and campus organizations.

“I’m super excited to bond with the writing consultants and reach out to more organizations on and off campus,” Mainer shared. “I think so much can come from seeing an excited face talk about writing in all capacities!”

Whitehouse, a first-year PhD student, brings seven years of writing center experience to her new role. Her research focuses on community, sensemaking, and collaborative knowledge-making within writing centers and writing studies. In addition to consulting, she has experience in instructional design and community engagement, including coordinating community writing centers and building connections between writing centers and communities beyond university settings.

Rounding out the team is Snyder, a senior studying Professional Writing and Information Design who is also pursuing a master’s degree in English with a concentration in Technical and Professional Communication. As the UWC’s first Undergraduate Assistant Director, Snyder brings a passion for writing, human connection, and the collaborative experiences that writing centers provide.

“One of my favorite aspects of working with writers is getting to sit down with such a wide variety of people on a day to day or week to week basis,” Snyder shared. “In our increasingly digital world, I’ve really grown to appreciate the human connection that the writing center provides.”

Together, Mainer, Whitehouse, and Snyder bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the UWC, supporting its mission to foster collaboration, strengthen writing practices, and build connections across the university and beyond.

Learn more about the University Writing Center, writing consultants, and more through the UWC website.