Dr. Paula Brown, Writing Center Coordinator

Degrees: Bachelors in English, Auburn University, 1985
Masters in English, Auburn University, 1989
PhD in English, University of Tennessee, 1994

Biography: Dr. Brown was Assistant Director of the Writing Center at the University of Tennessee before she moved to the mountains of North Carolina and became the Lees McRae Writing Center Director. While she was working up there, she was invited to participate in Writing Across the Curriculum Summer Workshops at Charleston University in West Virginia as well as Cornell University’s Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines in Ithaca, New York. After moving to Louisiana, Dr. Brown worked at ULM briefly before coming to Tech. Interests: dogs, cats, gardening, fish-keeping, hiking, bicycling, drawing, translating German, and reading (not necessarily in that order).

Five favorite authors: Jane Austen, John Ruskin, Terry Pratchett, Susanna Clarke, and Fyodor Dostoyevski. Dr. Brown is also a J.K. Rowling and Selma Lagerlof fan. She advises anyone interested in children's literature to read Harold Bloom’s rather vicious attack on Harry Potter in the Wall Street Journal, if only to learn how the enemy thinks. (http://wrt-brooke.syr.edu/courses/205.03/bloom.html). She adds that Alan Jacobs’ defense of Rowling in First Things (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-harry-potters-magic.html) is also worth a peek.

Lauren Coleman, Assistant Writing Center Coordinator and Graduate Student in English

Degrees: Bachelors in English and History, Louisiana Tech University, 2007

Biography: Lauren was born in Houston, Texas but has lived in rural North Louisiana for 11+ years, resulting in an interesting amalgam of both city and country (although she prefers the allure of the city). After graduating from Louisiana Tech University with her Bachelors degree, Lauren decided to return to Tech for another lashing in pursuit of a Masters in English.She aspires to someday impart her love of literature and composition upon unsuspecting high school students.In her free time, Lauren enjoys random sushi outings and sleeping, if time permits.She also enjoys a thorough discussion with her dentist from time to time on the works of William Blake. Lauren notes that the first thing many people notice is her height. At just shy of 6', Lauren laments her lack of that last quarter of an inch. She plans to someday write a book, noting that 'everyone needs something to read on the plane.'

Interests:Aside from creative writing, Lauren also enjoys traveling to major cities local and abroad (her favorites thus far are Edinburgh, Scotland; London, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and any city in Colorado), taking in foreign culture (especially the food), going to rock concerts (outdoor, preferably), visiting her family,taking in dry British sitcoms, musical theater, copious amounts of coffee, swimming, sharing laughter with friends, and using her steering wheel as a drum set. She also bakes a mean buttermilk pie.

Favorite authors and works: Bleak House and The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell and The Songs of Innocence and Experience, The American by Henry James, W.H. Auden's poetry, George Orwell's 1984, Mikhail Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog, Sharon Olds's poetry, Tom Robbins's Still Life With Woodpecker, E.D.E.N. Southworth's The Hidden Hand, and Blankets by Craig Thompson.

April C. Honaker, Writing Consultant and Graduate Student in English

Degrees: Bachelors in English and Sociology, Louisiana Tech University, 2004

Biography: April was born in Ruston, Louisiana. She graduated in May 2004 with a BA in English and Sociology. During the 2004-2005 school year, she taught English and Reading in the Junior High Challenge Program at Cedar Creek School, and she also taught the 11th grade Writing Lab. She married Chris the following summer and began working for the State of Louisiana in September 2005. After two years with the State, she decided to return to Tech to complete a Master of Arts in English. She has been married to Chris Honaker for two years and has a brother named Caleb who will be graduating from ULM in photography this semester and opening his own photography studio and gallery in Ruston during the annual Studio Tour. (She adds that the business will be called Thousand Words Photography and will include some of her own artwork as well as the work of others in her family and several local artists).

Interests: April loves horses, reading, writing, drawing, painting, and outdoor concerts. She also enjoys cooking new things for her family, spending weekends on Toledo Bend, and playing with her two dogs, Sugar and Cookie. She is currently learning to sew and play the guitar as well.

Favorite books and authors: She enjoyed reading The Lovely Bones, The Red Tent, All the King's Men, and The Woman in White. She also likes reading the work of Flannery O' Connor, Faulkner, Lee Smith, Denise Levertov, and Charles Wright. Her favorite book as a child was James and the Giant Peach.

Sarah Smith, Writing Consultant and Graduate Student in English

Degrees: Bachelors in English, Louisiana Tech University, 2006

Biography: Born in Monroe, Louisiana but raised in Ruston, Sarah values the tight-knit relationship that she now shares with her family. After graduating from high school in 2002, she knew that she wanted to attend Louisiana Tech for a degree in English because she enjoyed reading American Literature and poetry as well as Christian fiction novels simply for the sake of entertainment. Sarah comments that she has always loved to write--an activity that has captivated her since she was a small child--because it allowed her to play with words to create ideas and to expand her vocabulary. Initially unsure how she wanted to apply her degree, Sarah decided during her senior year as an undergraduate student that she wanted to teach either at a high school or college level. Having had several teachers throughout her academic career who have cultivated her self confidence by believing in her abilities, she years to pass those gifts on to many young people by encouraging them to follow their dreams and realize that the sky is the limit. Sarah is currently pursuing her Master's degree in English at LA Tech.

Interests: Sarah likes to read and write outside of class,when time allows. She also enjoys spending time with her family watching old movies, TV sitcoms, or reality shows. She also prefers to get away from the stress of every day life by going shopping and having dinner with friends. When Sarah isn't at school or work, or with friends and family, she might be found riding her horse D.J.or with her other pets, which she considers her 'babies.'

Favorite authors: Robert Frost, Maxine Hong Kingston, Maya Angelou, Charlotte Brontë, Anne Brontë, and Jane Austen

John Bourgeois, Writing Fellow and Undergraduate Student in Biology and English with Minors in Chemistry and French

Biography: Voici John Bourgeois. Bonjour M. Bourgeois. John was born in West Germany and has lived in Louisiana since he was four. He's a curious hybrid of the North and South regions, country and city environment, conservative and liberal politics, and Biology and English majors. Why? He would reply, "Je ne sais pas." He attended three different high schools: Johnson Bayou High, DeRidder High, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA), graduating from the last in 2005. After earning his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, he plans to attend graduate school.

Interests: Camping, NPR, BBC Radio, Tabasco, prints and paintings, milk crates, plants, glassware, Febreeze, Mental Floss, books, Oxford shirts, tweaking and experimenting, colored pencils, snail mail, pen pals, France and the French language, species, 1¢ stamps, etiquette, handkerchiefs, sprezzatura, teaching, traveling.

Favorite authors and works: Southern writers, Anton Chekhov, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Magical realism and picaresque genres, David Sedaris, War and Peace (the only Tolstoy he's read), Shirley Jackson, and lastly, Pierre Bayard's How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read

Nikki DeOliviera, Writing Fellow and Undergraduate Student in English

Biography: Nikki is from South Louisiana and is currently a senior at Tech. To find a valid excuse for her love of reading and writing fiction, she became an English major. After graduation in May, she plans to attend graduate school in ultimate pursuit of her Ph.D., provided graduate school does not send her to a mental institution.

Interests: Nikki enjoys reading, shopping, and watching movies (preferably Disney), and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite authors and works: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander, and any Jane Austen novel. Other favorite authors include: Kate Chopin, Wilkie Collins, Henry James, Lauren Willig, Edith Wharton, the Brontës, and Francine Rivers. She hopes that one day her favorite book will be one of her own.

Jessica Harris, Writing Fellow and Undergraduate Student in English

Biography: Born in Camden, Arkansas, Jessica moved to Louisiana at age seventeen where she immediately fell in love with cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras. Determined to not part with her new-found love, Jessica remained in Louisiana, entering Louisiana Tech in 2004 to pursue her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Psychology. Highly anticipating graduation in 2008, Jessica has yet to comment on her future plans.

Interests: Dancing, trying experimental recipes, singing in the shower, reading, and shopping

Favorite authors: Toni Morrison, Henry Louis Gates, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, and William Shakespeare

Anna Wilkinson, Writing Fellow and Undergraduate Student in English

Biography: Anna is attending Louisiana Tech in pursuit of a Bachelors degree in English. She hopes to attend either law or grad school when she graduates.

Interests: Like most college students, Anna enjoys large quantities of both coffee and sleep. Favorite books: The Bell Jar, The Bible, A Farewell to Arms, Oliver Twist, and Persuasion