Truesdell and students present research at Chicago conference

Tom Truesdell, director of academic support at Northwestern College, and five students gave presentations at the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing Nov. 2–4 in Chicago.

Truesdell spoke on “Peer Tutor to Writing Center Administrator: Using Peer Tutoring Experience in Writing Center Administration.” He explored how past tutoring experiences inform writing center administrative work with the goal of helping current tutors decide if a writing center career is worth considering.

The Northwestern students gave a presentation entitled “The Impact of Disciplinary Background on Tutor Identity and Development.” Tutors from a wide variety of majors, they discussed how their academic fields and professional goals shape their work and identity as tutors. They reported that while similarities exist, their varied backgrounds have resulted in different understandings of their tutoring roles.

The student presenters included Linden Figgie, a senior biology health professions and writing/rhetoric major from Sedro Woolley, Wash.; Tyler Lehmann, a junior public relations and writing/rhetoric major from St. Cloud, Minn.; Sarah Lichius, a senior literature major from Box Elder, S.D.; Holly Stewart, a senior from Mission, S.D., majoring in sociology; and Shelby Vander Molen, a senior theatre/speech and writing/rhetoric major from Pella, Iowa.