Meet the Tutors

Linsey Allnatt has taught various levels of English composition at colleges in the Houston area as well as tutored writing for more than four years at UH-Clear Lake and San Jac. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English from UHCL and a Master’s in Library Science. In addition to reading and studying literature, she truly enjoys the research and documentation process that academic work entails. Outside of school, Linsey likes to read, go to the theatre, and spend time with her son. As a tutor, she is especially good at helping students with different documentation styles, paragraph organization, and editing/proofreading. She is proud of being “able to explain various writing techniques to students in a way that they are able to understand….and to encourage students to improve their own writing without editing their papers for them.”

  Jan Bethany has spent several semesters of her career tutoring in the Writing Center. She has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English with interests ranging from poetry to technical writing! She works as an English adjunct for San Jac South and Alvin College. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her grown children, playing trivia games, and watching films. As a writing tutor, she is known and loved for her laid-back, supportive attitude and her good sense of humor. Jan says, “I wish more students would see a tutor. We all need another person or two to help us in this complex but amazing process of writing.”

  Madeline Boehning joined the Writing Center in Fall 2011 after several years of teaching in public schools and adjuncting for College Prep courses. She has a master’s degree in English Education and a bachelor’s in English and journalism, with certification in ESL and strong interest in expositive and narrative writing as well as multicultural literature. She most enjoys spending time with her three daughters, volunteering in the community, working on DIY projects, and shopping in thrift stores. As a writing tutor, she is especially good at working with non-native English speakers and listening carefully to students’ needs. Madeline says, “As a Writing Center tutor, I enjoy helping students through every step of the writing process.”

  Christina Putnam Cox began tutoring in the Writing Center in the fall of 2010 after a varied and exciting career in Texas public schools. She is bilingual and has degrees in English, Spanish, ESL, and music. In addition to teaching English for San Jac, she contributes energetically to the community through piano instruction and freelance writing on film and entertainment. For fun, she gardens, writes, cooks, and travels. As a writing tutor, Chris loves helping students find direction and purpose in their writing pursuits. She says, “I love words, and I feel that choosing the right word helps to convey the clearest meaning and to reveal the intended feeling.”

  Mary Dodge began tutoring in the Writing Center in Spring 2012 after a career in public schools and professional counseling. She has master’s degrees in literature and counseling, with a minor in reading. She works as an English adjunct for San Jac South and also presents parenting classes in the Houston area. For fun, Mary visits her family home in western New York, travels, reads, and studies Italian. As a writing tutor, she enjoys helping students organize ideas and overcome their fears of writing. In her words, “Students have the brains to meet their goals, and tutors are the vessels to help them get there.”

  Dee Evans has tutored writing and taught English courses at San Jac for several years since receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and literature, with a focus on pedagogy. When she’s not focused on her composition courses and tutoring, she enjoys reading for pleasure, playing with her two cats, traveling, and watching films and cable TV. Her strengths as a tutor come from her many years of experience and the excellent opportunities she’s had for training and professional development. Dee says, “I thoroughly enjoy tutoring because it involves one-on-one interaction between the student and tutor.”

Tamara Kaupp has several years of tutoring experience at San Jac as well as 35 years of teaching experience at the high school and college levels. She earned multiple university degrees with coursework in English, History, French, Literature, Linguistics, and Education (TESOL). In her free time, she reads, travels, plays Bingo Bash on her iPad, and enjoys being a “cat mom.” As a writing tutor, her strengths include working with college prep and ESOL students as well as MLA and Chicago documentation styles. For Tamara, “Tutoring is a very fulfilling experience because the one-on-one setting…allows the tutor to see immediately if the student understands the concept” and, if not, “regroup and tackle the problem from a different angle.”

Leigh Ann Moore has taught and tutored in writing centers in the Clear Lake area ever since completing her BA and MA in Literature with a specialization in composition at UHCL. As an instructor, she enjoys doing research and finding new ways to interest students in both reading and writing. She also likes to find ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. Leigh Ann loves British literature, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family as much as possible. As a tutor, her goal is to help students overcome the fear of writing, documentation, research, and argument. Her tutoring philosophy is, “It’s all about helping students become more confident in their own writing.”

  Crystal Reppert began tutoring in the Writing Center in Spring 2012 after several years working in the chemical industry and in public education. She has an M.A. in literature as well as a bachelor’s degree in history and an associate’s in chemistry. She works as an English adjunct for multiple Houston-area colleges and is passionate about the history and politics of the Middle East and South/Central America. For fun, Crystal reads, gardens, hikes, and enjoys photography and antique shopping. As a writing tutor, her strengths are in research writing and proper use of sources. In her words, “Mistakes are necessary for future development.”

  Steve Serota taught at San Jacinto South for nearly 30 years (with nary a sick day) and has tutored in the Writing Center since retiring in 2008. He has a PhD in English and enjoys all forms of academic and scholarly writing. In his free time, he pursues his interests in exercise and health, Doowop music, the horror genre, and the L.A. Dodgers. As a writing tutor, he most enjoys helping students to formulate thesis statements, organize supporting paragraphs, and maintain unity throughout the entire essay. In his words, “When I am in the Writing Center, I want each student to consider me an authority, a guide, a facilitator, an encourager, and a confidante. If I am able to relate on at least two of these levels, then, the session will most likely be a success.”

  Keith Vyvial began tutoring in our Writing Center in Spring 2012. He has a master’s in literature as well as a bachelor’s in marketing. He teaches English for San Jac South, and his academic interests include medieval and Renaissance literature, business writing, self-efficacy in writing, and poetry. For fun, he reads, writes, gardens, and studies French. As a writing tutor, Keith is sensitive to each student’s differing concerns and fears, and enjoys working with both MLA and APA formatting. In his words, “I love writing and work to bring that passion to the students as well. Writing is so fundamental to being a productive individual and member of society. Passion and enjoyment of writing are the best tools to becoming a solid writer.”