Diverse Presentations Attract Students to the Writing Center By Erik Bakke Writing Center and Intensive English Program Director
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The Writing Center is working closely with the Journalism Club on the launch of the new student-run newspaper Menlo Oak Press. Ms. Garcia spoke of the value of journalism and its role in bringing to light stories and realities otherwise hidden from public view. She is optimistic about the future of journalism in a time of great transition for the industry. Other presentations to the Menlo Community for the academic year 2014/15 included Professor Andrew Delunas’ discussion of critical thinking and the writing process; Professor Lauren John’s breakdown of the basics and subtleties of email writing; Professor Marc Wall’s lecture on writing timed essays; Professor Philip Kobylarz’s inventive talk on writing as sport; Writing Center Director Erik Bakke’s collaboration with Bowman Library
PHOTO: ANDREY POLIAKOV
he Writing Center sponsored a number of presentations in the fall of 2014 and spring of 2015. Most recently, the Writing Center invited Dawn Garcia, managing director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford, to speak to Menlo College’s Journalism Club (founded by Menlo College student and Writing Center tutor Taylor Morrow) and the Menlo community. Taylor Morrow '16, Writing Center tutor and Journalism Club co-founder
librarians Anne Linvill and Marie Varelas on the ins and outs of citing sources and avoiding plagiarism; peer tutor Monica Montanari’s seminar on formulating introductions; and Professor Marianne Neuwirth’s workshops on interviewing and her joint effort with Professor Stephen Engel on writing effective press releases [see page 16]. The Writing Center has given these presentations second life by bringing them, at instructors’ invitations, into Menlo classrooms, and by all appearances, the presentations have helped attract Menlo students to the Writing Center itself. More Menlo students walked through the Writing Center’s doors in April 2015 than any other month on record.
Introducing New Staff Monita D. Chandra Payroll/Benefits Accountant Monita D. Chandra is the new Payroll/Benefits Accountant at Menlo College. She has over twenty years of payroll experience in local businesses in including Franklin Templeton, Fisher Investments, and Stanford Hospital and Clinics. She is originally from the Fiji Islands.
What’s Up with IT? By Allan Chen, Chief Information Officer Ken Cunkle and Francia Friendlich joined the team in the Office of IT in fall 2014. Ken is a Database and ERP (Jenzabar) Administrator, and Francia is an OIT Project Manager and Business Process Analyst. Ken manages the central systems, including Jenzabar and the systems that handle meal plan, and door access, in addition to other duties. He will also administer the EX Module Managers meeting. Francia is the project manager for OIT projects across large sections of the campus. She also oversees business process analysis from an OIT perspective. This involves working with the community to identify potential changes that will help improve service for them.
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