Wendy Pfrenger

As a Writing Associate in the center, I most enjoy working with students early in their drafting process, when their ideas are still emerging and they're still learning through writing the essay. I also like the conversational energy in the center – I learn a lot from my colleagues and our clients just by chatting about other classes, the news, whatever.
For two semesters now I have been teaching a community-based version of the Freshman English course, ENGL 1010, entitled "New England's Rising Star: Invisibility and Identity in Connecticut's Capital City." It's fun to teach because it takes all of us outside the classroom and into the Hartford area where we get to do two of my favorite things: meet new people and listen to their stories.

I came to UConn as a Master's student in the English Department in 2001. Before that I was an English teacher in the Peace Corps, living in the Russian Far East. When I'm not on Hartford campus, I'm home trying out new recipes, playing with my two daughters and reading anything I can get my hands on, whether it's A Series of Unfortunate Events or Slate.com.

Anne Wettersten

I am originally from Chicago. I have enjoyed the diverse group of people I have met and worked with first as a student tutor at Smith College and as an English instructor in the Czech Republic. I have continued my writing experience as an English instructor, doctoral student and writing tutor in English at Rutgers University, and most recently as a writing specialist at the UConn Greater Hartford campus.

David T. Lyons

As a graduate of UConn, I feel “twice blessed”: I’m both a staff member and an alumnus. I can identify with our students here at the Greater Hartford campus because I too commuted, lived at home and worked too many hours to pay my way through. I wish there had been a writing/resource center when I was an undergraduate; we were coldly thrown into the pool to reward those who could “swim” and to fail those who couldn’t. Every writer at every level, including us, benefits from having an editor/tutor/coach. I can think of nothing more effective in building rhetorical strength than having a one-on-one writing conference with a writing instructor. See you there.

Philip Burnham

My name is Philip Burnham. I feel privileged to have the ability to serve our campus community as the writing center’s administrative assistant. In addition to my tutoring hours, I help coordinate communication between classes and the center, organize promotions, and ensure the center meets the needs of both students and faculty. As both a recent graduate of the UCONN Greater Harford program and a peer tutor, I can sympathize with many of the concerns facing our current students and new tutors. Please do not hesitate to seek my assistance.

Alexa Brakoniecki

I am a returning non-degree student here at UConn. For my undergraduate work, I would like to pursue a degree in industrial design with secondary concentrations in art history and philosophy. I consider myself a sort of New England mutt; I was born in New Hampshire and have bounced between Connecticut and Massachusetts ever since. When I'm not playing the role of tutor or student, I enjoy cooking, working out, travelling, and exploring design in its various incarnations.

Krystyna Zamorska

I bring various backgrounds to my work in the Writing Center. As an immigrant from Poland, I am living and working in a new language, and this makes me aware of the challenges facing those who may also be writing from another cultural experience. While living in New York during the 1990s, I worked as an educator for a community-based organization and for labor unions. I was also raising a daughter and putting myself through graduate school, so I understand how busy some of our students are balancing work and school. The Writing Center is one of the few places on our campus where we can really slow down and have a focused conversation about a given assignment. It's a rewarding process.

Mary DeMaio

James Morganti