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Director, Writing Center
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Director
Ryan Smith Madan
Associate Teaching Professor
Email: ryanmadan@wpi.edu
Office: Salisbury Labs 002
Phone: 508-831-6561
When new acquaintances find out I teach writing, it’s not unusual for them to lament a broad decline in the nation’s writing skills. How does it make me feel, they ask, that students, say, don’t know the difference between adjectives and adverbs? Or, can I believe it that people hardly even know what apostrophes do, let alone where to put them? As someone who treasures good, careful prose, I’m sympathetic to these worries. But as an educator, I think it’s important to steer the conversation in a different direction. ... View Profile
Tutors
Megan Andresano
Year: Senior
Major: Biochemistry and Professional Writing
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: Psychology, Philosophy, Sustainability, History
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: Sustaining WPI Project Center, Worcester MA
Extracurriculars: Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Green Team, Upperclass Wellness, Fitness Club
Hometown: Millbury, MA
Fun Facts: I’m a commissioned portrait artist and I collect glass.
Kimberly Codding
Year: Senior
Major: Biochemistry and Professional Writing
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests:Government/Policy
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: English/Writing
IQP: India D’16
Extracurriculars: Admissions Ambassadors, Newman Club, ASBMB
Hometown: Gales Ferry, CT
Fun Facts: I’ve lived in the same house my whole life (until college), but I’ve been to nine different schools.
Alexandra D'ordine
Year: Senior
Major: Biochemistry & Professional Writing
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: scientific writing, molecular biology, antibiotics, genetics
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: Denmark D’16
Extracurriculars: The Towers (Copy Editor & Co-EIC), American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Co-President), Newman Club
Hometown: Lakeville, MA
Fun Facts: I’ve played piano since I was nine.
Michael Eaton
Year: Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Professional Writing
Other Academic Interests: Design, Marine Engineering
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: English/Writing
IQP: Wellington, NZ C'17
Extracurriculars: Men’s Varsity Crew, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity
Hometown: Exeter, NH
Fun Facts: My roots are Indonesian and Irish (quite the combination!)
Alexander Korza
Year: Senior
Major: Aerospace
Minor: ECE and Materials Engineering
Other Academic Interests: Writing and History
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: On Campus: “The Drone Perspective” (Exploring the Advancement of the Commercial Drone Industry and its Effect on Society)
Extracurriculars: Theatre, Basketball
Hometown: Easthampton, MA
Fun Facts: My brother went to WPI and got his bachelor's in 2016 studying IMGD.
Abbey Nack
Year: Senior
Major: Chemical Engineering and Professional Writing
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: Environmental Studies/ Engineering
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: Copenhagen D’16
Extracurriculars: Women’s Swimming and Diving Team
Hometown: Ghent, NY
Fun Facts: I’ve broken 2 bones, but never worn a cast.
Ria Pereira
Year: Master’s Student, 2nd Year
Major: Robotics Engineering
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: N/A
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: N/A
IQP: N/A
Extracurriculars: N/A
Hometown: Mangalore, India
Fun Facts: I grew up in Kuwait
Lauren Pontbriant
Year: Senior
Major: Robotics Engineering
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: N/A
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Philosophy
IQP: Albania B’15
Extracurriculars: WPI EMS, mixed martial arts
Hometown: Shelton, CT
Fun Facts: I have done a backflip out of an airplane!
Rachel Swanson
Year: Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering, Society, Technology and Policy
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: Sustainability, Environmental Policy
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: English Literature
IQP: Thessaloniki, Greece D’17
Extracurriculars: SNAP driver, Vegclub, Enactus
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Fun Facts: I’ve climbed the highest mountain in the lower 48 states.
Rong Tang
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial Engineering and Management Information Systems
Minor: Computer Science
Other Academic Interests: Data Analysis
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: Stock Price Simulation- On Campus Summer 2015
Extracurriculars: Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, Marketing Assistant
Hometown: Kunming, China
Fun Facts: I don’t regularly watch TV, but I am addicted to Netflix.
Robert Vigeant
Year: Senior
Major: Mathematics and Professional Writing
Minor: N/A
Other Academic Interests: Philosophy, Economics, Biology, Business
GPS: N/A
HUA Depth: Writing & Rhetoric
IQP: Roadify API IQP
Extracurriculars: Fencing, Clemente Tutoring
Hometown: Uxbridge, MA
Fun Facts: I can type at over 140 words per minute.