Meet the Staff
Jaclyn Wells, Director
Jaclyn received a Ph.D. in English (Rhetoric and Composition) from Purdue University in 2010. Her book, Partners in Literacy: A Writing Center Model for Civic Engagement (co-authored with Allen Brizee), describes a three-year engagement project involving the Purdue OWL and two adult literacy organizations in Lafayette, Indiana. Jaci has directed the UWC since 2012. She is SafeZone certified. You can read more about her on the Department of English website.
Fun Facts: To date, Jaclyn has never lost a game of Seinfeld trivia. Her corgi mix, Travis, is Instagram famous.
Brianna Carnley, Program Manager
Originally from Daphne, Alabama, Bri graduated from UAB with her bachelor's degree in April 2022. Her major was English with a concentration in creative writing and her minor was Philosophy. In May 2026, she graduated from UAB again by earning her Master’s of English. Before becoming the UWC's Program Manager, she worked as a tutor during her senior year. She is also one of two Nonfiction Editors for the journal NELLE.
Fun Facts: Her favorite musicians of all time are Florence and the Machine and Hozier. She loves to talk about movies; some of her favorites include The Princess Bride (1987), The Mummy (1999), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), and Pride & Prejudice (2005).
Reagan Sumner, Graduate Assistant Director
Reagan is a second-year graduate student majoring in English with a concentration in Literature. She received a B.A. in English with a minor in Psychology from Troy University. While studying at Troy, she was able to gain experience in tutoring and is excited to apply those skills in the Writing Center.
Fun Facts: Reagan's favorite book series is The Hunger Games and she is a Tippi Toe's Dance Instructor here in Birmingham teaching ages from 24 months to 5-year-olds.
Mary Martin True, Graduate Assistant Director
Mary Martin is a second-year graduate student studying English literature. She received her B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism from UAB in 2025. After she receives her M.A., she hopes to work towards getting her Ph.D. Mary Martin’s ultimate goal is to become a professor, making a career out of sharing her passion for writing and literature with students.
Fun Facts: Mary Martin is constantly reading and watching movies, so don't hesitate to spark up a conversation about your favorites or swap recommendations with her! When she isn't visiting her parents and poodle, Olive, back home she can often be found with a Diet Coke in one hand and her film camera, needlepoint, or book in the other.
Dani, Tutoring Coordinator
Dani graduated with her AS in General Studies from Calhoun Community College, where she worked as a Psychology and English tutor. Now, she's studying at UAB as an undergraduate Psychology major and Art Studio minor while working at the UWC front desk in the evenings.
Fun Facts: Dani has been a huge K-Pop fan ever since her freshman year of high school, and she loves tiny food—because tiny food tastes objectively better than normal-sized food.
Anaya, Graduate Tutor
Anaya is an adjunct instructor in UAB's English Department. She received her M.A. in English Rhetoric and Composition from UAB in 2026 and her B.A. in Communications from UAB in 2022. She enjoys reading and writing about relationships, mental health, and social trends.
Fun Facts: Her go-to bagel order is an everything with garlic and herb cream cheese, turkey, onion, cucumber, banana peppers, and chipotle mayo.
Anna, Graduate Tutor
Anna is a second-year MA student with a concentration in literature. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2024 with a BA in English and Political Science and a minor in Business. She is currently writing her thesis on Ernest Hemingway's collection of short stories, In Our Time.
Fun Facts: Anna is a cat person, and she loves to bake, run, and read.
Anoushka, Undergraduate Tutor
Anoushka is an undergraduate tutor double-majoring in English literature and Japanese. Though their concentration is literature, Anoushka helps with the Birmingham Poetry Review, and attended the Longleaf Creative Writers Conference this past summer. This semester, they’re enrolled in three Japanese classes and writing their literature thesis on themes of anorexia in the Bronte sisters’ novels. Anoushka’s favorite sessions involve idea generation. In their free time, Anoushka can typically be found lost in a book/collection of poems, watching sports, playing video games, or tending to their cat, Zuko.
Fun Facts: Anoushka’s cat, Zuko, is indeed named after the Avatar: the Last Airbender character of the same name.
Breaze, Undergraduate Tutor
Breaze is a Junior majoring in Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Science and minoring in Psychology. She spends her free time finding new coffee shops, reading, and watching weird old movies.
Fun Facts: Breaze was placed in the 0.2% of listeners for Noah Kahan on last year's Spotify Wrapped. Also, she hates meatloaf.
Brianna, Undergraduate Tutor
Brianna is an undergraduate senior from Augusta, GA, and she attended high school in Florence, AL. She is majoring in English and minoring in legal affairs. Brianna is on the pre-law track and wants to be a paralegal after graduation before attending law school and pursuing a career as a DA (district attorney). Brianna's dream city is Chicago, and she plans on practicing law there someday. Her niche is writing, Mariah Carey, and all things historical.
Fun Facts: Brianna's working on a six-part series about women in the 80s surviving, well ... the 80s for her honors thesis.
Dillon, Undergraduate Tutor
Dillon is an undergraduate junior from Huntsville, Alabama majoring in English and Psychology. In the coming years, Dillon hopes to earn his master's and Ph.D. in some form of psychology. Whilst pursuing those degrees, he wants to build a career in higher/collegiate education, spanning interests in the pillars of student and academic affairs!
Fun Facts: He is a dedicated Ariana Grande fan and can move his ears without touching them!
Emily, Undergraduate Tutor
Emily is a UAB graduate with a bachelor's in English, with a concentration in literature. She is currently taking a gap year, with plans to pursue her Master's in Library Science. In the meantime, she is working on her personal writing and catching up on her endless to-be-read list.
Fun Facts: Emily has an extensive record collection of over 300 records. She is also an obsessive Goodreads user.
Gearran, Undergraduate Tutor
Gearran is an undergraduate student double-majoring in English Literature and Writing and Media. They are an avid list-maker and love to help with organization and brainstorming. In their free time, they enjoy illustration, film analysis, playing guitar, and engaging in any form of sci-fi media.
Fun Facts: Gearran has seen almost 1,000 movies and hopes to one day have an extensive home theater. They also love collecting comic books, and spent half their summer binge-reading all of Ultimate Spider-Man (2000).
Gracie F, Graduate Tutor
Gracie has worked as a Psychology and English tutor for three years. After taking a Psychology class during her first year of college, she fell in love with the field. Gracie hopes to graduate and pursue a career that will allow her to advocate for teen mental health within school systems.
Fun Facts: Gracie loves plants and has pet snails! She has 20+ snails with the largest being the size of your palm.
Gracie P, Undergraduate Tutor
Gracie P. is a junior Writing and Media major from Montgomery, Alabama. She is currently working to add a mass communications minor as well to aid her plan to pursue a master's in communications. While her exact career trajectory remains unclear at the moment, she does love the idea of working in event engagement or advertising.
Fun Facts: Gracie P. is a devoted Minecraft dork and anime nerd. Always feel free to come talk to her about either of those things (please do!) When she’s not on the game or watching a new show, you can typically find her working on her to-be-read list or trying out a new restaurant.
Hope, Undergraduate Tutor
Hope is a junior majoring in Cancer Biology. She plans to attend UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine post undergrad. Despite what her major may suggest, she loves working directly with people (not being stuck in a lab her whole life) and hopes to work in emergency medicine. She enjoys romance books and creative writing in her free time.
Fun Facts: Hope LOVES cats, always has nu-metal/rock music in her headphones, and is a sticker fanatic.
Ivy, Undergraduate Tutor
Ivy is currently a sophomore double majoring in English literature and Philosophy. She recently developed an interest in Philosophy after being introduced to conversations about Christian ethics through her social circle and a class here at UAB. After graduating with her Bachelor’s, she plans to pursue her Master’s in English.
Fun Facts: Ivy has a very cute round cat named Toby. Feel free to ask for Toby photos.
Jack, Undergraduate Tutor
Jack is a junior undergraduate student majoring in English, with a concentration in literature. In the future, he might enter law school and would enjoy a career either as a lawyer or a fiction writer.
Fun Facts: Jack grew up in Kansas City and has been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs since he was eight years old. His favorite book is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and his favorite TV show is The Simpsons – but only the old seasons.
Kayla, Undergraduate Tutor
Kayla is an undergraduate student double-majoring in English and Secondary Education. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's in hopes of becoming an English Language Arts teacher after she graduates.
Fun Facts: Kayla is a Pisces (whatever that means) and enjoys fishkeeping. When she's not fretting over her hypersensitive German shepherd mix, she's visiting pet stores and making huge plans for her modest freshwater tank.
Kaytlin, Undergraduate Tutor
Kaytlin is a junior majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish and Business Administration. She is from a small town not too far from Auburn, Alabama. While she’s still deciding on what she wants to do, Kaytlin definitely knows she wants to be involved in mental health. During her free time, Kaytlin likes to listen to music and play Dead By Daylight.
Fun Facts: Kaytlin is a big fan of MBTI cognitive functions. Don’t know what that is? Ask her. She will talk about it for days.
Leo, Undergraduate Tutor
Leo is an undergraduate student majoring in English (concentrated in Linguistics) with a minor in French. Their current plan is to pursue a masters’ degree in Speech Language Pathology. Outside of academics, Leo is also co-Editor in Chief of Sanctuary Literary Arts Journal, a staff writer for Scene Magazine, and a student tour guide at AEIVA. When Leo is not working or studying, they are probably spending time with their friends, going to a concert, playing guitar, or playing intramural volleyball.
Fun Facts: Leo’s favorite person ever is their sister, Piper. Their favorite authors are Suzanne Collins and Donna Tartt, but their guilty pleasure read is the All for the Game series by Nora Sakavic.
Ligaya, Undergraduate Tutor
Ligaya is a junior Psychology Major and Sociology Minor. He hopes to one day become a Child Psychologist. Ligaya loves all types of literature, but his favorite writing assignments to assist with are presentations, speeches, poems, scholarship & award short answer questions, and analysis/argumentative essays.
Fun Facts: Ligaya loves making art, going thrifting, collecting trinkets, and going to the gym. His current favorite author is Amy Tan.
Lorice, Adjunct Tutor
Lorice is an Adjunct Instructor who teaches freshman composition for the English Department. She earned her M.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from UAB. In addition to teaching and working with student writers, Lorice serves as an Academic Success Coach for VMASC, supporting students as they develop strategies for navigating college and become more confident, independent learners.
Fun Facts: In her free time, Lorice enjoys gardening and reading. Her gardening skills have improved over the years, although the Alabama heat, persistent insects, and occasionally uncooperative plants continue to keep things interesting. Still, she celebrates every successful harvest and has learned that gardening - much like writing - requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to try again.
Macy, Undergraduate Tutor
Macy is a junior double majoring in English Literature and Secondary Education. She enjoys rock climbing, reading, and watching movies.
Fun Facts: Macy has published two collections of poetry.
Madeline, Undergraduate Tutor
Madeline graduated with a BA in English and a BS in psychology. She is currently taking a gap year to work as a research assistant in a cognitive therapy lab. Her goal is to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology. She loves helping students with writing for both English and science coursework. The collaborative process of brainstorming is her favorite!
Fun Facts: Madeline loves to crochet cool stuff for her friends, go on long runs, and listen to music (current favorites: Twenty One Pilots, Sleep Token, Lady Gaga, Marina, and Conan Gray). One of her favorite undergraduate projects was her creative writing thesis — a graphic novel script about an unconventional girl navigating the anxieties of middle school and finding the road to genuine friendship.
Marsh, Adjunct Tutor
Marsh is an adjunct professor in UAB’s English department. They recently earned their Master’s degree and hope to pursue a PhD studying modern environmental literature next fall. Their critical work has been published in the Edith Wharton Review and in Critical Insights: Kate Chopin, but Marsh hopes to break into the creative writing world. When not working at the writing center, Marsh is either teaching Freshman Composition somewhere else on campus or spending time outside. Their favorite writing center appointments are brainstorming appointments!
Fun Facts: Marsh is either outside right now, or wishes they were. They are utterly convinced they could win one of those outdoor-survival shows, despite evidence to the contrary.
Nicole, Adjunct Tutor
Nicole Miller earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University, a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Troy University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in English from Huntingdon College. Her dissertation, Experiences of Peer Mentors Who Mentor At-Risk Students, underscores the vital role of mentoring—a theme that has remained central throughout her career.
Nicole has worked in higher education since 2011 and joined UAB in 2021, serving in roles such as Blazing Start Program Coordinator and Director of Academic Services for TRIO Teach. She is passionate about student success and well-being and holds Mental Health Advocate Badge certifications for both Levels 1 and 2 (QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training). Nicole actively promotes mental health awareness and holistic development, encouraging students to prioritize both as key components of academic success.
Fun Facts: Nicole’s favorite author is James Patterson, and she loves karaoke! One of her favorite undergraduate electives for her minor was a Film Studies course focused on Alfred Hitchcock.
Okoli, Graduate Tutor
Okoli is a second-year graduate student with a concentration in Creative Writing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His work explores the poetics of place, history, memory, and cultural identity. His debut poetry collection, The Road is a Body, won the Felis Catus Press Prize. His poems have appeared in Indianapolis Review, Ellipsis Literature & Art, Good River Review, and elsewhere. He is the winner of the 2026 October Project Poetry Contest for Best Collegiate Poet, and the same piece has been longlisted for the Joe Ushie Poetry Prize, 2027.
Fun Facts: Okoli likes to argue with Chinua Achebe’s characters in his head while pretending Lagos noise is part of the plot.
Reed, Graduate Tutor
Reed is currently a first-year graduate teaching assistant. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a major in English in May 2025. He is originally from Booneville, MS. After graduation he hopes to pursue a PhD In English. He is excited to start working with the other UAB graduate students. He loves all types of literature, but some of his favorite authors are Geoff Johns, Michael Crichton, and Jeph Loeb. He is an avid reader of comic books.
Fun Facts: Reed loves movies. Reed even has a Letterboxd account, and he celebrated five years on the platform with a party! His four favorite films are Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Superman, Back to the Future, and Tarzan. He won Michelle Obama's Kid's State Dinner cooking contest, and he and his parents got to go to the White House and meet President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. He was also a Time for Kid's reporter. He kept reporting during his college career, because he wrote for The Reflector (Mississippi State's student paper). He is a BYX alum.
Riley, Graduate Tutor
Riley is a first-year Graduate Teaching Assistant in the English Department. He graduated from UAB with 2 Bachelor’s degrees: English Literature with a minor in Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies and French with a minor in International Studies. He spent the last year teaching English in Saint-Quentin, France at École Primaire Quentin-Barré and École Primaire de Metz. His goal is to become a professor, and he's considering obtaining a PhD in English.
Fun Facts: Riley is fluent in French, and he is currently studying Welsh. His favorite research topic is English, French, and Welsh Renaissance poetry.
Roman, Undergraduate Tutor
Roman is a second-year undergrad majoring in Applied Physics with a minor in Creative Writing. Their passion for writing arose from the intersection of science and humanities. When not writing or indulging in physics, they can be found plane-spotting at Birmingham International Airport or reading by the koi pond at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Fun Facts: They speak Russian and can play Minecraft songs on the piano.
Sage, Graduate Tutor
Sage is a first-year Graduate Teaching Assistant majoring in English. Their primary focus in Undergrad was blending writing and filmmaking, specializing in abstract lyrical work, poetry, and gothic literature portrayed through mixed-media. Sage’s favorite genre is horror/sci-fi, and their favorite book is Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. Their ultimate goal is to continue making films, writing screenplays, poetry, and to one day share their knowledge with others on a broad scale.
Fun Facts: Sage’s debut short film screened during the Sidewalk Film Festival in 2022 at the Alabama Theatre.
Taylor, Graduate Tutor
Taylor is a first-year Graduate Teaching Assistant studying English literature. She graduated from UAB with her Bachelor’s in English Spring of 2020, completing her honors thesis on androgyny in Beowulf. Areas of interest in her studies include monster theory, gender, and translation—but, of course, they’re not limited there!
Fun Facts: Taylor’s youngest pup, Dakota, is from Guatemala! She came from a rehabilitation center there, and the organization flew her to Atlanta with a tiny puppy visa.
Trice, Graduate Tutor
Trice is a first-year English M.A. student concentrating on creative writing. He received his B.S. in English Education at Auburn University in 2022. He spent the next three years teaching ninth-grade English at Auburn Junior High School. In a previous (perhaps future?) life, he worked as a journalist. He can often be found reading, writing, or taking photos of birds.
Fun Facts: His favorite author is Ursula K. Le Guin, and his favorite musician is Adrianne Lenker from the band Big Thief.