Current MAWRD Students

Liz Adames

Meet Liz

Liz Adames is a first-year graduate student in the MAWRD program, returning to school after many years of teaching. Currently, she serves as a developmental reading faculty at the College of DuPage. Liz loves working at a community college, and especially her time with students. Previously, she spent fifteen years in the K-12 system as a middle and high school English teacher, literacy specialist, and instructional coach. Liz holds a BA in English from Bates College and an EdM in Language and Literacy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Family is most important to her, especially spending time with her husband and two young daughters.

Karla Avila

Meet Karla

Karla Avila is a second-year graduate student in the MAWRD program with a focus in teaching writing as well as content writing and strategy. She is also in the TESOL program and she currently works as a ESL Volunteer Tutor at St. Joseph’s Services. In 2014, Karla left her home and island, Puerto Rico, to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Screenwriting and Fiction Writing, which she completed in 2018. In her spare time, Karla works on creating her own fiction novels, rock climbs at Brooklyn Boulders, and teaches there as well to both adults and children.

IG: @ka_amazon

Maddy Crozier

Meet Maddy

Maddy Crozier is a graduate assistant and second-year MA student in the WRD Department. She also works in The University Center for Writing-based Learning (UCWbL) as a peer writing tutor. Her research interests include composition theory and pedagogy, literacy studies, and identity and language learning. As a Combined BA/MA student, Maddy finished her BA in Autumn 2018 and will graduate with her MA in Spring 2020. An Indianapolis native, she loves to read creative nonfiction, write about sustainable food practices, and cook.

Brady Gunnink

Meet Brady

Brady Gunnink is an English Teacher and former Department Chair at Jones College Prep in Chicago, IL (2010-present). He teaches AP English Language and Composition and AP Seminar. He is also the faculty advisor for the annual TEDxYouth@JCP conference as well as the Poetry Club. Brady earned his MSE in English Education at Fordham University (2009) and his BA in English Literature at North Central College (2006). He anticipates completing his MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse from Depaul University in 2021. Brady is the proud father of Iris and Grayson.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brady-gunnink-b207157/

Twitter: @bradygun

Faiza Ikram

Meet Faiza

Faiza Ikram is an MA student in the WRD Department and her program concentration is on teaching writing and language. Faiza is also a writing tutor at DePaul's University Center for Writing-Based Learning. She loves blogging but won't share her blog URL here. Whenever she has a moment to spare, you can find her reading books on feminism, antiracism, and personal development!

Twitter: @FaizaIkram10

Susan McNally Wilde

Meet Susan

Susan McNally Wilde is pursuing a master’s degree in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse with a focus on new media studies for non-profits. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from DePaul, Susan worked for more than 20 years in the tech industry. She currently volunteers as Vice-Chair of the Governing Board at UCANchicago.org, a North Lawndale charity that supports foster care youth and families. In her role, she utilizes media for nonprofits to drive service, education, and advocacy. Throughout her career, Susan has worked extensively with for-profit and non-profit organizations, honing her specialties in business development, global account management, and product marketing.

Nathalie Nivasnanda

Meet Nathalie

Nathalie Nivasnanda is an MA student in the WRD Department and will graduate in June 2020. As part of the Combined BA/MA WRD program, she graduated with a Bachelor’s majoring in WRD and minoring in Communication and Media. Now as a graduate student, her concentration is in Professional and Digital Writing. Aside from working a student job for the graduate admissions office on campus and at her family’s restaurant, Noodles in the Pot, you can find her reading, playing with her dog, Batman, and visiting museums around the city.

Instagram: @nathalie.nivas

Megan Palmer

Meet Megan

Megan Palmer is a second year graduate assistant in the WRD office and will graduate this June. Megan is originally from Rhode Island, and prior to moving to Chicago, she studied English Language and Literature at Southern New Hampshire University. In her spare time, Megan loves to read and write (naturally) as well as sing with her all women, all ages, all a capella barbershop chorus, The Melodeers.

Robert Rosenbaugh

Meet Robert

Robert is a graduate assistant in his second year of the MA in WRD and TESOL programs. Robert is a Chicago native and grew up in the Roger’s Park area. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University in History with minors in classical studies and Chinese language. He currently works on the social media team at the UCWbL and as the editor for the UCWbLing blog. When not at work or in class, Robert enjoys reading, writing, studying new languages, and scrolling endlessly through YouTube.

Walt Stallings

Meet Walt

Walt Stallings is a first-year MA student in the WRD program with a concentration in Teaching Writing & Language. His research interests include translingual literacies, Critical Race Theory, and spatial rhetoric. Walt is originally from Memphis, TN where he studied English at Christian Brothers University. Since moving to Chicago, he has worked as a reading teacher at a K-8 public school and a cook at a Southern Italian restaurant. Walt loves books about the American South, collecting punk rock records, writing short stories, and petting dogs.

Instagram: @daytodazed

Twitter: @StallingsWalt

Alex Treat

Meet Alex

Alex Treat is a WRD graduate assistant in his first year of the MA program. He received his BA in Communication at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he also worked in their writing center. Alex’s studies included professional writing, rhetoric, and media, though he also studied literature for his minor. When he isn’t reading, he practices his creative writing on the side, dealing in short stories and poetry.