About Us
The Writing Center is named in honor of George L. Nesbitt (1903-1985), Professor of English from 1930 to 1973, and Thomas McNaughton Johnston (1904-1986), Professor of English from 1934 to 1972. Demanding and inspiring teachers, they helped two generations of Hamilton students to write thoughtful, coherent, clear, and sometimes elegant prose. Professor Nesbitt, who chaired the Department of English from 1952 to 1968, was instrumental in establishing the English composition sequence; Professor Johnston, the principal author of Hamilton’s Essentials of English Usage style guide, was known for his own graceful style, which his best students aspired to emulate. Together they constructed the foundation for Hamilton’s present reputation as an institution that teaches and values effective writing.
Jennifer Ambrose, Ph.D.
Writing Center Director
Jennifer became the Director of Hamilton's Writing Center in 2016. She obtained her PhD from the University of Iowa and has over 20 years of experience in writing center work as well as a teaching background in rhetoric, communication, scientific & technical writing, and American studies. Her work focuses on providing equitable and inclusive access to writing support for students and faculty.
Laura Widman, M.A.
Writing Center Assistant Director: Multilingual Specialist
Laura has a Master's degree in Linguistics, focused on Teaching English as a Second language, and came to Hamilton after working in the Writing Centers at Texas A&M and the University of Iowa. Their work focuses on providing academic support to multilingual students on campus, as well as helping faculty develop their pedagogy to create an environment where linguistic diversity is respected. In their free time, you can find them hiking, playing board games, baking, and hanging out with their cat, Bastian.
Riley Spellman
Writing Center Office Assistant
Riley graduated from St. Lawrence University, where she majored in English Creative Writing and Performance-Communication Arts. When she's not in the Writing Center, she spends her time pressing flowers, doodling, and going to art galleries and museums.
Gaizka Barrondo
Fellow for Academic Belonging
Gaizka is the Fellow for Academic Belonging, coordinating with the QSR and Writing Center to support students in Opportunity Programs. He works behind the scenes to help ensure students get the support they need to create their own success. As someone who spent most of college tutoring at the QSR, he understands how helpful those spaces can be, and how easy it is to feel lost or overwhelmed. He’s available to help with anything students need, from finding the right kind of support, to managing workloads, or just having someone to talk to.
Student Assistants
Ronak Aggarwal ’29
Ronak is a freshman from Rochester, New York. He is currently undecided but is considering a major in History, Government, Psychology, or Geosciences. In his free time, he enjoys reading books, drawing, 3D printing, playing video games, getting involved on campus, and more.
Doug Burggraf ’27
Off-campus. Doug is a junior from Fairfield, Connecticut. He plans to major in Economics with a minor in Mathematics. In his free time, he enjoys watching football and baseball, learning the guitar, and playing pickleball.
Javier Garcia ’26
Javier is a junior majoring in Computer Science. He is from Houston, Texas, and enjoys listening to jazz, reading, and playing chess in his free time.
Siena Rose Girouard ’26
Siena is a senior Creative Writing major and Art and Hispanic Studies double minor from Falmouth, Massachusetts. She loves being creative, spending her time playing, arranging, and listening to music; drawing or painting; and especially writing new poetry or working on her upcoming dystopian romance novel, which she hopes to finish before she graduates in 2026.
Sofia Isabel ’26
Sofia is a Studio Art and Art History major from Caracas, Venezuela. She loves Lorde's music, foreign movies, and all sorts of artsy stuff. In her free time you can find her painting, blasting music in the studio, and finishing projects in KTSA until 2 a.m.
Jaylaan Limon Ixehuatl ’26
Jaylaan is a senior from New Jersey, majoring in Biology with a minor in Hispanic Studies. On campus, you'll often find her making a beeline to Euphoria for her much-needed matcha fix after class. In her free time, she enjoys watching Rotten Mango's True Crime podcast and perfecting her gel manicures.
Elys Monje ’27
Elys is a junior majoring in Government with a minor in Art. She is from the Bronx, New York. She loves horror movies, video games, and sea shells. In her free time, you can catch her listening to music, drawing, or watching Abbott Elementary.
Olivia Stevens ’27
Off-campus. Olivia is a junior intending to major in Geosciences. She is from Lexington, Massachusetts, and loves to read, swim, and write in her free time.
Ava Snyder ’28
Ava is a double major in Mathematics and Psychology from Glens Falls, New York. She enjoys filling her schedule with academics and volunteering. Outside of the Writing Center, you can find her working on math homework in CJ or spending time between activities in KJ or List. On campus, she participates in Harvest, helping to package leftover dining hall food before it is donated to local food pantries, and as if she is not busy enough, she insists on taking an extra class each semester, just for fun!
Athalie Thifault ’27
Athalie is a junior concentrating in Geoscience with a double minor in Statistics and Classics. She has an affinity for rubber ducks, alternative music, cute plushies, fashion, and all things PINK!!! A self-proclaimed foodie, she’s always daydreaming about her next meal. If she’s not in class, working, eating, or online shopping, she's most definitely napping.
