Spring 2025 Writing Center Staff
Looking for your tutor? Navigate down this page to get to know them before your appointment.
Director
Ryan Rickrode
Director
rrickrode@messiah.edu Visit Webpage
Ryan has been teaching writing classes for over ten years, and he’s been writing for even longer. His work has appeared in many journals, including The Cresset, Dappled Things, The South Carolina Review, and The Common. He believes in writing as a process of discovery, that writing is a way of thinking things through and arriving at understanding. He’s also passionate about helping students develop as leaders, an interest that goes back to the days when he worked as a campus minister equipping students to lead worship services and Bible studies for their peers. You can read his work at ryan-rickrode.com.
Head Tutor
Emma Bane
Head Tutor
eb1486@messiah.edu
Emma is a senior English major with a creative writing concentration and minor in HDFS. A tutor since sophomore year, Emma is passionate about her work at the Writing Center and loves getting to know each of her clients. When she's not writing or reading (as all good English majors do), you'll find her thrifting, grabbing coffee at Down to Earth, or adding new photos to her scrapbook. She loves connecting with people, listening to Faye Webster, and talking all things film or music. Feel free to stop in just to say hi, especially if you bring a coffee!
Assistant Head Tutor
Evelyn Kelly
Assistant Head Tutor
ek1337@messiah.edu
Evelyn is a junior English major with a creative writing concentration and a minor in studio art. While she is studying abroad this semester, she remains a vital member of our Writing Center team. She looks forward to assuming her role as Head Tutor when she returns in Fall 2026!
Tutor
Akon Undieh
Tutor
au2156@messiah.edu
Akon is a Formula 1-loving senior Biology major. You can find her supporting Lewis Hamilton, researching, or listening to Afrobeats and K-POP.
Tutor
J.T. Crocenzi
Tutor
jc1683@messiah.edu
J.T. is a senior English major with a concentration in literature. When he is not reading and writing for class, he enjoys playing tennis and going on hikes. On nice days, you'll probably find him sitting by the Yellow Breeches.
Tutor
Lauren Mock
Tutor
lm1435@messiah.edu
Lauren is a senior English major with a concentration in Creative Writing and a Sociology and Anthropology minor. She loves reading good books, the color green, dogs, and spending time in nature. Lauren is also a member of the swim team. She loves being able to collaborate with peers at the Writing Center to encourage them in their writing skills and seek continual growth.
Tutor
Olivia Reardon
Tutor
or1264@messiah.edu
Olivia is a junior English major with a double minor in Education and Dance. While Olivia loves learning, quality time, and ice cream, she is particularly passionate about serving Christ in all that she does and says. Olivia sees much beauty in the written word, and she cares deeply about helping others see it too. She believes that everyone can write if only they are given the right tools.
Tutor
Adahlee Schroeder
Tutor
as1946@messiah.edu
Adahlee is an English and Theatre double major. When she is not running around from show to show, she is reading or writing in Climenhaga. Finding peace from the chaos in nature, her favorite place to walk is the trail by the Yellow Breeches. She loves being around people and reading high fantasy, so don't hesitate to ask her about her favorite author, Brandon Sanderson.
Tutor
Aliza Alton
Tutor
aa1384@messiah.edu
Aliza is a junior Politics and International Relations major with an American concentration and a minor in pre-law. She is passionate about adolescent development and is pursuing a career in Family Law. When she's not in class, she loves grabbing an iced coffee at the Union, listening to podcasts, playing with her puppy, Pippa, or having deep conversations with friends! She seeks to understand each person's perspective better and create unity through shared interests, whether that be when she and her friends can't decide what movie to watch or when studying the larger political sphere at large. She is eager to help others find their voice and use writing as a beautiful tool for sharing their perspective and communicating with the world around them!
Tutor
Esther Hess
Tutor
eh1406@messiah.edu
Esther is a sophomore Environmental Science Major with a minor in Spanish. She loves long walks through the forest, but be warned, if you ever join her, you will probably have to stop and look at all the flowers. When she is not gallivanting through nature, you can find her baking, playing volleyball, practicing organ, or reading a great book by the Yellow Breeches.
Tutor
Eva Hancock
Tutor
eh1425@messiah.edu
Eva is a sophomore education major. After playing field hockey for 11 years, she decided to continue her career on the field hockey team at Messiah. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her friends, go on runs, and read good books.
Tutor
Mackenzie Wise
Tutor
mw1528@messiah.edu
Mackenzie is a sophomore English major with a Secondary Teaching Certification. When not studying or hanging out with friends, you can probably find her drinking a caramel macchiato from the Union, discovering new music, or exercising in an on-campus spin class. Mackenzie is particularly passionate about the reflection of the complex human experience in literature, and is excited to share her love of English with her students one day.
Tutor
Natalia Carlone
Tutor
nc1266@messiah.edu
Natalia is a junior Psychology major with a clinical concentration. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and reading science fiction. Natalia is also passionate about listening to music and writing poetry.
Tutor
Ethan Reisler
Tutor
er1337@messiah.edu
Ethan is a junior English major with a creative writing concentration and double minors in communications and broadcasting & journalism. Enjoying all avenues of storytelling, he spends his free time reading anything and everything, writing fiction, and playing video games with his friends; but he'll always make the time to talk with others over some coffee.
Tutor
Reagan Steele
Tutor
rs1596@messiah.edu
Reagan is a freshman Nutrition and Dietetics major. She is happiest when she is in the kitchen, reading a good book, listening to old jazz vinyls, and spending time with family and friends. When she needs to decompress, she finds that writing is the perfect outlet for her emotions and creativity.
Interested in joining our team? Click here to learn more about working at the Writing Center!
Headshots and photography courtesy of Zach Hinds