This year, the Writing Center at the University of Detroit Mercy has a new director. Erin Bell has taken over the position and is extremely excited about her new role.
The Writing Center is a location on campus where students can go if they need assistance with their intellectual, social and ethical growth. Students are able to bring in writing pieces that they are working on and receive aid, which helps them feel more confident in their work.
Before taking the position as the director of the Writing Center at UDM, Bell was the assistant director for educational development at the Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning on campus.
Bell received her Ph.D. from Wayne State University and fell in love with working in education back in 2009 when she had received her M.A. at Marygrove College.
Since then, she has held administrative and teaching positions, including program manager, mentor, full-time faculty member and writing center co-director.
Her love for education inspired her to take the role along with being able to serve her community.
“I am thrilled to be serving the community in this new role,” Bell said.“In the past, I have worked at several other collegiate writing centers as a tutor, a graduate writing consultant, and a co-director, and I’ve also taught composition courses for about the last 15 years or so, so this role seemed like a natural fit for my background and interests.”
Along with her love for education and being able to serve her community, she enjoys writing. Writing has become one of Bell’s many passions, and it has also influenced her decision.
“I just love writing,” Bell said. “I was on my own college newspaper and radio station at Oakland University. So, communication and writing have been key components of my life for decades.”
One of Bell’s former colleagues, Abigail Youngerman, also thinks that Bell’s love for writing can bring more to the Writing Center.
“Her enthusiasm for working with students will be of great benefit to the Writing Center, hopefully encouraging even more students to utilize their services,” Youngerman said.
Bell has also expressed her exciting plans and what she hopes to accomplish in her new role as the director.
“Keeping in alignment with our University’s values, I want to continue to ensure the Writing Center is a space of radical hospitality that students can utilize in meaningful and creative ways,” Bell said.
With her plans, Bell has the students in the front of her mind.
“As we move forward, I will continue to provide programming for our students and our consultants that meets their needs and prepares them for the contemporary workplace,” she said.
Bell also explained some new projects that she wants to pursue so that the Writing Center can best support student and faculty writing.
“I really want to pursue team-ups and collaborations with other departments,” Bell said. “I’d love to host special sessions or come visit classes.”
Some of Bell’s favorite parts about being the new director include engaging with students, assisting with a variety of writing project and working with staff.
