Professional Staff
![Headshot image of M Hager](/writingcenter/pics/Michelle%20Hager-2023.jpg)
Michelle Hager
Director
Michelle Hager is the Writing Center Director, and she has extensive experience in
writing instruction and writing center administration. She is also a SJSU alum, having
earned her B.A. in English (with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing)
and M.A. in English.
During her 12 years of teaching in higher education (2006-2018), Michelle taught classes
in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, ranging from Editing for
Writers to Young Adult Literature. Prior to becoming the Writing Center Director in
July 2013, she served for four years as the Writing Center Associate Director.
She has worked with the Writing Across the Curriculum director to create the course-embedded
writing tutors program at SJSU. She has also presented at numerous national and regional
conferences, including the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC).
In 2021, she completed the intensive summer institute through the International Writing
Centers Association (IWCA).
Michelle sits on multiple committees--both at the university and within her professional
organizations. She was also the program chair for the 2019 Northern California Writing
Centers Association (NCWCA) Conference, which was hosted at SJSU.
Phone: 408-924-2249
Email: michelle.hager@sjsu.edu
![Headshot image of A Russo](/writingcenter/pics/Amy%20Russo-2023.jpg)
Amy Russo
Coordinator of Multilingual Writing Support Services
Amy Russo is the Coordinator for Multilingual Writing Support Services at the SJSU
Writing Center, working with both undergraduate and graduate students. She earned
her B.A. in European Studies from Hendrix College and her Master of Library and Information
Science from Louisiana State University. In December 2017, Amy earned her M.A. in
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Middlebury Institute
of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey.
Prior to joining the SJSU writing team, Amy taught English for five years in Japan
and tutored for two years at a graduate writing center. Over the last seven years,
she has made numerous presentations at conferences about linguistics, language teaching,
and writing, including the California TESOL Conference, the UC Davis Language Symposium,
and the JET Skill Development Conference for English Teachers. Amy is actively involved
in Toastmasters, a public speaking non-profit. In addition, she partners with the
San Francisco Japanese Consulate to support the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET)
Program through teacher training. Amy is the co-founder and former officer of the
JET Alumni Association of Monterey Bay (JETAAMB).
In this position, Amy creates workshops and trainings for tutors about working with
multilingual students (with Michelle Hager, Writing Center Director). She also builds
materials and professional development opportunities for faculty on topics relating
to the support of multilingual writers (with Dr. Tom Moriarty, Writing Across the
Curriculum Director). Amy’s aim is to promote lifelong learning that is positive,
flexible, and meaningful for students through careful content creation, learner strategy
training, and collaboration with students, tutors, faculty, staff, and campus organizations.
Phone: 408-808-2101
Email: amy.russo@sjsu.edu
![Headshot image of S Vora](/writingcenter/pics/WC%20Headshot%20Vora%202023.png)
Seher Vora
Coordinator of Online Writing Support Services
Seher Vora is the Coordinator for Online Writing Support Services. She provides training
and resources for students, faculty, and Writing Center employees, and oversees the
Writing Center's social platforms, including the official blog, "The Write Attitude."
She holds a BA in International Studies and Linguistics from UC Irvine, an MA in International
Relations from Tufts University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from San José State
University.
Seher is passionate about helping students develop a well-rounded approach to writing
through a multimodal exploration of writing styles and techniques, informed by diversity,
empathy, and digital literacy.
Phone: 408-924-2351
Email: seher.vora@sjsu.edu
Former Writing Center Director and Faculty-in-Residence
- Dr. Linda C. Mitchell (Director, 2007-2013)
- Maria Judnick (2016-2021)
- Heidi Livingston Eisips (spring 2019)
- Shannon Bane (2016-2017)
- Gloria Collins (2008-2016)
- Debra Caires (2014-2016)
- Jessy Goodman (2015-2016)
- Cindy Baer (2013-2015)
- Martin Leach (2012-2013)
- Jan Hagemann (2007-2012)
- Sabine Rech (2007-2008)
- Andrew Fleck (fall 2008)
- Jim Lobdell (spring 2007)
- Nancie Fimbel (spring 2007)