Spring 2023 Writing Center Staff

Ryan Rickrode
Director
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.
Micaiah Saldaña
Head Tutor
Micaiah Saldaña is a junior English major with a concentration in professional writing and a minor in public relations. While she loves Chai lattes, cheesecake, and Oxford commas, two of her greatest loves are Jesus and stories. Her belief in the power of stories to change the world guides her study of literature and practice of writing. She loves to use her skills and knowledge as a self-proclaimed “grammar queen” and lifelong bibliophile to help others best tell their stories with the hope of making the world a brighter place.


Nason Allen
Data Manager
Nason is a Computer Science major who is always asking questions. When he's not gaming, he enjoys talking to his brothers and getting to know new people. Other loves of his include the winter, anything mechanical, and spacing out.
Courtney Kehler
Courtney is a junior English major with a literature concentration. She is deeply passionate about words, a fan of all things literary, and an avid supporter of the Oxford comma. She aims to use her knowledge and love of stories to help others to tell their stories well. When she isn't reading or writing, you can find her out for a run, knitting or crocheting, and spending hours outside or in local bookstores.


Hye Lim Jung
Hye Lim is a senior English major with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in Psychology. She enjoys writing in both the professional and creative fields. On campus, you will most likely find her reading or studying somewhere in the library or in Boyer Hall.
Abby Smoker
Abby is a junior Psychology major with a clinical concentration. She loves writing, especially poetry, and her favorite author is Madeleine L'Engle. She enjoys hiking, creative expression, and thoughtful discussions about concepts like time travel or personality.


Lydia Leaman
Lydia is a junior English major with a secondary teaching certification and a minor in Politics. She is from Mohnton, PA, and loves learning about the world, especially through literature. While not attending classes, she can usually be found writing papers in the library with a chai latte and an absurd number of highlighters.
Akon Undieh
Akon is a sophomore Biology major. She grew up in Nigeria and loves to read African literature. She loves all things Formula 1. She spends most of her time studying or engaging in mind-stretching conversation with friends.


Jolie Lloyd
Jolie is a sophomore English major with a concentration in professional writing. She is deeply passionate about Jesus, words, and music. In her free time, she enjoys browsing indie bookstores, listening (and singing along) to worship music, playing piano, watching the Office, having theological discussions, and spending time with her family, friends, and two pugs. On campus, you will most likely find her studying at the library, coffee in hand.
Teagan Murrie
Teagan is a sophomore psychology/criminal justice major from Charlottesville, VA. She loves being outside, enjoying good food and coffee, reading, and being around friends. Teagan spends a lot of her time on the Messiah field hockey field, doing homework in the library, and relaxing with her hall mates. She wishes that Lottie had breakfast smoothie bowls multiple days of the week. She also would love to meet your dog.


Ana Sakore
Ana is an English major with a secondary teaching certification. She is also attempting a second major in music. When she is not buried in an overly ambitious art project or a practice room in the High Center, she loves to meet new faces around campus. Her favorite free time activities include baking to old musicals and being in the library with a London fog and some friends.
Remy Murray
Remy is an English major with a secondary teaching certification and has a huge passion for helping others use words to communicate and express themselves. In her free time, Remy loves to dance as another form of creative expression, listens to music, and spends time with friends, family, and her cats. Outside of class, you can find her teaching tap classes for Acclamation Dance Ministry or working at Lottie.


Ciera Childs
Ciera Childs is a sophomore English major with a concentration in creative writing. Since she was a young child, she has been obsessed with the art of storytelling. She also deeply loves forests and will often profess that, in another life, she was a woodland creature. She loves being involved in any and everything she can, so you’ll often see her dashing around campus from one activity to the next. She’s always down for a meaningful conversation, though, so feel free to stop her and say hi.
Emma Bane
Emma is a sophomore English major with a creative writing concentration and minor in HDFS. When she's not writing or reading (as all good English majors do), you'll find her thrifting, grabbing a dirty chai at the Union, or planning music events for SAB. She loves connecting with people, listening to Faye Webster, and talking all things film or music. Feel free to stop in and say hi, especially if you bring a coffee!


Audrey Blunt
Audrey is a Junior English major with a concentration in Literature. She is passionate about sharing the magic of reading and writing with the next generation of scholars, and plans to pursue a career in private English Education. She has a particular love of Russian literature, and would cancel any plans in order to sit down with a huge Dostoevsky novel and a cup of tea! She is also a proud member of the Messiah College Gender Concerns Committee, and takes every opportunity to tie in feminist and ecofeminist theory with her academic work.