Dr. Jake Gaskins

Director

Dr. Gaskins has been Director of the Writing Center since 1980. A native of North Carolina, he received his doctorate from the University of Iowa. Besides tutoring in the Writing Center, he regularly teaches "Rhetoric & Critical Thinking," "Creative Writing," "Advanced Composition," "Style in Writing," and "The Modern Essay" in the English Department.  His hobbies?  Scuba-diving, bungee-jumping, alligator-wrestling.  Writing. 

Ms. Marilyn Crites

Writing Associate

Prior to assuming her position as a Writing Associate, Ms. Crites was an instructor in the English Department from 1988-1996.  She received her B.A., B.S. in Education, and M.A. from Southeast Missouri State University.  Her interests include creative writing, genealogy, line dancing, bowling and taking nature hikes.  One of her favorite sayings:  "Never engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent!"

Ms. Lea Hecht

Writing Associate

Lea has taught a variety of classes ranging from all the freshman level composition classes to literature classes to university studies at Southeast Missouri State University since 1976 and has been a writing associate since 1994. Her undergraduate work was at William Woods, Westminster, and the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she received her B.S. in Education with a minor in chemistry; she received her M.A. in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Professionally she writes, presents papers, and has published articles in addition to her photography; she also works with writing assessment. Outside interests include traveling (particularly to Maine, Colorado, England, and Italy), windjamming, photography, graveyard research, baseball, Southeast’s Choral Union, and family activities with her husband, an English professor at Southeast, her son, a grad of Southeast and UT, and his family in Maryville, Tennessee, and her daughter, Laura, a grad of William Jewell, and her family who live in the area, especially her grandson, Troy, 11, and her granddaughter, Abigail, 8.

Ms. Patti Miinch

Writing Associate

Mrs. Miinch earned her B.S. in Secondary Education with a major in English from Southeast Missouri State University and taught secondary English for over ten years in Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico.  In 1997, she returned to SEMO as a graduate assistant in the English Department; she earned her Masters in English with an Emphasis in Composition in 1999.  She continued to teach part-time in the English Department and joined the Writing Center staff as a Writing Associate in August 2007.  She is married and has two children -- her son is a pre-med student and her daughter is a senior in high school.  She lives on a small farm near Cape Girardeau, and her hobbies include juntiquing (she made up that word!), reading, writing, quilting, knitting, and scrapbooking.  She loves almost all sports, but football is her favorite, and she is an avid NFL fan.

Mr. Jon Thrower

Writing Associate

Jon Thrower graduated with an M.A. in English from Southeast Missouri State University in 2005. Before becoming a Writing Associate in the Writing Center, Mr. Thrower taught Writing Skills Workshop, English Composition, and Rhetoric and Critical Thinking as an Adjunct Faculty member in the English Department. Mr. Thrower currently teaches a section of Fiction and the Human Experience. Professional activities include, Writing Workshops, Participating in Small-Press, Web, and Desktop Publishing. He is a founding member of the writing collective: Prescription Strength Poetry. His interests include Creative Writing, Critical Theory, Art History, Politics, and Writing, Recording, and Performing Music.

Ms. Marge Phillips

Administrative Assistant

Marge has been the administrative assistant in the Writing Outcomes Program for 16 years.  She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Southeast.  Originally from northwestern Nebraska, Marge now resides near Scott City.  Hobbies include reading, cooking & canning and enjoying her grandchildren.

Ms. Elishia Heiden

Elishia graduated from Southeast with a B.A. in English (writing) and a minor in psychology. She is currently in her second year of graduate studies, pursuing a M.A. in English (creative writing). She is known for incessantly singing (usually the most annoying songs), and getting repetitive tunes stuck in other people’s heads—this is not on purpose, although some would suggest otherwise. Other than that, she enjoys attempting to train for various running competition, and eating Baba Ghanoush.

Ms. Barb Jenkins

Barb is a graduate of Southeast University with a major in English with an emphasis in Writing and a minor in Small Press Publishing. Growing up in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, she spent a lot of time reading, ice-skating and tobogganing. In 1996 she moved to Missouri with her husband and two children. She is currently working on her Master's of English with an emphasis in Creative Writing.

Mr. Matt Mankin

Matt is currently finishing up his final year in the MA TESOL program here at SEMO. He currently has a BS in Physical Education, an Associate's degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant, a BA in English Education, and is a veteran of the US Navy. His hobbies include: learning about world cultures, reading, and weight lifting. "Can't wait to pay back those loans!"

Ms. Amelie Morgan

Amelie graduated from Southeast with a B.A., majoring in English and minoring in music. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in creative writing and teaching EN100. She likes to read and write poetry and play the piano, and is an active participant in her local Theatre of the Absurd.

Mr. Brandon Scheldt

I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Art History and am currently pursuing an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language. My favorite Sport: college football, Song: Sympathy for the Devil, City: Rome, Dog: wiener, Condiment: sour cream, Philosopher: Jeffrey Lebowski. I also enjoy being cooler than Turner, the guy below.

Mr. Matt Turner

I graduated from Union University with a Bachelors Degree in English Literature.  After taking a year off and working in construction, oddly enough, I am now pursuing my Masters in English with an emphasis in Literature.  I usually spend my free time enjoying the Arts but am an avid sports fan, as well.  One may find me discussing defensive strategy at a Friday night football game at least as often as sitting around drinking tea and arguing about sexual metaphors for the poetic imagination.

Ms. Jennifer Weggenmann

I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Accounting in May 2006 from Southeast Missouri State University.  I attended St. Louis Community College prior to that, and earned an Associate’s in Business Administration.  I am currently pursuing my MBA, with an Accounting focus.  I am from Eureka, MO.  In my free time I enjoy going to concerts and car shows, listening to music, and reading.

Mr. Damian McDonald

Ms. Markeisha Franklin

Mr. Brian Kelly

Ms. Brittany Harden