"Hello! I'm Colin, your local writing and speaking coach!

You should book a session if you are:

- practicing for a standardized test (ACT/SAT/GRE English and writing sections)

- writing a professional or academic application

- preparing a speech

- struggling on an assignment

- writing creatively and need a supportive reader

- developing lesson plans for HS or college

For over a decade, I have devoted myself to communication skills, both my own and for the thousands of students I have taught and tutored. When I was in undergrad, I became an English major so that I could read anything, write anything, and speak on anything, intending to take those skills to law school. However, as a sophomore, I began tutoring with the writing center, and I fell in love with helping others find and express their voices. The students I worked with were so interesting that I abandoned law school to pursue teaching writing!

So, I entered a PhD program at Iowa State called Rhetoric and Professional Communication, where I taught composition, public speaking, business writing, and technical writing, as well as tutoring at their Writing and Media Center. One of my specialties is working with students who don't think they are good writers, especially STEM and ELL students. I'm very good at identifying where a writer is and helping them across multiple sessions achieve their goals. As I wrapped up my PhD, I began directing the Writing Center at Simpson College, which was a dream come true. I taught over a dozen tutors how to implement my consulting techniques, and my methods won several awards for our services, including two grants (one internal and one NSF) for STEM-related writing support.

But my life is coming full circle. The more I learn about education policies and practices, the more I realize that being a professor isn't enough to help students, teachers, and districts in Iowa. I'm returning to law school and focusing on educational policy." less...