Meet us
Dr. Meredith Boulden, Director
About: A native and lifelong Memphian, Dr. Meredith Heath Boulden is a proud alumna of the
University of Memphis, where she earned her BA, MA, and PhD in English, with concentrations
in Language and Linguistics, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and Literary
and Cultural Studies, respectively. As a long-time consultant at the CWC, Meredith
used her experience in teaching composition, literature, and ESL to hone her approach
to working one-on-one with clients, and it has become her firm belief that every individual,
given substantial encouragement and appropriate instruction, can become confident
in their capabilities as a writer and speaker. With this philosophy in mind, Meredith
endeavors to instill the same level of confidence in the CWC consultants and their
clients alike.
Liberty O'Neill, GAD
About: Liberty O’Neill is a third-year Creative Writing MFA student at the University of
Memphis with a BA from the University of South Florida in English and philosophy.
Her fiction has been published by Thread Literary Inquiry, Z Publishing House, and
her self-published zine Get Well Soon. Liberty is currently the Managing Editor of
the Pinch literary journal.
Ahmed Alshammari, GAD
About: Ahmed Alshammari is a PhD student in the Applied Linguistics program at the University
of Memphis. He received his MA in TESOL from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO).
He taught English at several universities in Saudi Arabia and the United States. Ahmed
has been an English language instructor at Umm Al-Qura University since 2018. His
research interests include academic writing, English for specific purposes, and Task-based
language teaching. He presents his academic work at regional and international conferences.
Ahmed likes traveling, hiking, walking around lakes, and watching TV shows.
Amber Alston, Consultant
About: Amber "AD" Alston is a current Ph.D. student working towards a degree in Communication
at the University of Memphis. She received her Bachelor’s (2020) and Master's (2023)
degrees in Communication Studies from Texas State University. Amber is currently a
graduate Teaching Assistant for the Communication Studies Department and a Writing
Consultant at the University of Memphis. Amber has worked with several religious,
social justice, Greek-lettered, non-profit, and restaurant organizations in Texas,
Louisiana, and Arkansas to enhance their marketing, branding, and how to effectively
communicate and appeal to wider audiences. Amber's academic and research interests
are African American Womanist/Feminist rhetoric and how Black women communicate within
social, political, and economic discourses. Amber’s professional interests are rooted
in social justice, conflict management, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
(DEIB) trainings.
Alyssa Radtke, Consultant
About: Alyssa Radtke is a PhD student in the English department at UM, where she also received
her MFA in Poetry. She enjoys brainstorming papers, most forms of caffeine, and reading
fanfiction while procrastinating. She has experience teaching with ENGL 1010 and 1020.
Bakheet Almatrafi, Consultant
About: Bakheet Almatrafi is a PhD student in the Applied Linguistics program at the University
of Memphis. He received his MA in TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).
Bakheet has been an English instructor at Umm Al-Qura University since 2016. His research
interests include ESL writing, academic writing, corrective feedback, and language
ideology. Bakheet enjoys traveling, reading and playing sports.
Chelsea Panameño, Consultant
About: Chelsea Panameño is a first-year MFA student in Fiction with a concentration in Literary
Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Christian Brothers University with two
BAs in English and Creative Writing. She enjoys writing about magic, mythology, gender,
and everything in-between. When she isn’t writing, she also enjoys playing tabletop
roleplay games, listening to horror podcasts, and trying not to kill plants. She has
worked as a writing consultant for several years and looks forward to working with
students at the CWC.
Hana Alqabba, Consultant
About: Hana Alqabba is a PhD student in the English department at the University of Memphis.
Her research interests include Second Language Writing, English for Academic Purposes,
and corpus linguistics. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, outdoor activities,
and spending time with her family and friends.
Maame Agyeiwaa, Consultant
About: Greetings! I am Diana Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, although I prefer to go by Maame. I am
pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication, delving into the fascinating realm of academia.
I originally hailed from Ghana, a land known for its abundance of gold and as the
highest producer of delectable cocoa, I take pride in the fact that the chocolate
you savor likely originates from my homeland.
My academic journey commenced with an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies
specializing in Journalism. For almost a decade, I immersed myself in the world of
journalism, reporting on various court cases from the Supreme Court down to the lower
courts.
Expanding my horizons, I pursued a Master of Arts in International Studies at Ohio
University, focusing on Communication and Development Studies. This allowed me to
explore the intricate dynamics between communication and societal progress.
After graduation, I seized the opportunity to make a positive impact by working with
Central Ohio Worker Center, a nonprofit organization based in Columbus, Ohio. As the
Community Organizer, I had the opportunity to educate, empower and advocate for low-wage
and immigrant workers. As somebody who is passionate about grassroots organizing and
advocating for marginalized people, I deeply cherished my job while working.
Beyond my professional and academic pursuits, I love to have time for myself. I enjoy
reading, traveling, writing, listening to country and classical music, and watching
movies.
Madison Hunter, Consultant
About: Madison ‘Mocha’ Hunter, a Detroit, MI, native, is one-eighth of Mobile, AL’s award-winning
poetry troupe “Powerlines Poetry,” where she is widely known as the spoken word artist
“DictionKanari”. She has had the privilege of interviewing literary all-stars Dr.
Roxane Gay, Adrian Matejka, and Dr. Jericho Brown. Her work has appeared in Watershed
Voice, You Might Need To Hear This, and Oracle Fine Arts Review. Mocha is pro canceled
plans, sunsets, charcuterie boards, and keeping the Sabbath. When she isn’t creating,
she’s collecting memories with friends, family, and even enemies as well as reading,
roller skating (or some rhythmic attempt to stay in gravity’s good graces), vacationing,
vinyl record hunting, tasting culture and critiquing cuisine in the gritty and glorious
city of Memphis; it is also in this great city that she is currently pursuing a Master
of Fine Arts in Creative Writing along with a certificate in African American Literature.
Following receiving her MFA, she will be pursuing a PhD in Literature/Literary Studies,
specializing in African American Studies and minoring in Anthropology.
Marissa Corleone, Consultant
About: Marissa Corleone has a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative
Writing. She has over five years of experience in the tutoring field, specifically
in the literary department. She believes all students have the capability of unlocking
their true potential through a little hard work and self reflection. She looks forward
to working with all of you this upcoming school year.
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Sam Guajardo, Consultant
Ghadi Matouq, Consultant
About: Ghadi is a Ph.D. student in the Applied Linguistics program at The University of Memphis.
She holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and a certificate in teaching English
in international contexts (TEIC) from Texas Tech University. Her research interests
include Corpus Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, Second Language Testing, Second Language
Course Evaluation, Second Language Curriculum & Design, Second Language Literacy,
and Computer-Assisted Language Learning. She enjoys helping others, and her guiding
phrase is "do good, and good things will come back to you."
Serena Whittaker, Consultant
About: Serena Whittaker is a senior at the University of Memphis, where she consistently
demonstrates a high commitment to academic excellence. Majoring in Public Relations
and minoring in Communications, Serena aspires to make a meaningful impact in the
community. She is a dedicated communicator with robust writing and public speaking
credentials. Her experience spans from creating diverse content—ranging from newsletters
to social media—to being a selected speaker for an upcoming TEDx event in Memphis.
Serena's academic journey has been enriched by courses like "Rhetoric of Social Movements,"
reinforcing her writing ability. As she steps into her senior year, she's committed
to empowering students with confidence in their writing abilities. With a philosophy
rooted in nurturing creativity and confidence, Serena has previously guided her high
school mock trial team in mastering persuasive writing. Eager to contribute to the
Center for Writing and Communication, Serena's passion for her craft is evident and
she's enthusiastic about making a positive impact.
Terie Box, Consultant
About: Terie L. Box is a native Memphian with more than a decade of experience teaching in
higher education. Holding both a Bachelors and Masters in Journalism, as well as a
PhD in English, Dr. Box has taught first-year Composition (1010 and 1020), Literary
Heritage (2201), British Literature since 1750 (3220), and Speech Communication courses.
Her research interest primarily centers on the Nineteenth-Century British Novel, and
other interests include reading, writing fiction, gardening, baking, swimming and
swim coaching, social justice – and saving the elephants.