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.
Carol Wardell, Graduate Assistant Director
About: Carol Wardell is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English with a concentration
in Literary and Cultural Studies, primarily Multi-cultural Southern Literature. She
teaches American Literature, Literary Heritage, African American Literary Heritage,
and Composition at the University of Memphis. Carol is TEFL / TESL certified and has
taught English at Bohemia University in the Czech Republic and at Xi’an Jiaotong University
in China. Carol enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking.
Shukura Ayoluwa Umi, Graduate Assistant Director
About: Hello everyone! My name is Shukura (Shoo-Cur-Ra) Ayolywa Umi (Oomee). I am a fourth-year
doctoral student in the Department of Communication and Film. My area of study is
health communication as it relates to African descent women and their maternal and
infant health practices. When not studying, I enjoy reading, traveling, and HIIT exercise
or Bikram Yoga. My top 5 recorded television shows are Living Single, The Walking
Dead, Golden Girls, Psych, and a Pup named Scooby-Doo. I am a graduate student and
graduate instructor in the Department of Communication and Film. As an instructor,
I grade writing assignments on a regular basis. Becoming a tutor affords me to help
support, and share some of the helpful tips and pebbles of wisdom, I have picked up
along the way. I appreciate you reading about me and look forward to working with
you!
Rebecca Adejoru, Consultant
About: Rebecca is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Memphis, Department
of Communication and Film, the health and relational division. She holds a bachelor's
degree in English Language and Literary studies and a master's degree in Communication
studies. She is a graduate instruction in the Department of Communication and Film,
she teaches Oral Communication (COMM 2381). My research interests are health literacy,
interpersonal communication, health communication and religion. “I grew with some
difficulty learning and writing, this experience informed my interest in teaching.”
I am looking forward to our sessions together!
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.
Ahmed Alshammari, Consultant
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..
Uthman Alzuhairy, Consultant
About: Uthman received his B.A. in English Language and Translation in 2012. He is a master's
degree holder in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from the
University of Central Florida. He is a certified English teacher as a foreign language.
Uthman is a lecturer in English at Qassim University since 2017. He is currently pursuing
his PhD studies in Applied Linguistics/ELT at the University of Memphis. Uthman usually
spends his leisure time playing/watching soccer games.
Tayler Bell, Consultant
About: Tayler recently graduated from the College of Charleston with two bachelor’s in ArtsManagement
and Communication. She is currently in her first year as a master’s student in theFilm
and Video Production program at UofM. She loves watching movies and shows in her freetime
(mostly rewatching the same things a million times), and also enjoys screenwriting
and creating stories of her own.
Rachell Berry, Consultant
About: Rachell is a PhD student in the English department where she studies writing and rhetoric.
She holds an MA in English and a BA in Visual Anthropology. Her professional background
includes documentary filmmaking, archaeology, and outdoor education. The focus of
her current research is the history of rhetoric and teaching writing, especially online.
Rachell loves helping writers at all levels with a variety of assignments, whether
creative or technical. She also enjoys the internet, reading, making art, exploring
new places, and all the great food in Memphis.
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.
Curtis Chamblee, Consultant
About: Greetings; my name is Curtis Ladrillo Chamblee. I am a third-year Ph.D. student in
the Department of Communication and Film at the University of Memphis. Curtis received
his BA and MA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Currently, I am exploring
the representation of Black masculinity within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Specifically, how Sam Wilson’s Black body has been inscribed during his time in the
MCU, certain audiences of the MCU have been unwilling to embrace him as the next Captain
America. Previously, my paper; Shattering barriers: Hybridity myth invested expectations
in Marvel’s Black Panther, was part of a panel at the National Association of Communication
(NCA) in November 2019. I believe that every student has the ability to be an amazing
writer or speaker and my goal is to bring the best out of them.
Jordan Evans, Consultant
About: Jordan Evans is Memphis-educated writer through and through. She first received her
Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College in 2015, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in
Fiction Writing from the University of Memphis in 2020. Her favorite “fun fact” about
her time at UofM is that her thesis defense was for a zombie novel, that she defended
over Zoom during a pandemic (the irony isn’t lost on her). Whether writing fiction
or product copy for e-commerce platforms, she still finds the work of helping students
tell their stories through their written work at the CWC among the most fulfilling.
After hours, she likes to crochet, play video games, and spoil her two cats mercilessly.</p
Samantha Guajardo, Consultant
About: Samantha Guajardo joined the Communication and Film program in 2022 as a doctoral
candidate and graduate teaching assistant (GTA). Guajardo gained experience as a speech
coach and GTA at her alma mater: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. There,
she taught Introductory to Communication and recorded lectures for Interpersonal Communication.
Guajardo is actively conducting research and has been a basic course facilitator for
Western States Communication Association. Guajardo will also be presenting at the
National Communication Association’s 2022 conference on “Synchronous Speech Labs and
Their Effects on University Students’ Public Speaking Skills.” Guajardo’s specialization
is in media and rhetoric studies. Her research interests lie at the intersection of
pedagogy, race, and rhetoric. On a personal note, Guajardo enjoys traveling and hopes
to one day teach and study abroad.
Diana Humble, Consultant
About: Diana Humble is a Ph.D. student at the University of Memphis in the Department of
Communication and Film, and is an instructor for COMM 2381: Oral Communication. Her
Master's level research used individual interviews to examine the connection between
experiencing sexual violence and fantasizing about rape. Her research interests include
health communication, narrative reclamation, patient-provider interactions, sexual
violence, anti-obesity rhetoric, trauma communication, psychology, and fanfiction.
In her free time, she writes and publishes poetry, tends to her houseplants, and plays
with her shelter dog—Halle.
Kalib LaChapelle, Consultant
About: Kalib LaChapelle is a second year MFA candidate on the Fiction Track and teaches English
1010 at the University of Memphis. Originally from the great state of Oregon, Kalib
can be found reading far too many fantasy books when he’s not reading for class or
working on personal projects.
Liberty O’Neill, Consultant
About: Liberty O’Neill is a second-year 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. Aside from writing, her hobbies include collecting old books and talking
to alligators.
Karly Poyner, Consultant
About: Karly Poyner is a 2nd year Ph.D. student at the University of Memphis in the Department
of Communication and Film. Using poetic, rhetorical, and qualitative approaches to
interpersonal and identity communicative tensions, she examines intersections of gender,
sex, and religion within religious/social movements. Karly is also a COMM2381 instructor
and is passionate about presentational/oral communication and working through that
pesky thing called "Communication Apprehension."
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
and can’t wait to work with you!