About Us

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to engage students in their learning process, to improve their self-efficacy for writing and learning, and to help them become more effective communicators. We believe learning is a life-long process and that skills acquired and honed while students at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology will enhance their academic, professional, and personal lives.

VISION AND APPROACH

The OSWL is a place where students of all degree levels and disciplines can feel safe and supported in developing their skills, a place that is free from judgment, and a place where the processes of inquiry and incremental improvement are valued above all else. In line with the Vision and Values of The Chicago School, the OSWL provides innovative services and learning resources to assist certificate, bachelor, master, and doctoral students on their path to professional careers​.

Penni Nickles, MPsy

Writing Specialist (Dallas) & Academic Coach

Hi! My name is Penni and I have been in the field of education for over 20 years.  I have worked as an academic coach for part of my career and also taught as a professor of psychology and learning frameworks, teaching students how to improve their study and writing skills and learning habits.  I have worked at The Chicago School since 2020 and am excited to now be working in the Office of Student Writing and Learning!  

Natalie Sharp, Writing Coach

Hello, my name is Natalie, and I am a Writing Specialist/Tutor for your Online Writing Center. I am in my final year at TCSPP as a Ph.D. student studying Organizational Leadership. Prior to TCSPP, I attended the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), where I earned a master's degree in Human Resource Management. I also earned a bachelor’s degree at UMGC in Business Administration with a minor in Business Law and Public Policy. I initially started my college studies at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), where I earned an Associate degree (AA) in Management Development, and an Advanced Accounting Certificate.

Training and Education is where my heart is! While pursuing my studies, my occupation has been with the Department of the Navy, in Training Development and Management as a Management Analyst. For 20 years the Navy has allowed me to manage, teach, and provide guidance in real life experiences in the workforce in Training and Development in a wide variety of programs, including apprenticeships, mentorship programs, orientations, and the like. I aspire to teach others and share what I have learned, and I am sure you can teach me too! I look forward to working with you as we broaden our knowledge!

Elisabeth Fincher, Writing Coach

Hello, my name is Elisabeth Fincher. I am in the International Psychology Organizations and Systems track program. My area of interest is trauma-informed leadership. I completed a double major in Psychology and Sociology at the University of California, Riverside, a research-oriented school. In fact, I was an undergraduate research assistant in the Perceptual Psychology Department, teaching me that although we have similarities in how we see things, perception is also very individualistic. I went on to a Humanistic program at the University of Puget Sound, earning my M.Ed. in Clinical Counseling. After practicing in the mental health field across the spectrum of care and settings, I returned to school to earn a Master in Social Work and an Executive Master in Public Administration at Portland State University. I have an interest in working internationally because of my multicultural family. I understand how hard it is to work across languages since not all words and concepts translate easily. Some idioms are culturally based and do not translate well either. I hope to be part of that translation process when students are struggling. Having worked in so many settings, I understand the importance of written communication when telling a client’s story and outlining treatment plans. Your co-workers will appreciate it if you have a clear, concise communication style. One of my goals is to help you develop your style, allowing you to flourish in any setting. 

Grecia Gaviria, Writing Coach

My name is Grecia Gaviria; I am a third-year Ph.D. student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program. My interest in writing, communication, and, more generally, language comes from my history with second language acquisition. As a bilingual writer, I experience many benefits as well as challenges. For instance, I have struggled with syntax, as sentences are structured differently in Spanish and English. As an undergraduate student, I studied communication sciences and disorders. I obtained a Bachelor of Science in speech-language pathology and audiology with a minor in education. During this time, I took courses in linguistics, phonetics, ASL, and the psychology of learning a second language. For my master's degree, I continued my journey in psychology with a focus on applied behavior analysis, the science of learning. My writing background is mainly academic. However, I have also written content for our ABA department newsletter, for which I lead the art and design team and the monitor, evaluation, and engagement team. Academic writing is a formal skill that requires precision and accuracy, and we can improve this skill through continuous and devoted practice. The art of academic writing is not easy to master. I plan to continue honing my writing skills while supporting other students who may need to overcome their writing hurdles.

Marie-Michele Truchon, Writing Coach

Hello, my name is Marie-Michele, and I am currently a PhD student in the applied behavior analysis (ABA) department at the Chicago campus. I grew up in Canada and moved to the United States 7 years ago to pursue my studies. During my time at TCS, I have worked as a teaching assistant, peer writing coach, adjunct, and second reader, and when I am not studying or working, I enjoy reading, skiing, knitting, quilting, and cooking/baking.

Nicollette Mebust, Writing Coach

I'm a fifth-year clinical psychology student at the Chicago campus with a passion for forensic psychology. I have been with the writing center for multiple years now and truly enjoy editing clinical reports, dissertations, and essays for internship applications. I also have an eye for all things APA and will help educate you on how to format your reports or papers and properly use citations. 

I have a bachelor's in criminal justice and a master's in forensic psychology. I love being able to assist other in their forensic writing, as it is different from traditional academic writing. Prior to internship my writing has mostly been for academics or diagnostic reports; however, internship has offered me the ability to conduct evaluations for the courts and further solidify my forensic writing skills. I'd love to share my passion of writing with others and assist you in every way possible. 

Chioma Okeke, Writing Coach

My name is Chioma, and I am a peer writing specialist with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I joined the team in Fall of 2021 at the recommendation of a faculty member and have been loving the work ever since! I am a first generation Nigerian-American. My mother migrated to the U.S. to practice law, so she was able to master both the english language and her native language. She always stressed to me the importance of language and clear/effective communication. Therefore, she was constantly correcting my grammar, both orally and in writing. As the oldest of four children, I eventually found myself helping my siblings with their writing assignments as well. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. While there, I began as a pre-medical student, thinking I wanted to pursue psychiatry. I quickly realized this was not what I wanted. After about a year of indecision, I discovered neuropsychology, and the rest is history. I am currently a 3rd year student in TCSPP's Psy.D. program. My specific area of interest is pediatric neuropsychology. As this specialty requires quite of bit of report writing, my passion for writing has been very useful. My favorite part about being a peer writing specialist at TCSPP is reading the brilliant work of my peers. They have excellent ideas, and I am humbed to have the opportunity to help them communicate those ideas as effectively as possible. Moreover, I don't believe the perfect writer exists, so I find myself learning new writing skills from my peers daily. I genuinely enjoy this work and look forward to helping students develop their writing skills each semester.