Writing Faculty

Writing Center Director

Allyce Horan

Allyce Horan is a Teaching Associate Professor in HASS and the Director of the Writing Center. She joined Mines in 2013. Allyce’s interdisciplinary background includes a B.A. in History & French, an M.A. in History, and certification in TEFL from Florida State University and certification in French from L’Institut Catholique de Paris. Allyce’s research has focused on understanding how literature, law, and language shaped 18th-century France’s perception of family, citizenship, and class. Allyce was the 2022 recipient of the W.M. Keck Mentorship Award for her work with graduate students and a 2022 recipient of the Campus Partner Award for her writing center work with the Multicultural Engineering Program. Allyce’s current research projects include understanding how individual STEM disciplines discuss and categorize concepts of “good” writing, methods to cultivate community for STEM graduate students, and writing across the curriculum. Allyce has published and presented her work at the American Society for Engineering Education, the Council of Writing Program Administrators, and the International Writing Center Association.

Professional Writing Consultants

Josh O’Brien

Writing Center Program Manager & Consultant

Resumes/CVs, Personal Statements, Humor, Composition Essays, and Technical Writing
jtobrien@mines.edu

Josh earned his M.A. in English from West Texas A&M University. He has taught courses in Composition, Technical Writing, and Humanities, as well as Developmental English courses. Before moving to Colorado, Josh was the coordinator of Amarillo College’s writing center.

Gretchen Hack

ESL, Composition, and Communications
ghack@mines.edu

Gretchen Hack graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a B.A. in English and Spanish and from the University of Colorado-Denver (UCD) with an M.A. in English. She has taught Composition at UCD and other area colleges since 1988, including teaching Literature and Advanced ESL Composition classes. She loves helping writers explore and express their discoveries and ideas in coherent prose. In her free time, Gretchen enjoys hiking, observing nature, reading and collecting tenets like this: “To write is to rewrite, . . . One writes for oneself, and one rewrites for others.” (From the character Julián Carax in Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Labyrinth of the Spirits.)

Ryan Lambert

Science/Technical/Career Writing, NHV/Composition, Social Sciences, and Speech Composition and Practice
ryandeanlambert@mines.edu

A Denver native, Ryan received his MA in English (composition and rhetoric) from the University of Northern Colorado, where he also holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in English and one in anthropology. Currently, Ryan teaches writing and rhetoric at the Community College of Denver, and he has taught at Northern Colorado, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Mountain Language Institute. Ryan is willing to assist you with any writing situation, but he is best qualified to help with NHV essays, scientific writing, any prompt related to the social sciences, and career/technical writing. He loves, too, working with international students. In his spare time, Ryan reads, goes to indie films (especially French ones), attends concerts, and tends to his two cats (Henri and B.C.).

Mary Ann Mace

Business, Humanities and Social Sciences Writing, Journal Articles, Personal Statements & Resumes
mace@mines.edu

Mary Ann offers a breadth of experience and education as a writing center professional. She has a bachelor’s in Education from Blackburn College, a private liberal arts college in Illinois, which gave her a solid foundation in teaching pedagogy. She received a master’s in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. The combined degrees position Mary Ann as a professional with expertise in technical and business writing as well as the humanities and sciences. Mary Ann has an extensive background working at writing centers including California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA and the University of Colorado, Denver. She enjoys working with students in any writing situation such as NHV essays, scientific writing, any prompt related to the social sciences, and career/technical writing. On a personal note, Mary Ann is a lifelong equestrian having spent many hours of the week training for riding competitions. Now, she puts her energies towards an equine rescue facility outside Denver.

Audrey Case

Science/Technical/Career Writing, NHV/Composition, Social Sciences, and Speech Composition and Practice
audrey.case@mines.edu

Audrey earned her BAs in Art History & Archaeology and German, as well as her MA in German, from the University of Missouri. She previously taught German at the University of Denver, and she has many years of experience as a writing tutor. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and visiting art museums.

Sarah Davis

Personal Statements, Cover Letters, NHV/Composition, and Social Sciences Writing
sarah.davis@mines.edu

Sarah earned her MA in English from the University of Denver where she researched epistolary form in memoir and intersections between spirituality and writing center studies. She previously worked as a coordinator and writing consultant at the DU Writing Center and as a private writing tutor. She is originally from Wisconsin and spends her spare time reading, cooking, thrifting, and foraging.

Undergraduate Writing Fellows

Anamika Misra

Anamika is a senior and lifelong resident of Golden, Colorado. She is majoring in Environmental Engineering and minoring in Public Affairs through the McBride Honors Program. On campus, she is also a member of the school’s Ethics Bowl team and the Society of Women Engineers. In her free time, she likes to crochet, read as many books as she can get her hands on and watch science fiction shows with her sister. For her, the most enjoyable part of the tutoring process is watching the light bulb go off in a student’s head and they can see their work take shape.

Frances Williams

Frances is a junior from Phelps, Wisconsin. She is majoring in Geological Engineering and beginning to pursue a master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering. On campus you can find her participating in Society of Women in Engineering meetings as well as, volunteering in community service events with the Vanguard Scholars. Frances is on the Club Tennis Team and services as Vice President of Communications. In her free time, she loves to snowboard and read books of all genres. Frances’ favorite part of being a writing tutor is discovering the large range of writing abilities of mines students and developing strong peer relationships to create the best piece of writing.

Maddy Hoffmann

Maddy is a junior studying Engineering Physics and minoring in Economics. She is originally from Redmond, Washington, where she grew up in the Pacific Northwest and learned to love everything about nature. At Mines, Maddy conducts undergraduate research for the Nuclear Science and Engineering Center (NuSEC), competes with the Mines Climbing Team, and is involved in clubs like the Society of Physics Students and the Society of Women in Physics. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and climbing, as well as playing board games with friends. Maddy’s favorite part of the tutoring process is watching students gain confidence in themselves and their writing ability as their writing starts to take shape.

McKenzie Jones

McKenzie is a senior studying Environmental Engineering with a minor in the McBride Honors Program of Public Affairs. She is originally from Denver, Colorado. McKenzie is also involved in the Vanguard Scholars and the Peace Corps Prep Program, and she serves as the External Relations Director for the Society of Women Engineers executive board. McKenzie enjoys empowering students in their writing skills and helping them develop their unique style and voice in their writing.

Katie Mann

Katie is a junior in Engineering Physics pursuing minors in Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry. She is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Outside of academics, Katie is involved in undergraduate chemistry research at Mines and the Society of Physics Students. Katie’s favorite aspect of being a writing tutor is helping to make the writing process more manageable and approachable for students so that they can excel in their communication and critical thinking by developing effective writing skills.