Writing Faculty
Writing Center Director
Allyce Horan
Allyce Horan has worked in the Mines Writing Center since 2013 where she has provided support to faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students on projects ranging from freshman essays to grant proposals. In addition to providing one-on-one tutoring, she has piloted programs such as the Thesis Writers Retreat, the Online Technical Communication Center, and the Honors Writing Fellows. Her interdisciplinary background includes an M.A. in History from Florida State University, certification in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), curriculum design, and several years teaching the freshman core course, Nature and Human Values. Allyce has taught a wide range of academic, technical, and ESL composition classes and workshops since 2012 in which she encourages students to critically engage with content through oral and written communication activities. She enjoys working closely with members of the campus community to develop writing center support that allows students and faculty achieve their communication goals.
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.).
Bailey Troutman
Public Speaking, Humanities and Social Sciences Writing, Journal Articles, Personal Statements
btroutman@mines.edu
Bailey earned her B.S. in Communication Arts from Indiana University Kokomo, with minors in Pre-Law and English Writing. She completed her M.A. in Communication, Technology, and Society from Clemson University in South Carolina, where she also taught courses in public speaking and completed published research. Bailey is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication/Media Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she assists basic courses and recently taught a Communication, Technology, and Society specific class. Her research interests include media infrastructure, data and technology, energy, and environment. At CU Boulder, Bailey is an officer for the Energy Club and research fellow for the Media Enterprise Design Lab, producing a monthly radio show and podcast on technology called “Looks Like New.” Outside of academia, Bailey enjoys playing golf, hiking, reading and writing, and exploring Colorado!
Evelyn Hampton
Personal Statements, Creative Writing, Resumes/CVs, NHV/Composition Essays, and Technical Writing
evelynhampton@mines.edu
Evelyn Hampton grew up outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and earned a BA from the University of Minnesota before going on to earn an MA in Rhetoric, Scientific and Technical Communication from the U of Minnesota and an MFA from Brown University. She earned a PhD in Literary Studies from the University of Denver in 2022. She is also a published fiction writer and loves to be outdoors.
CASS EDDINGTON
Personal Statements, Resumes/CVs, NHV/Composition Essays, Creative Writing, Writing Arguments
Cass Eddington is originally from Utah where they earned their BA from Utah Valley University before earning their MFA at Colorado State University. They are a PhD candidate in University of Denver’s Literary Arts program. Cass teaches creative writing classes with Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver and through the platform Vocational Poetics, which they also curate. They excel at helping writers develop and value their own idiosyncratic writing processes, introducing students to various tools and supportive frameworks to make the writing process feel approachable. When not tutoring or teaching, they can be found outside with their Southern mutt Jupiter, exploring urban and natural environments, and seeking adventure with friends in experience and art.
MARY ANN MACE
Business, Humanities and Social Sciences Writing, Journal Articles, Personal Statements & Resumes
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.
Honors Writing Fellows
Anamika Misra
Anamika is a Sophomore 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.
Elizabeth Buchheim
Amber Lively
Amber Lively is a Second-Year student from Grand Junction, Colorado, majoring in materials and metallurgical engineering. Besides tutoring for the Writing Center, Amber is an Office Assistant for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Department at Mines, a Vanguard Scholar, and a member of Alpha Phi, SWE, and CSMMAC. Her favorite class at Mines so far, was Art and Environmentalism abroad in Italy with Professor Mancus!
Frances Williams
Frances is a sophomore 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.