Nels Challinor, Writing Studio Director

Nels Challinor is a writer, educator, and avid fly fisherman. His writing combines a literary style with genre tropes and techniques. Nels is the host of Written and Read, a bimonthly podcast showcasing original prose and poetry. His teaching and tutoring philosophy prioritizes students' lived experiences as the foundation of their learning and defines writing as a communicative process that expands through practice and reflection. He has been tutoring at MICA since the Fall of 2024 and is proud to serve as the Director of the Writing Studio. He holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Westminster and a BA in Sociology from Boston University.

 

DJ Hills

DJ Hills (they/them) is a writer for the page, stage, and screen. DJ has over five years of experience in writing tutoring, including creative and academic writing, personal statements, and resume and cover letter review. Their writing includes the short film Love Poem, the play TRUNK BRIEF JOCK THONG (shortlist, Yale Drama Series), and the poetry chapbook, Leaving Earth (Split Rock Press). BA: English and Theatre, Goucher College. MFA: Playwriting, UCLA.  

 

 

 

Isabel Goldstein (MICA Alumnus & ESL Tutoring Certified)

Isabel (Isa) Gold is a painter, professor, and deep sea enthusiast. She holds an MFA from MICA's Mount Royal School of Art, and a BS in Studio Art with a minor in International Relations from Skidmore College. Isa began her journey as a writing tutor in 2014 when she joined Skidmore's writing center. She's found joy providing writing assistance to students at various universities and grade levels ever since. Isa is a certified ESL Tutor with a background in Spanish and Italian. She's passionate about creative writing and scholarly research, and draws inspiration from illustrated children's books, biology, and psychology to inform her surreal paintings and drawings. As a tutor, Isa encourages dialogue and prioritizes deep listening. She knows it can be intimidating to ask for help and treats each session as a learning opportunity for both herself and the student. 

 

John Oldenborg

John has taught and tutored at the university level for six  years, leading classes on rhetoric and composition as well as Creative Writing (Poetry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction).
He specializes in post-1900 poetry with emphasis on surrealism. He is also interested in the intersection of 20th century literature with visual art and music.
M.F.A Creative Writing: University of Nevada; Las Vegas
M.A. + B.A. Literature: Florida State University

 

 

Jess Bither (MICA Alumnus)

Jess has an MA in Critical Studies. After graduating, she taught film, critical theory, and writing workshop classes at MICA. In 2024 she joined the Writing Studio team. Jess is eager to help students with their academic and creative writing projects including but not limited to art history essays, poetry, screenwriting, and artist statements. In her spare time she writes about B-movies and the local art scene for Baltimore-based zines.

 

 

Ashley Guchhait (MICA Alumnus & ESL Tutoring Certified)

Kyrstin Cooksey (MICA Alumnus & ESL Tutoring Certified)

Shane Moritz

Susannah Mohan