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.
Dr. Terie Box, Operations Coordinator
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.
Ahmed Alshammari, Desk Lead
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.
Abdulwahab Alshehri, Desk Lead, Consultant
About: Abdulwahab Alshehri is a doctoral student at the Department of Applied Linguistics.
In 2021, he obtained his master's degree in linguistics from Bangor University in
the United Kingdom. Abdulwahab has been working as a teaching assistant at King Khalid
University in Saudi Arabia since 2019. His academic research focuses on pragmatics,
discourse analysis, and sociolinguistics. Abdulwahab spends his free time traveling,
doing outdoor sports, and reading.
Amber Alston, Desk Lead, Consultant
About Amber: "AD" Alston is a second-year Ph.D. student working towards a degree in Communication at the University of Memphis.
She received her Bachelor’s (2020) and Master's (2023) degrees in Communication Studies
from Texas State University. AD is currently a graduate Teaching Assistant for the Communication Studies Department
and a Writing Consultant at the University of Memphis. AD worked with several religious, social justice, Greek-lettered, non-profit, and restaurant
organizations in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas to enhance their marketing/brandingand how to effectively communicateto wider audiences. AD’s academic and research interests are African American Womanist/Feminist rhetoric and critical qualitative methodology. Amber’s professional interests are rooted in social justice and organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
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.
Chelsea Panameño, Consultant
About: Chelsea Panameño is a first-year MFA student in Fiction with a concentration in Literary
Studies. She graduated summa cum laude from Christian Brothers University with two
BAs in English and Creative Writing. She enjoys writing about magic, mythology, gender,
and everything in-between. When she isn’t writing, she also enjoys playing tabletop
roleplay games, listening to horror podcasts, and trying not to kill plants. She has
worked as a writing consultant for several years and looks forward to working with
students at the CWC.
Carl Hill, Consultant
About: Carl Frederick Hill is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Communication. Carl is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He earned a Master of Divinity from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia
Union University. Carl serves as Senior Pastor of The Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama. He also serves as a community advisory board member for the UAB Minority Health and
Equity Research Center’s CARES Act, board member of the Cutting Edge Clergy Caucus of Birmingham, Alabama; also serving as a member of the National Baptist
Convention of America’s Evangelical Board. Along with church ministry, he is also the sole proprietor of Liberated Pages Publishing.
He published his first work Cast All Your Anxiety on God: A 30-Day Devotional in June 2023.
Hana Alqabba, Consultant
About: Hana Alqabba is a PhD student in the English department at the University of Memphis. Her research interests includeSecond Language Writing,English for Academic Purposes, and corpus linguistics. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with
her family and friends.
Maame Agyeiwaa, Consultant
About: Greetings! I am Diana Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei, although I prefer to go by Maame. I am
pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication, delving into the fascinating realm of academia.
I originally hailed from Ghana, a land known for its abundance of gold and as the
highest producer of delectable cocoa, I take pride in the fact that the chocolate
you savor likely originates from my homeland. My academic journey commenced with an
undergraduate degree in Communication Studies specializing in Journalism. For almost
a decade, I immersed myself in the world of journalism, reporting on various court
cases from the Supreme Court down to the lower courts. Expanding my horizons, I pursued
a Master of Arts in International Studies at Ohio University, focusing on Communication
and Development Studies. This allowed me to explore the intricate dynamics between
communication and societal progress. After graduation, I seized the opportunity to
make a positive impact by working with Central Ohio Worker Center, a nonprofit organization
based in Columbus, Ohio. As the Community Organizer, I had the opportunity to educate,
empower and advocate for low-wage and immigrant workers. As somebody who is passionate
about grassroots organizing and advocating for marginalized people, I deeply cherished
my job while working. Beyond my professional and academic pursuits, I love to have
time for myself. I enjoy reading, traveling, writing, listening to country and classical
music, and watching movies.
Marissa Corleone, Document Design
About: Marissa Corleone is a current graduate student at University of Memphis in the creative
writing department, and she has over six years of experience in the tutoring field,
specifically in literary studies. She believes tutoring is a collaborative process, and that all students are capable of unlocking their potential with guided reflection and the right kind of motivation. She is excited to work with you this upcoming school year on any goals you might
have!
Sam Guajardo, Desk Lead, Consultant
About: Samantha “Sam” Guajardo received her MA from the University of Texas at Rio Grande
Valley in Communication and has entered her 2nd year as a PhD student in Communication
from the University of Memphis, with a concentration in Rhetoric and Media Studies. Guajardo's research areas are 1.) Latinx rhetoric, 2.) critical regionalism, and
3.) the rhetoric of social movements. Guajardo centers her research around agricultural,
immigration, and educational reform, and she employs rhetorical strategies rooted
in liberation, civic engagement, and civic awareness.
Ghadi Matouq, Consultant
About: Ghadi is a Ph.D. student in the Applied Linguistics program at The University of Memphis. She holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and a certificate in teaching English in international contexts (TEIC)
from Texas Tech University. Her research interests include corpus linguistics, discourse analysis, second language
testing, curriculum design and evaluation, literacy, computer-assisted language learning,
and the use of AI in higher education. She enjoys helping others, and her guiding phrase is "do good, and good things will come back to you."
Serena Whittaker, Consultant
About: Serena Whittaker graduated from the University of Memphis, where she consistently
demonstrated a high commitment to academic excellence. With a degree in Public Relations and a
focus on communications, Serena aspires to make a meaningful impact in the community.
She is a dedicated communicator with robust writing and public speaking credentials.
Her experience spans from creating diverse content—ranging from newsletters to social
media—to being a presenter for TEDx Memphis. Serena's academic journey has been enriched
by courses that reinforced her writing ability. Her experience expands from creating
diverse content, from essays and bios to newsletters and speeches. Her plans involve
expanding her knowledge further by returning for her master’s in communication and
later a juris doctorate. In addition to starting her own consulting business, Serena
Faith Strategies, where she aims to help individuals and companies write and communicate
with all parties, both internally and externally. She is committed to empowering students
with confidence in their writing abilities. With a philosophy rooted in nurturing
creativity and confidence, Serena has built her consulting strategy around helping
students enhance their skills. Eager to contribute to the Center for Writing and Communication,
Serena's passion for her craft is evident, and she's enthusiastic about making a positive impact.
Hussain Alzubaidi, Consultant
About: Hello, I'm Hussain Alzubaidi, a PhD student in Applied Linguistics at the University of Memphis.
As a writing consultant at the Center for Writing & Communication, I'm passionate about empowering students to become confident, capable, and individualistic
writers. With experience in Arabic and English languages, and a background in teaching, proofreading,
lecturing, and translation, I aim to bring a helpful perspective to the writing process. My approach is collaborative, student-centered, and focused on fostering writing skills, reading skills, and critical thinking skills. I believe that writing is a dynamic process of discovery, and I'm committed to guiding students on their individual writing journeys. Let's work together to unlock your full potential as a writer!
Stella Kersey, Consultant
About: Stella Kersey is a first-year Clinical Mental Health Counseling student and a board
member of the Diversity Committee in the Counseling department. They graduated from
the University of Memphis with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Child Development
(2023). They have also been published in the American Journal of Undergraduate Research
with their Psychology honor’s undergraduate thesis “Externalizing Problems in Children:
Examining the Role of Caregiver and Child Adversities and Parental Involvement.” Stella
enjoys reading classical fictional works, poetry, and queer literature. Their career
passions include advocacy work and LGBTQIA+ counseling.