Leadership

Dr. Grace Pregent,
Director

I’m Grace Pregent (she/her/hers), Director of the Writing Center at Michigan State University, graduate faculty in Rhetoric and Writing, and affiliate faculty in Global Studies. I’m interested in rhetorical narrative theory and higher education and particularly in intersections between storytelling, partnerships, and organizational management.

 

Before joining MSU, I taught writing, education, and literature courses in secondary and postsecondary contexts, and I have worked in writing center leadership for 15+ years. At MSU I teach WRA 395: Writing Center Theory and Practice, WRA 899: Writing Center Theory and Administration, and 400-level special topic courses on community literacies and engagement across borders, writing center publishing, and organizational storytelling.

 

I received my PhD in English (2020) from Loyola University Chicago, and I have an MS in Higher Education Administration from the University of Dayton (2014) and an MA in English from the University of Dallas (2010). Currently I am the President of the East Central Writing Centers Association and a mentoring editor with the ECWCA Journal. Some of my recent articles have been published in WLN: A Journal of Writing Center Scholarship (2021), College Composition & Communication (2023), and Innovations in Education and Teaching International (2026). My first book, In Praise of the Minor Character: The Importance of Peripheral Figures in Victorian Literature, was published by McFarland Press (2023).

 

When not teaching, traveling, or being in the Writing Center, I’m usually spending time with my family, enjoying the state of Michigan, and running with friends. You’re welcome to connect with me at pregentg@msu.edu.

Beth Sabo,
Associate Director of Curriculum

I’m Beth Sabo (she/her/hers), Associate Director of Curriculum at the Writing Center at Michigan State University. I have been an educator for over 20 years and have worked in university-based writing centers for 15+ of those years. Prior to joining the community at MSU, I taught English and language arts courses at the high school level as well as first-year writing and writing-intensive courses in nursing at the university level. I have also been a board member of the East Central Writing Centers Association for several years and enjoy facilitating great conversation with other writing center practitioners through their book club and other outreach events.

I earned both an MA in Professional Writing as well as a graduate certificate in Teaching of Writing from Eastern Michigan University. I earned my BA in English and Secondary Education, with a minor in French, from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. I am interested broadly in making writing centers, writing curricula, and higher education institutions more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, particularly for individuals with disabilities and intersectional identities who are so often underserved by our education systems. I have published in the Writing Center Journal, and I regularly present at writing center- and writing across the curriculum (WAC)-related conferences.

When not in the Writing Center, I love reading library books, traveling, hanging out in art museums, and spending time with my family, friends, and cat Darcy and tortoise Tortellini. You can email me at bethsabo@msu.edu.

Amanda Hawks,
Associate Director of Outreach

I’m Amanda Hawks (she/her/hers), Associate Director of Outreach at the Writing Center at Michigan State. I’ve taught, and will be teaching, WRA395: Writing Center Theory and Practice as well as First Year Writing.

I received my MA in Rhetoric and Composition with a specialization in Black Feminism, transformative justice, and anti-racist pedagogy from the Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures program at Michigan State University. I am interested broadly in emotional labor as it relates to Black women in higher education as well as Linguistic Justice. A recent article I’ve published is titled, “We Don’t Need More “Safe” Spaces; We Need Transformative Justice” published in Peitho, and have a forthcoming chapter in the book, Reconceptualizing Response titled, “Fostering Linguistic Justice through Feedback Practices: Contributions from the Black Radical Tradition.”

I have over a decade of experience in writing centers, starting as a sophomore in high school. In my free time, I enjoy crocheting, watching horror films, reading, hanging out with my friends and family, and a bunch of other indoor activities.

You can connect with me at hawksama@msu.edu.