Jess coordinates the daily operations and supervises student employees of the
Writing Center.
What languages do you speak? English (fluent), Kapampangan (can fully understand but can only speak words or phrases),
and Tagalog (learning - beginner).
Where are you from? How do you identify or describe your ethnic backgrounds? I was born and raised in the U.S. (California), but my family is from the Philippines
(Pampanga province). My mom is from Guagua, and my dad is from Masantol. As such,
I consider myself Filipino American.
What are your horoscope signs? Capricorn (sun and rising), Cancer (moon).
Current Favorite Food? Sushi!
Current Favorite TV Show/Movie? The Legend of Korra, specifically seasons 3 and 4. The Lord of the Rings trilogy! I watch the extended versions around Christmas time every year.
Peer Writing Consultants (Summer 24)
Kaitlin (she/her)
Graduate Writing Consultant (PsyD in Clinical Psychology)
What languages do you speak? English.
What are your horoscope signs? I am a Pisces. I will never know my true moon sign because there is no way to find
out what time I was born. My parents don't know and they say it was just around "dinner
time" between 5-7PM and Missouri birth certificates do not include the date. So I
may just never know?
What has been your best tutoring experience so far? I've made some friends through some graduate students making repeat appointments and
that has been really great!
What do you want to do after you graduate? I'll hopefully be a clinical psychologist, working with children and teens!
What is the most significant educational experience you have had so far? My undergrad degree was in communications, and I got to move out to LA and work on
the Emmys, which was pretty great! Now that I’m in the psychology world, I’ve been
getting to present to both students and parents on the importance of means restriction.
Means restriction is the act of locking up your guns at home, locking away medications,
and anything else that can be used to harm oneself to prevent suicide. I’m writing
my dissertation on this, and being able to speak to folks about something I’m so passionate
about has been amazing.
How would you recommend graduate students to consider working at the Writing Center?
(see the video below)
What languages do you speak? I only speak and understand English, however I grew up around Tagalog, and know a
very, very little amount of high school-level French.
Where are you from? How do you identify or describe your ethnic backgrounds? I was born in Northridge, California, and I grew up in and around the Los Angeles
Area — primarily in the San Fernando Valley — before moving to Simi Valley at 16.
Ethnically, I’m roughly 50% Filipino, 25% Mexican, 25% White-European. But with having
grown up primarily around the Filipino side of my family, I usually identify as Filipino
or Asian.
What do you want to do after you graduate? My goal is to write fiction novels, but I'd like to work in story development and/or
screenwriting for TV and Film (as well as in the marketing side of it if I get the
chance!).
Current Favorite Food? I love sushi, as well as lots of other things. But it rotates almost daily.
Current Favorite TV Show/Movie? My all time favorite movies are Garden State and Almost Famous. I'm not a big show watcher, but I always find myself coming back to Derry Girls.