University Writing Team
The University Writing Team is a collaborative group of full-time administrators and undergraduate and graduate student workers. We plan and implement University Writing operations, the Miller Writing Center, workshops, faculty development, and special events.
Christopher Basgier, Ph.D.
Pronunciation: Kriss Bass-gear
Pronouns: he/him/his
Christopher Basgier received his Ph.D. in English from Indiana University in 2013. He has extensive experience working with faculty on teaching with writing, and he has consulted with departments about integrating writing throughout undergraduate and graduate curricula, particularly in support of high-impact practices like ePortfolios. His research, which spans writing across the curriculum, genre, threshold concepts, and digital rhetoric, has appeared in venues like Across the Disciplines, The WAC Journal, Composition Forum, and Studies in Higher Education. He is also active in national organizations like the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, the Conference on College Composition, and Communication, HIPs in the States, and the WAC Clearinghouse.
Katharine H. Brown, Ph.D.
Pronunciation: kAEth-rihn brOWn
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Katharine H. Brown joined the University Writing team as a graduate assistant in 2020. In 2022, she began her current position, which focuses on graduate student writing support. Katharine completed her M.A. in English in 2011 and her Ph.D. in English Education in 2023 at Auburn University. She has over a decade of experience supporting student success through teaching English courses and working in writing centers in a variety of capacities. Her research focuses on graduate student writing self-efficacy, contemplative pedagogy, and anti-oppression. Katharine is an experienced yoga teacher and enjoys spending time with her three cats.
Jake Gebhardt, M.A.
Pronunciation: JAYk Gehb-HART
Pronouns: he/him/his
Jake Gebhardt began working for University Writing in August 2021. He received his M.A. in English from Sam Houston State University, his B.A. in English Education from LeTourneau University, and is currently working on his Ed.D. in Literacy, focusing on digital literacies. Jake has worked in writing centers and connected student support services for over ten years. In his spare time, he enjoys time with his partner and their two dogs while working on any number of creative writing endeavors.
Whitney Davis, B.B.A.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Whitney Davis joined the University Writing team in May 2023. She began working in higher education after receiving her BBA from Mercer University in 2009 and has served students through roles in financial aid, financial services, and development. In her free time, she enjoys attending sporting events, reading in coffee shops, and exploring new places.
Lisa A. Griffin, B.A.
Pronunciation: LEE-sa Grif-fin
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lisa Griffin began working for University Writing in June 2022. She received her B.A in English with a concentration in Renaissance Literature from Auburn University in 2011. While a student, Lisa frequented the Miller Writing Center, which assisted largely in Lisa’s successful undergraduate career at Auburn. Since graduation, she has worked administratively at Auburn in Athletics and over a decade in Poultry Science. Lisa is happy to assist University Writing in efforts to further the careers of students, faculty, and staff. In her spare time, Lisa reads, crochets, and enjoys time with friends and her family, especially her husband, daughter, and three cats.
Souji Gopalakrishna Pillai, Ph.D.
Pronunciation: Sou-g
Pronouns: he/him/his
Souji Gopalakrishna Pillai is a Ph.D. Candidate in Hospitality Management. He also holds a doctorate in Business Management with a specialization in Human Resources Management. Over the last 20 years, he has held a wide range of academic and research positions, including department head of hospitality and tourism, deputy director of research, curriculum developer, academician, trainer, and administrator in countries including the USA, Sultanate of Oman, Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India.
Okunola Odeniyi, M.Ed.
Pronunciation: Oh-koo-oh-la Oh-deh-nee-yee
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Okunola Odeniyi joined the University Writing team in May 2022. She obtained her master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Nigeria and is currently a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology at Auburn. She has been a teacher for 10 years and is interested in working with special education needs students and counseling both students and young adults. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and traveling. Ola is a 2024 recipient of the Southeastern Writing Center Association's graduate tutor award. This award recognizes her leadership, dedication, and the excellent tutoring she offers clients in the Miller Writing Center.
Huan Liu, M.S.
Pronunciation: hwAHN L-YEH-oh
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Since joining the Miller Writing Center in 2022, Huan has consistently helped and supported writers across different disciplines. She has facilitated various graduate writing programs and led writing workshops on campus. Huan earned an M.S. in English for Speakers of Other Languages in 2023 and is now seeking a Ph.D. in English Language Arts Education. With a passion for languages, in addition to her native language, Chinese, she has learned English, Korean, Japanese, and Persian. She aspires to be a multilingual educator in the future. In 2024, Huan was awarded Graduate Student Employee of the Year at Auburn and also received the National Graduate Student Employee of the Year award through the National Student Employment Association.
Mark Smith, B.A.
Pronunciation: Mah-rk Sm-i-th
Pronouns: he/him/his
Mark Smith joined the University Writing team in May 2021, and he is currently pursuing an M.Ed in English Language Arts Education. After college, he hopes to find a position in which he can positively influence the lives of others, especially those of children. He enjoys a variety of hobbies such as sports, video games, fishing, and hanging out with others.
Muhammad Umer, M.E.M.
Pronunciation: Moo-hamm-madd
Pronouns: he/him/his
Muhammad Umer is a Ph.D. candidate in the McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn University. He received his Bachelor's in Engineering in 2008 and Master of Engineering Management (Major: Construction) in 2011 from NED University of Engineering and Technology, respectively. He has been an academician in higher education since his graduation in 2008. At Auburn, his focus of research is construction automation and robotics, multi-robotic systems, and RFID. He is focusing on utilization of such systems to provide deterrence for inventory theft from construction worksites in the U.S. He loves to code and to invest his free time to automate things using R programming. He has just started learning Python and has developed a love for VBA-based macros for MS Office. He is fond of learning new tools, tricks and strategies to make sense of data; he would like to be a data scientist in the construction domain one day. As his first love is teaching, he is also pursuing a College/University Teaching Certificate from the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology at Auburn University. He likes to play badminton and occasionally video games too. He likes to make smoothies and fruit juices along with side salads. He loves the food that his wife cooks and likes to spend time with his kids and wife. His life motto is: "Whatever happens, happens for a good reason."
Abby Gibbons, B.A.
Pronunciation: ah-B
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Abby graduated in May 2023 from Auburn University with bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Sociology. After graduation, she joined University Writing as a Graduate Assistant as she works towards obtaining her master’s degree in Communication. After college, she hopes to pursue a career in entertainment journalism. Abby sees writing as a way to unite people of all backgrounds and identities. She enjoys helping to facilitate personal expression through writing and hopes to help people find their voice. Outside of school Abby enjoys reading, swimming, and exploring Auburn.
Pathmanathan Sivashankar, M.A.
Pronunciation: Si-Vah
Pronouns: he/him/his
Siva is a Ph.D. Student in Applied Economics at the College of Agriculture, Auburn University. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Agricultural Economics (University of Peradeniya) and a Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education (Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka) from Sri Lanka. With over a decade of expertise in teaching and research, specializing in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Siva is committed to giving back to society. Beyond academia, he finds joy in farming, hiking, and jogging.
Gina Lamka, M.S.
Pronunciation: Gee-na Lam-kah
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Gina Lamka joined the University Writing team in summer 2024. She completed her MS in animal behavior in 2020 and her BS in biology in 2017. She is now a PhD candidate in the Conservation and Genomics lab in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment. Her research focuses on using genomic and epigenomic data to explore questions related to individual behavior, fitness, and population persistence. Outside of research, Gina is often tending to her plants, pets, and sourdough.
Jennifer Jones, B.S.
Pronunciation: JEN-uh-fer
Pronouns: she/her/hers
After serving as a peer writing consultant, Jennifer Jones joined the University Writing Team in January 2025. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a gifted endorsement from the University of Georgia. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Adult Education at Auburn University. Jennifer is committed to the belief that everyone, regardless of their background, has the potential to grow and thrive as a lifelong learner. With 28 years of teaching experience in K-12 public education, Jennifer is strongly committed to meeting the needs of diverse students in educational settings. She has held leadership positions as department chair, mentor, and school council representative. As the 2020 Teacher of the Year, she served on the Advanced Learning Curriculum Cadre as a representative for Union Grove Middle School teachers. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and son, along with their Boston Terrier, Betty, who is quite a diva! Looking ahead, she plans to explore the sport of fencing.
Cole Anderson
Pronunciation: K-oal And-er-son
Pronouns: he/him/his, they/them/their
Cole is a senior at Auburn pursuing a degree in Creative Writing and English Literature and is the editor-in-chief of The Auburn Circle literary magazine. Cole has worked for University Writing since 2022. Outside of work and school, he loves reading, hiking, and visiting museums.
