Professional Staff

Michelle Hager

Director

Michelle Hager is the Writing Center Director, and she has extensive experience in writing instruction and writing center administration. She is also a SJSU alum, having earned her B.A. in English (with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Writing) and M.A. in English.

During her 12 years of teaching in higher education (2006-2018), Michelle taught classes in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, ranging from Editing for Writers to Young Adult Literature. Prior to becoming the Writing Center Director in July 2013, she served for four years as the Writing Center Associate Director.

She has worked with the Writing Across the Curriculum director to create the course-embedded writing tutors program at SJSU. She has also presented at numerous national and regional conferences, including the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). In 2021, she completed the intensive summer institute through the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA).

Michelle sits on multiple committees--both at the university and within her professional organizations. She was also the program chair for the 2019 Northern California Writing Centers Association (NCWCA) Conference, which was hosted at SJSU.

Phone: 408-924-2249

Email: michelle.hager@sjsu.edu

Amy Russo

Coordinator of Multilingual Writing Support Services

Amy Russo is the Coordinator for Multilingual Writing Support Services, conducting trainings and creating resources on academic communication, writing, and reading for students, tutors, and faculty. She holds a BA in European Studies from Hendrix College, an MA in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Louisiana State University, and an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey.

Before joining SJSU, Amy taught English in Japan for five years through the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. She continues to support the JET Program by training new participants departing from San Francisco each summer. Additionally, Amy worked as a tutor in a Graduate Writing Center for two years.

At SJSU, Amy co-chairs the International Student Success Committee and served as the Presentation Coach and co-manager for the SJSU Grad Slam Research Communication Competition from 2019 to 2024. She has presented at numerous regional and national academic conferences, including the national TESOL conference. In 2019, Amy helped Director Michelle Hager host the Northern California Writing Centers Association (NCWCA) Conference at SJSU.

Amy aims to promote lifelong learning that is positive, flexible, and meaningful for students through innovative content creation, strategic learning initiatives, and collaborative partnerships across the academic community.

Phone: 408-808-2101

Email: amy.russo@sjsu.edu

Seher Vora

Coordinator of Online Writing Support Services

Seher Vora is the Coordinator for Online Writing Support Services. She provides training and resources for students, faculty, and Writing Center employees, and oversees the Writing Center's social platforms, including the official blog, "The Write Attitude." She holds a BA in International Studies and Linguistics from UC Irvine, an MA in International Relations from Tufts University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from San José State University.

Seher is passionate about helping students develop a well-rounded approach to writing through a multimodal exploration of writing styles and techniques, informed by diversity, empathy, and digital literacy.

Phone: 408-924-2351

Email: seher.vora@sjsu.edu