ABOUT THE LAC FACULTY, STAFF AND TUTORS
MEET THE LAC FACULTY
The Faculty Coordinators
LAC coordinators are SF State faculty with years of experience teaching reading, writing, grammar, math, and the sciences. They provide guidance and support for LAC tutors, and work closely with LAC students as teachers and mentors.
Deborah vanDommelen, Director
Deborah vanDommelen has been at the LAC since 1991. She taught in the Composition for Multilingual Students (CMS) program for 18 years and has been full-time at the center since 1997.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: dvan@sfsu.edu
Peter Ingmire, Math and Sciences Coordinator
As the Center’s Math/Sciences Faculty Tutor Coordinator,
Peter hires and works closely with all of the math/science
tutors, teaching the AU 697/796 Tutoring Across Disciplines
course and supporting returning tutors in bi-weekly meetings.
Peter also tracks and analyzes LAC trends in student use and outcomes so
that LAC faculty can evaluate the Center’s programs and respond to evolving campus trends.
In 2001, Peter earned his Masters degree in Cell and Molecular Biology
from SF State. Since that time he has taught and coordinated a range of biology
and science classes for the Biology Department at SF State and is currently a department
advisor. Peter is also a member of the American Association of Microbiologists, the American
Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Aids society. He has been with the Center since 2001.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: ping@sfsu.edu
Jennifer Swanson (née Peters), Assessment/Placement Coordinator (on-leave Spring 2013)
As the Center’s faculty coordinator, Jennifer assesses the needs of incoming LAC students,
finding appropriate resources for them and offering academic support. She also organizes
and teaches our Writing Workshops for first-year students in developmental English classes
and mentors the graduate student instructors who teach the workshops through weekly seminars
and observations. Aside from her work with LAC students and tutors, Jennifer offers support for
writing courses across the disciplines in the form of faculty consultations, in-class workshops and student tutoring.
Jennifer received her Masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
from SF State in the Spring of 2006. She has been working full time at the Center since 2005 and has been
teaching English for SF State’s Summer Bridge Program for the past. She is on leave for the Spring 2013 term.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: jmpeters@sfsu.edu
Karen Wiederholt, Staff Development Coordinator
In addition to supervising daily operations at the LAC and working closely with other LAC faculty to assess
students’ needs, Karen is especially focused on her work with LAC tutors: teaching AU 697/796, Tutoring Across
Disciplines, the smaller Writing Workshop seminars and bi-weekly meetings. She is always seeking new ways to
encourage tutors to grow professionally, including becoming more student-centered and more skilled at teaching
and tutoring strategies. She has introduced class blogs and videotaping as tools for tutors both to build
community and reflect on their tutoring.
In 1992, Karen earned her Masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
from SF State, where for many years she taught academic speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills
to students at all levels. Most recently, Karen completed her MFA at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she
is not coming up with new and creative ideas for the Center, she is spending time with her family or working on her
writing. Karen has been with the Center since 1991.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: kwied@sfsu.edu
Debbie Miller, Writing Coordinator
In 1995 Debbie received her Masters degree in Literature as well as a Certificate in Teaching Composition from SF State.
Since that time, she has taught classes for the College of Education’s Step to College Program the College of Ethnic Studies, and EOP’s Summer Bridge program.
She currently teaches composition for SF State’s English department where she has taught a range of classes since 1998.
Debbie joined the LAC in the fall of 2013.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: debbiem@sfsu.edu
Sarah Powers, Assessment/Placement Coordinator
If you come into the Center on a Tuesday or Thursday, Sarah might be the first
person you see since she manages the front desk in HSS 348. Aside from overseeing
operations at the Center, which includes monitoring the weekly tutoring schedule
for both Math/Science and Reading/Writing, Sarah works closely with students—assessing
their needs and placing them with the appropriate tutor. Sarah also works weekly with a
group of graduate students in biology on their writing.
In addition to working at the Center, Sarah also teaches Composition and Reading at SF State
and Skyline College in San Bruno. She received her Masters Degree in Composition and a
Certificate in Teaching Post-Secondary Reading from SF State in May 2011. She also holds
Single Subject Credentials in English and Social Studies from Northern Michigan University.
When Sarah is not busy with students, she can be found in a Cross Fit class, riding her bike or rock climbing.
The Center is fortunate to have Sarah working with us this semester while Jennifer Swanson is on leave.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: sepowers@sfsu.edu
Elena Strasser, Assessment/Placement Coordinator
Elena is the Center’s Monday/Wednesday front desk coordinator, a position that calls on both her organizational and people skills. Aside from monitoring the front desk operations and overseeing the weekly tutoring schedule for both Reading/Writing and Math/Science, Elena works closely with LAC tutors and teaches a weekly writing workshop group for English 105 students.
In addition to working at the Center, Elena teaches Writing in Sociology at the University of San Francisco and Ethnic Studies classes at SF State. She received her Masters in Ethnic Studies and a Certificate in Teaching Composition from SF State in 2012. Elena also works as a Domestic Violence Advocate and Training Facilitator at W.O.M.A.N. Inc. in San Francisco. The Center is lucky to have Elena with us this Spring while Jennifer Swanson is on leave.
HSS 351
Voice mail: 338-1994
E-mail: strasser@sfsu.edu
LAC FACULTY PUBLICATIONS
TESOL 2008
Deborah vanDommelen, Generation 1.5: Making Connections between Speaking and Writing. / .pdf
Deborah vanDommelen, Writing Workshops for Multilingual First-year Students. / .pdf
Deborah vanDommelen, Teaching Stance-taking in Academic Writing. / .pdf
Jennifer Swanson and Karen Wiederholt, Reflective Teacher Education Through University Writing Centers -- Questions and Forms. / .pdf
Jennifer Swanson and Karen Wiederholt, Reflective Teacher Education Through University Writing Centers. / .pdf
CATESOL 2009
Jennifer Swanson, Engaging Grammar Lessons to Give Generation 1.5 Writers a Voice. / .pdf
Jennifer Swanson, Engaging Grammar Lessons - Presentation Slides. / .pdf
CATESOL 2010
Sheila Botein and Jennifer Swanson, Preparing Second Language Writers for Writing in the Disciplines. / .pdf
Sheila Botein and Jennifer Swanson, Handout for Preparing Second Language Writers presentation. / .pdf
MEET THE LAC TUTORS
Tutors at the LAC have strong study skills and strong academic backgrounds in a wide range of subjects. Many of them plan to be teachers and are currently enrolled in Master's programs. LAC tutors participate in workshops and an academic course on effective tutoring strategies as part of their ongoing education and support.
LAC tutors attend over twelve hours of tutor education workshops to learn effective approaches for teaching reading, writing, study skills and problem solving strategies as well as developing tutoring techniques to address various learning styles.
All new LAC tutors also participate in a three-unit semester-long course (AU 697/796) that provides a theoretical and practical context for their tutoring and teaching at the LAC. During the course, tutors learn about different theories on teaching and learning and relate them to LAC tutoring experiences. In the process of learning these new theories, tutors also examine and refine their own reading, writing and study skill processes.
Second semester tutors meet biweekly with LAC faculty in small group seminars for ongoing staff development.
Tutor education workshops are developed and facilitated by LAC faculty. Many LAC workshops are open to all tutors on campus. Find out more about the LAC tutor education and how to attend.
