Rebecca Block, PhD
Director, Writing Center
E-mail: BlockR@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3208
Becca joined the faculty of DSC in June of 2010, in order to begin the Writing Center, after completing her PhD in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Louisville. Her academic interests include writing center theory and practice, creative writing pedagogy, and multi-media composing. When she’s not at work, she indulges in reading (poetry, flash fiction, and sci-fi/fantasy), watching British comedies, blogging, creating mixed-media art, kayaking, and doting on her menagerie of pets.
Jennifer Kranz, MA
Associate Director, Writing Center
Email: KranzJ@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3995
Jenna is a proud Golden Knight. She received her BA and MA degrees from the University of Central Florida, and devoted the majority of her Master’s education to learning about writing center theory and developing her tutoring skills. She worked for three years at the BCC/UCF Writing Center as a consultant and, upon graduation from UCF in August of 2010, she was delighted to find employment with Daytona State College as the Associate Director of the brand new Writing Center. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, cooking, listening to live music, and rooting for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Orlando Magic.
Christopher Gebhardt, BA
Coordinator II, Writing Center
Email: GebharC@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3034
Chris joined the Writing Center staff in August 2010 as a Learning Specialist following three years as a peer tutor at the Stetson University Writing Center. In October 2012, he became the Coordinator of the Writing Center. His academic interests include composition and rhetoric and American cultural studies – for which he earned dual BA degrees in American Studies and English Composition and Rhetoric. When not at work in the DSC Writing Center, Chris splits his time as the Executive Director for Florida High School Model United Nations, Inc. and as a reporter at the Kennedy Space Center covering various NASA and space-related endeavors. His literature interests include the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Douglas Adams. He is also an avid Science Fiction and British comedy fan.
Shannon Murdock, AA
Senior Staff Assistant, Writing Center
Email: MurdocS@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3297
A Chef by trade, Shannon turned in her chef coat to pursue an academic career in July 2012 when she began working in the DSC-UCF Writing Center as a student worker. She soon displayed an interest in assisting the writing center full-time, allowing her to become our Senior Staff Assistant in January 2013. Shannon is from Georgia, where she competed in various culinary competitions, resulting in three state championships, as well as a top ten ranking on a national level by the end of her senior year in high school. Shannon completed her Associate of Arts degree in December 2012 from Daytona State College and plans to pursue a career in political science and/or journalism. When Shannon is not working or studying, she enjoys watching epic motion pictures, devouring food, card games, billiards, scrapbooking, baking, and long walks on the beach.
Michael Lanford, MA
UCF Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: LanforM@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Michael joined the Writing Center staff in 2012 as a liaison with UCF. Within the past year, Michael Lanford has earned master’s degrees from the University of Hong Kong, where he graduated “with distinction” in the field of international higher education, and Washington University in St. Louis, where he specialized in music history and American Studies. Michael has also recently published articles in the Cambridge Quarterly (2011) and College Music Symposium (forthcoming). As a pianist, Michael has given recitals at several universities throughout the Southeast U.S. and recreationally performs as a percussionist in orchestras and steel pan ensembles. When not keeping up with news on China, he can frequently be found running on the beach, playing basketball, and hitting golf balls randomly around Daytona Beach Shores.
Joy Bancroft, MA
Learning & Media Specialist, Writing Center
Email: Bancroj@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Joy walked into the Writing Center on a fateful day in June 2012. She hails from Kansas and received her MA in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Kansas in December 2011. She has previously taught college composition for two years and worked in writing centers for five years; her research interests include writing center theory & praxis, digital/new media literacies, rhetorical grammar, and the literacy practices of graduate students. When not pondering the intricacies of language usage, she might be found romping with her dog, playing Scrabble, making breakfast food, watching anime, or updating her spreadsheets for her books, movies, LPs, and IPAs. She plans on eventually pursuing a doctorate in the field of composition and on owning a South African penguin.
Meredith Krall, MA (ABD)
Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: KrallM@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Meredith became a DSC-UCF Learning Specialist in July of 2012. Previous to her time here, she taught literature and writing classes at the University of Rhode Island for over seven years. She also worked as a writing tutor for the Talent Development program and as tutor of student athletes. Meredith received her MA (with distinction) from Northern Arizona University in 2003 and is currently working on her PhD in Literature at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include the British Victorian Novel, British Modernism, and the works of George Eliot. When not at work or being a fictitious pirate, she enjoys spending time with her dog Bogart, reading, watching bad t.v., and playing Scrabble.
Kristen Bales, MA
Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: BalesK@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Kristen joined the DSC-UCF Writing Center forces in August 2012. Originally from the Hoosier State, Kristen left Indiana to attend Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her BA in Integrated Languages Arts and her MA in English Literature. While at Wright State, she also worked at the writing center for five years and taught composition courses. In addition to her love of English literature, Kristen prides herself on being a classic film buff, avid sports fan, and animal lover. When not practicing flamenco dancing with the other Writing Center tutors, she also enjoys playing tennis, walking on the beach, and exploring new places.
Amanda Dorsett, BA
Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: DorsetA@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Amanda, aka Mandy, joined the Writing Center staff in August 2012. Previously, Mandy worked for two years as a peer tutor in the Writing Center at Stetson University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English and a minor in Creative Writing in May of 2012. Mandy’s professional interests include contemporary poetics, Dante’s Commedia, gender theory, and cross-genre digital art. When she is not busy correcting the grammar of her friends and family, Mandy enjoys reading fantasy novels, trying out recipes found on Pinterest, crocheting, watching Doctor Who, and playing with her two cats. She plans on pursuing her MA in the field of composition and rhetoric, and on someday adopting a manatee.
Joshua Cruz, MA
Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: CruzJo@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Joshua Cruz joined the Writing Center in the Spring 2013 semester. He holds BA degrees in English and philosophy as well as an MA in English literature. In a bout of ambitious masochism, he also decided it would be a lark to attain master’s degrees in higher education administration and reading/writing/literacy studies, both of which he will finish by the end of 2013. His academic interests include composition, student advocacy, development of self, and learning through play; he recently published a paper combining several of these interests in the Xchanges Journal. While not indulging his habits as a degree junkie, he enjoys 19th and 20th century British literature, fire spinning, playing the acoustic guitar (poorly), and Dance Dance Revolution.
Scott Sands, MFA (ABD)
Learning Specialist, Writing Center
Email: SandsS@daytonastate.edu
Phone: 386-506-3926
Scott joined the DSC-UCF Writing Center staff as a Learning Specialist in April of 2013. He has been tutoring and teaching writers since 2002, most recently in Illinois, where he served for two years as Coordinator of Writing Assistance at the Julia N. Visor Academic Center at Illinois State University (ISU). In May of 2007, Scott earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, specializing in playwriting. He is currently working on his PhD in English Studies from ISU, with a specialization in Writing Center Theory and Practice. His research interests include writing assessment, writing pedagogy, and metacognition. When not working with writers or writing himself, Scott enjoys reading, especially fantasy and science fiction, watching baseball and football, and participating in improvisational theatre.
