Auburn University’s Office of University Writing
Founded in 2010, the Office of University Writing works to enhance the culture of writing and writing instruction at Auburn University. We strive to assist Auburn students and faculty in as many ways as possible.
For students, we provide programs, resources, and opportunities such as:
- face to face and online peer consultations through the Miller Writing Center,
- support to graduate students through WriteFest and WriteFest Dissertation and Thesis Bootcamps,
- ePortfolio Student Workshops, and
- internships, graduate assistantships, tutor positions, summer fellowships, and leadership opportunities.
For faculty, we offer:
- in-class workshops and focused presentations to support faculty using writing in their courses,
- individual and group consultations about any writing issues or concerns with teaching writing,
- WriteBites Online to showcase faculty work with writing and writing instruction,
- WriteBites Discussions to foster conversations and collaborations about ways to use writing in disciplinary courses,
- Faculty Writing Retreats to promote a community of writers, and
- support to those who join the ePortfolio Project Cohort.
Meet the Office of University Writing Staff
D
r. Margaret Marshall
Director of University Writing3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7474
mmarshall@auburn.edu
Margaret Marshall received her PhD from the Joint Program in English and Education at the University of Michigan in 1991. Before joining Auburn in January 2010 as Professor of English and Director of the Office of University Writing she served as Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Writing Center, as Director of English Composition at the University of Miami, and as Assistant Provost and Associate Director of The Reinvention Center, an organization that grew out of the Boyer Commission Report and works to improve undergraduate education at Research Universities. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya (1976-78), taught English as a Second Language at the University of Colorado’s Economic Institute (1980-82), and developmental reading and ESL at West Texas State University before beginning her PhD studies.
The author of three books and numerous articles, Dr. Marshall’s research and teaching interests include nineteenth century American rhetoric and public discourse, composition theory and pedagogy, teacher education, and history of American education.
Dr. 
James Truman
Assistant Director of University Writing, Miller Writing Center3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7476
trumajc@auburn.edu
James Truman received his PhD in English from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill after doing his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught in Auburn’s Department of English for many years and won the Instructor Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts in 2005. Dr. Truman joined the Miller Writing Center in 2013 after serving as Director of Academic First Year Programs at Huntingdon College, where he received the Winn and Gordon Chappell Academic Enrichment Award in 2012. He spends his spare time with his family, which includes his wife Hilary, two children, three dogs, and a cat. He also plays old-time fiddle and mandolin, which annoys the cat.
Dr. Christopher Basgier
Associate Director of University Writing
3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7493
crb0085@auburn.edu
Christopher Basgier received his Ph.D. at Indiana University in 2013, and then spent four years at University of North Dakota, where he served as Academic Director of Composition and Acting Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum. He brings extensive experience working with faculty on teaching with writing, and he has consulted with departments about integrating writing throughout undergraduate and graduate curricula. His research, which spans writing across the curriculum, genre, and digital rhetoric, has appeared in venues like Across the Disciplines, The WAC Journal, and Composition Forum
Heather Stuart
Program Administrator, ePortfolio Project3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7413
hstuart@auburn.edu
Heather Stuart began working for the ePortfolio Project in August 2013. She received her MEd in Administration of Higher Education from Auburn University and her BA in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication from Alma College. Prior to joining the ePortfolio Project, Heather served as a Community Outreach and Marketing AmeriCorps Member for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County in Michigan. On campus, she volunteers as an advocate for Safe Harbor and a mentor for University Housing and Residence Life.
Tricia Dozier
Communications & Marketing Specialist3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7463
tricia.dozier@auburn.edu
Tricia Dozier joined the Office of University Writing in January 2017. She received her MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College and her BA in English from Ithaca College. Prior to joining the Office of University Writing team, Tricia served as the Director of Marketing, Communications, and Direct Sales for MedAmerica Insurance Company, a national long term care insurance carrier located in Rochester, New York. Tricia was with MedAmerica for over 10 years before moving across the country to reside with her husband, Steve, who is an Alabama native. Together they have four children, two boys and two girls. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, running, singing, dancing, and going on family adventures.
Nicole Gamache
Administrative Support Specialist3436 RBD Library
(334) 844-7475
nicole.gamache@auburn.edu
Nicole Gamache received her BFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Acting from the University of Houston. Before moving to Auburn in 2015, Nicole served as Director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival Conservatory, a two-week Shakespeare performance camp for high school students, and worked as a student recruiter for the UH School of Theatre & Dance. In addition to her work at the Office of University Writing, Nicole also works as a local couples and portrait photographer. In her spare time she enjoys acting, adventuring, bantering with her husband, Micah, and doting on her cat, Eloise.