Hi, there! I'm Emily Morris, associate professor of English and co-lead mentor of ACES. My motivation for mentoring is rooted in our shared humanity and an understanding that none of us were ever meant to do any of this alone. Without guidance and support from faculty and advisors when I was a college student, my failures would not have led to my success, and I would most certainly not be here today.

I know first-hand how important – and how difficult – it is to get help when you need it. My hope is to make that experience easier, meeting you where you are to foster a mentorship tailored specifically to your academic journey in a judgment-free, safe space. All are welcome. I'm so glad you're here.

Favorites

• Movies – "Everything Everywhere All at Once"
• Books – "The Crying of Lot 49" by Thomas Pynchon, "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison
• Hobbies – I've started singing in a choir again after taking a 17-year hiatus, and it has reminded me how important nurturing our passions is. Play is as important to life as work is, despite what society seems to say.

Hi, all! I'm Eileen Sweeney, one of the ACES co-leads and a professor of English. I've sort of failed-up, having not done well in my first attempt at college. I worked for a large bank after dropping out, then returned to school, finishing my degrees in record time because I found the programs and colleges that fit my needs and personality.

Working in ACES allows me to share my experiences with students, help others in the same place I was and build relationships with students to help them, outside of the structure of the classroom.

Favorites

• TV – "The Office" (I did my graduate work in Scranton, Pa.; ask me anything)
• Books – Everything by Barbara Kingsolver; most by Stephen King, especially "Under the Dome" and "11/22/63; and John Steinbeck, especially, "East of Eden" and "The Grapes of Wrath"
• Hobbies – I crochet to relax, walk my dogs far too much and enjoy working in the yard.

Hi! I am Kelli Keltz, associate department head of the English Department and leadership liaison for the ACES program. Since its inception, ACES has been a true labor of love for me. I wanted to create a support service that was different, one that offered services similar to those provided by our Tutoring and Learning Centers but one that prioritized relationship-building and outreach, adding a more personalized and holistic approach to writing support.

The members of our ACES team are writing experts, but they are also cheerleaders who approach their roles with a "can-do" attitude and sincere belief that every student has the potential to succeed! I hope you will read their bios, and I also hope you will contact us. We would love for ACES to be a part of your academic journey!

Hello! I'm Melody Cooper, an English instructor and ACES mentor. My love for mentoring comes from my upbringing. I was not prepared for college and struggled consistently with dyslexia, dropping out in my first year.

Without the care and support of professors and mentors, I would not have finished my degrees. I hope to provide the same support. I want each student to know that they are valuable and that the stories they bring with them are an important part of the academic journey. While working together, we can create goals that ensure you are working toward personal and academic success.

Favorites

• Movies – "Jurassic Park," "Psycho" and "The Lost Boys"
• Books – "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys, "Dracula" by Bram Stoker and "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius
• Hobbies – In my spare time, I like to outdoor rock climb, write poetry and needlepoint

Hey, everyone! I'm Tori Halbert, an English instructor and ACES mentor. I genuinely love getting to connect with students. Chatting with them about their interests, helping them overcome hurdles and celebrating wins with them are some of the best perks of my job. On top of this, my background in the service-end of higher education helps me understand how the choices students make in the classroom affect and are influenced by lots of external factors. Being a mentor lets me be a person students can vent to without judgment, brainstorm with and turn to when life gets hard. I can't wait to be that person for you!

Favorites

• TV shows – "Abbott Elementary," "The Haunting of Hill House," "The Last of Us"
• Books – "Babel" by R.F. Kuang, "The Broken Earth Trilogy" by N.K. Jemisin, "Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke, and "Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell
• Hobbies – I'm obviously a big reader (hence the two English degrees), but in the spring and summer, I spend a lot of time tending to my vegetable garden. I also love to bake, especially fresh bread, year-round.

My story is that I came into college, in many ways, woefully unprepared. I was a pretty big slacker with a pretty big ego. Two years into my college career, I was scraping by, barely passing classes, occasionally retaking them and looking for a way to turn my college career around. Thankfully, I had college professors at different points of my college career that took the needed time to work with me one-on-one. Some of them gave me straight-talk advice about how to navigate college. Some of them worked with me one-on-one when I found myself struggling with the material. They all did it with a mix of humor and empathy. In many ways, I owe my success in college to people that were willing to just simply be there when I had a question or two.

This is my guiding principle as mentor for ACES. Ultimately, I find being a mentor is a rewarding experience for both the student and the mentor. I get to be the kind of professor that I loved as a student. And students get to experience the kind of guidance that I received.

On a personal level, I'm a pretty big nerd. I love to read. I love watching movies and bingeing TV. I also spend a great of time on the tennis courts working on my groundstrokes.

For ACES, I'm known as the afternoon or evening guy in this program. If your need is mostly meetings in the afternoon or early evening, call on me.

Hi everyone! I am Joanna McQuade, an English instructor and ACES mentor.

I was a first-generation college student, and I remember how confusing it felt to navigate college. I didn't really understand how to access programs on campus, get help or even ask my professors for guidance. I struggled a lot more than I needed to just because I didn't feel confident.

Now that I've gotten this whole college thing figured out, I try to be the kind of mentor I needed when I was a student. When it comes to supporting students, a healthy mix of honesty and compassion can go a long way. Every student has strengths and challenges, and the best part of this job is getting to know the unique perspectives, histories and talents of students. I look forward to helping you on your journey through college.

Favorites

• Movies/TV – "Pan's Labyrinth," "Moonlight," "My Beautiful Laundrette," "The Birdcage" and "Drag Race"
• Books/authors – Elena Ferrante, Clarice Lispector, Arundhati Roy
• Hobbies/interests – Crafting, learning languages, hiking and trying new restaurants

Hello, all! I'm Allison Metro, an English instructor and ACES coach. I absolutely love interacting with students and getting to know them as individuals. Throughout my own college journey, from community college to graduate school, I was fortunate to have teachers who became mentors. They offered guidance, encouragement and academic support, and I'm still in touch with some of them today! I know those are big shoes to fill, but I hope to provide that same level of support for you.

I fully understand that "life happens' to all of us, but I firmly believe that, whenever possible, those moments do not have to derail your academic success. I'm here to help you navigate whatever comes your way. I also recognize that we all have our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to school and learning, and I know that, sometimes, students need a little extra help with a subject. I don't know what I would have done without my college math tutor!

Beyond teaching, I spend my time with my two kids and husband. My daughter plays hockey, so we spend a lot of our time traveling for tournaments and cheering her on. I also love to read, listen to music and take walks.

Hello students! My name is Meredith Nourie-Manuele, and I am an English instructor and ACES coach. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help you stay positive and focused as you work towards your associate degrees and beyond. You can do this!

I am here to provide support for you, from brainstorming ideas for an essay to strategies for time management to being a cheerleader for you when you feel unmotivated. You are not alone in this educational journey, and that is the power of ACES.

Favorites

• TV shows – The Paper, St. Denis Medical, The Pitt, Parks and Recreation
• Books – "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt, the Mitford series by Jan Karon, "Taste: My Life Through Food" by Stanley Tucci, "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott, and "March" by Geraldine Brooks
• Hobbies – Gardening, reading, journaling, attending as many concerts as possible, rooting on my Chicago teams (Go Bears! Go Cubs! Go Bulls!)

Hi! My name is Susie Potter, and I'm an assistant professor of English and a devoted ACES mentor. I love mentoring because I have had some wonderful mentors in my life! As a survivor of childhood homelessness, I struggled greatly in high school and arrived at college vastly underprepared. After my very first college class, I cried and asked myself, "What was I thinking? There's no way I can do this." I wanted to go home right then and there, but I didn't. Instead, I learned to believe in myself and seek help from my professors.

Today, I have two graduate degrees and find great joy in supporting students in similar situations. I believe every student is capable and that we all have unique skills that can benefit us in school and in life, and I invest time in getting to know each student on a personal level. My goal is to help students see their value, recognize their strengths and achieve their own personal definitions of success. I believe in you!

Favorites

• Movies – "Clueless," "Jawbreaker" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous"
• Books – "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and the entire "Baby-Sitters Club" series
• Hobbies – I enjoy creative writing, running, competitive figure skating and ballet.