Who are the Writing Associates?

All Writing Associates are current Trinity College Students who exhibit excellence in the art of writing and share a passion for improving the writing of their peers using a collaborative approach. Writing Associates are selected from a wide variety of academic majors, and are identified by their professors as outstanding writers. Writing Associates undergo a rigorous training curriculum that includes completing RHET 302, Writing Theory and Practice. The Writing Associates Program was created in 1989 to supplement faculty efforts and encourage a positive writing culture at Trinity.

Learn more about applying to be a writing associate.

Meet this year’s Writing Associates!​

Erin Barbakoff ’26 (she/her)

Major: Public Policy & Law
Hometown: Owings Mills, Maryland
Fun fact!: I am ambidextrous
What else are you involved with on campus?: Women’s rowing team
What are you passionate about?:I am passionate about writing!

Paulina Campanella ’27 (she/her)

Major: English Creative Writing/Classical Studies
Minor: Cognitive Science
Hometown: Scarsdale, New York
Fun fact!: I once translated scenes from Superbad into Latin for a final project
What else are you involved with on campus?: The Vernacular, Bantam Book Club, Blume Language Lab, Peer Research Center, Library SAB
What are you passionate about?: I am passionate about stories, so I love reading, writing, music, TV/movies, and video games. I also love baking and playing piano!

Pari Chouhan ’26 (she/her)

Majors: English/Psychology
Minor: Rhetoric, Writing, and Media Studies
Hometown: India
Fun fact!: My name is actually a very popular nickname in India.
What else are you involved with on campus?: I am focusing on the Writing Center only this year!
What are you passionate about?:I love dancing and writing poems!

Izzy DiPreta’27 (she/her)

Major: World Literature and Culture Studies
Minor: Italian
Hometown: New York
Fun fact!: I’m a leap year baby!
What else are you involved with on campus?: I’m an Administrative Assistant at the Financial Aid Office and a member of Habitat for Humanity!
What are you passionate about?: In my free time I read, write, take long walks around campus, and listen to music. I also love collecting vinyl — David Bowie and the Eagles are a big part of my collection.

Caitlin Doherty
Caitlin Doherty ’26 (she/her)

Majors: Public Policy & Law/Human Rights Studies
Minor: Community Action
Hometown: Danbury, CT
Fun fact!: I host a 60s and 70s music radio show at WRTC, Trinity’s on-campus station!
What else are you involved with on campus?:Trinity Against Gun Violence, Trinity Homelessness Project, The Trinity Tripod, and Peter B’s!
What are you passionate about?:I really love being a part of communities on and off campus that allow me to connect with new people and engage in social justice.

Allyson Foley ’26 (she/her)

Major: Political Science
Minor: Rhetoric Writing and Media Studies
Hometown: Ashburnham, MA
Fun fact!: I have a cat named Kitty
What else are you involved with on campus?: I play field hockey and write for the Tripod. I also am a member of the Pre-Law Society

Maile Fowler ’27 (she/her)

Major: Undeclared but planning on English
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Fun fact!: I hate pickles.
What else are you involved with on campus?: Faith Inspired Students at Trinity
What are you passionate about?: I love meeting and speaking with new people, exploring music, traveling, and making connections everywhere I go! I believe that God has set up this beautiful world, and it is meant to be explored through relationship, arts, and passions of all sorts.

Stella Garson ’26 (she/her)

Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Cresskill, NJ
Fun fact!: I love going to concerts and music festivals!
What else are you involved with on campus?: I am a Beckman Scholar (scholarship that funds my research project in Neuroscience), VP PR and Marketing for Alpha Chi Omega, VP for the Trinity Chemical Society, and Social Media Chair for Trinity Friends of MSF.
What are you passionate about?: My academics and research are really important to me. After working with Prof. Puljung in his lab, I feel like I’ve grown my skills as a scientist and premed student by leaps and bounds.

Sekai Imbayarwo Chikosi ’27 (she/her)

Major: Applied Mathematics/History
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe
Fun fact!: I’ve lived in 3 continents so far.
What else are you involved with on campus?: Quirks Acapella, SLE Events Programming Board and Chapel Council. I also work at the Watkinson Special Collections library.
What are you passionate about?: I am passionate about promoting equitable spaces that allow a sense of belonging for everyone. I also really love music and writing as well as baking.

Md Hamim Mahdie ’26 (he/him)

Major:Computer Science/Economics
Hometown: Rangpur, Bangladesh
Fun fact!: I coded a Whack-a-Mole game last summer
What else are you involved with on campus?: Accidentals a cappella
What are you passionate about?: Music, Instruments, Cryptography, Horseback Riding, Canoeing

Robby Mandel ’26 (he/him)

Major:English
Minor: Rhetoric
Hometown: Ramsey, NJ
Fun fact!: I love music
What else are you involved with on campus?: Varsity Football
What are you passionate about?: Helping others

Rose Molloy ’26 (she/her)

Major: Political Science
Minor: Philosophy
Hometown:
Seattle, WA
What else are you involved with on campus?:The Political Science Club and the Vernacular Literary Magazine
What are you passionate about?:The 2007 Disney Pixar animated film “Ratatouille”

Britny Owusu ’26 (she/her)

Major: Psychology
Minor: Writing, Rhetoric, and Media Studies
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Fun fact!: I love ice cream!
What else are you involved with on campus?: I’m apart of the general body of Faith Inspired Students at Trinity!
What are you passionate about?: I am passionate about my Christian faith, child psychology, and music!

Birdie Stark ’26 (she/her)

Major: English/Economics
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Fun fact!: I used to teach youth trapeze!
What else are you involved with on campus?: I work in the English department admin office and am on E-Board for the Sigma Tau Delta society!
What are you passionate about?: I love yoga and fiction writing, and I’m passionate about cultivating an on-campus space where students feel comfortable creating and collaborating with one another.

Lily Trunzo ’27 (she/her)

Major: Public Policy and Law
Minor: English
Hometown: Chepachet, RI
Fun fact!: I played the oboe for 8 years!
What else are you involved with on campus?: Trinity College Pre Law Society, Campus Climate Incident Response Team, SGA, Women’s Club Volleyball
What are you passionate about?: I’m passionate about reading, music, travel, and finding my place in the world 🙂

Saisha Uttamchandani ’26 (she/her)

Major:Environmental Science/Anthropology
Hometown:
Mumbai, India
Fun fact!:
My cat looks like an old man. 
What else are you involved with on campus?:
Tutoring at HMTCA, I also sell a lot of my art (?)
What are you passionate about?:
I’m passionate about art, climate justice, human rights, and cooking (specifically for my friends).

Tu Vu ’26 (he/him)

Major: Engineering
Hometown: Hanoi, Viet Nam
Fun fact!: I wrote an essay about a cat for my college application.
What are you passionate about?: I’m aiming to use my ability to improve education environments for students who need it.

Beatrice Yue
Beatrice Yue ’26 (she/her)

Majors: Psychology/Political Science
Hometown: China
Fun fact!: I have a tarantula as my pet.
What else are you involved with on campus?: I’m part of the pre-law society club and I also work for the admission office as a SRA.
What are you passionate about?: I like music and I play the piano and guitar. I also enjoy spending my spare time doing embroidery and go hiking with my friends.

Sadie Zeiner-Morrish’26 (she/her)

Major: English/Creative Writing
Minor: Classics
Hometown: Washington NJ
Fun fact!: I used to have 30 rabbits
What else are you involved with on campus?: Quest, The Trinity Pipes, club soccer, student advancement office
What are you passionate about?:I am passionate about poetry and music.