Meet Our Coaches

LUCY

Lucy (she/her) is from New Orleans and a graduate of Occidental College, where she majored in Environmental Studies. She is passionate about science communication and loves helping students with lab reports and presentations. She is excited to help students with literature reviews and research essays in all subjects at the CWRC. In her free time, she enjoys ceramics, running, and visiting national parks!

MATTHEW

Matthew (he/him) was born and raised in Metairie and is a graduate of both Delgado Community College (YAY!!!) and the University of New Orleans where he earned a B.A. in English with a concentration in journalism. He spends his spare time playing soccer, visiting museums and thrift stores, and reading.

ALEX

Alex (he/him) is a graduate of The University of New Orleans Creative Writing Workshop, where he studied fiction. His stories and essays have been published in Hobart, Expat Press, and others. Originally from the Midwest, his writing has also been included in a forthcoming anthology from the Wisconsin Historical Society. He’s passionate about the many mediums of storytelling from film and television to games and interactive fiction. When he’s not writing, Alex enjoys producing electronic music, a hobby he’s had for over a decade.

KAMISHA

Kamisha (she/her) has been working at the Westbank Delgado Learning Resource Center for 10 years. She has a Bachelors of Arts in English from Dillard University and a Masters of Science in Counseling from Capella University. She is an educator in the public-school system and enjoys working with youth getting them prepared for the next level of their academic journey. Kamisha also loves working with the students at the LRC and witnessing their enthusiasm about becoming better writers and developing a liking for English Composition and Literature.

CARLEE

Carlee (she/her) is a proud first-generation college graduate who studied poetry and revolution at NYU, then completed graduate study in 20th-century and contemporary poetry and poetics at the University at Buffalo. She has worked in colleges and high schools for over a decade, teaching classes and talking to students as they think about writing, reading, Big Serious Texts, fun popular media, and what it really means to live in the world. In addition to coaching, she is also our Center's Training and Outreach Coordinator. Her favorite part of her work is getting to think, play, and learn with Delgado students. When she's not at the CWRC, she's watching movies, scrolling Instagram, or binging documentaries about cults. 

SUMNER

Sumner (they/them) is a former Arkansawyer and a New Orleans resident since 2019. Their hobbies and interests range from tabletop gaming, to postructuralist theory, to karaoke. Their focus is to abet every student in finding the joy in writing. They are enrolled in the M.A. program at the University of New Orleans where they also work as a writing coach.

DAVID

David (he/him) is from Scott, LA. After earning an MA in English in 1983, he worked at the Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans where he was a producer and a performer at the Louisiana Folklife Pavilion. He has been performing as a member of BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet since 1977 and has received two Grammy Awards, recorded 28+ albums, and toured all of the US and at least 20 countries. Since the start of the pandemic, he and his wife have broadcast a weekly performance on Facebook. David has been an English instructor at Delgado Community College since 2017.

WILL

Will (he/him) grew up in Virginia. He studied English and philosophy at the College of William and Mary, and recently earned an M.F.A. in fiction at the University of New Orleans. Along with reading and writing, Will likes to play music with his band Gold Connections, go to the movies, walk around, and drink smoothies. He occasionally hangs out with friends, too, who are also nerds.

KAARI

Kaari (she/her) is a Louisiana native, writer, and entrepreneur who grew up between the US and Ghana, West Africa. She has academic background in Literature and African Studies, and a gift for recognizing & nurturing the talents of others. With 8 years of teaching experience, Kaari understands that creativity takes courage and is passionate about helping writers share impactful ideas with confidence. She enjoys studying culture through food, travel, music, and learning new languages.

JUDY

Judy (she/her) is a native of Baton Rouge who was a barista in San Francisco and Brooklyn before getting her undergraduate degree in comparative religion from the City College of NY.  She earned a master's degree in political science from the American University of Paris and lived abroad for nearly 9 years teaching and tutoring English to people from all walks of life.  After returning to New Orleans in 2019, Judy worked in the vintage and antique furniture world, first managing an antique shop, and eventually starting her own vintage company.  She now runs a venue that hosts vintage and makers markets twice a month, showcasing local creatives, collectors, and artists.  In her free time she loves lounging on Gulf Coast beaches and singing to her fat cat, Louis.

LAUREN D.

Lauren (she/her) is a proud two-time graduate of The University of New Orleans with degrees in English. She grew up in a small town just outside New Orleans. Lauren hopes to continue her education in the future, but in the meantime, is ecstatic to be helping students with their academic journey. 

LAUREN C

Lauren (she/her) is from Upstate New York by way of South Carolina and moved to New Orleans in 2021. She is a graduate of the MFA program in poetry from the University of South Carolina, and her poetry and nonfiction have appeared in The Equalizer, PANK, and others. 

ANDREW

Andrew (he/ him) is a fiction writer and graduate of the University of New Orleans' Creative Writing Workshop. His short stories and essays have appeared in various publications. He also has degrees in journalism and U.S. history and spent some of his formative years performing comedy in clubs and theatres around Boston and New York. He has taught English at Delgado and has worked as a writing and math tutor for students of all ages. Andrew views writing as an avenue for honest expression, and he strives to help students discover their authentic voices through writing.

RYAN

Ryan (he/him) is a poet and writer native to New Orleans. In 2020, he received his Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing) from Loyola University New Orleans. He then joined the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans, where, in 2023, he earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. His writing has appeared in Tilted House Review, Xavier Review, Last Leaves Magazine, Penumbra Literary & Art Journal, Final Girl Bulletin Board, and elsewhere. He can often be found haunting local literary events.

MISSY

Missy (she/her)has worn many hats, some with feathers: news photographer and writer, non-profit director, radio personality, and academic administrator, spending some 13 years as manager of the Music Department at UNO. By night she is The Dominatrix of the Blues, playing jazz, blues, and R & B on WWOZ-FM.  Her award-winning essays on nature, family, and music have been published in several literary journals, and she was a contributing author to “Voices Rising: The Katrina Narrative Project.”

TAYLOR

Taylor (she/her) is originally from Birmingham, AL, and has lived in New Orleans since 2017. She recently graduated from the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana with a B.A. in English. Taylor is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English with a concentration on African American literature at Texas Southern University. One of her favorite books is Sula by Toni Morrison. She loves to read, write poetry, and discuss all things literary with those around her.

NATALKA

Natalka (she/her) is a Ukrainian-Canadian writer, visual artist, and first generation college graduate; she earned her MFA in Fiction from the University of New Orleans. Natalka has led workshops in art therapy, creative writing, and casting & molding. Her sculptural and installation work has been exhibited across Canada and the US, accompanied rock shows, dance performances, theatre, music videos, and more. Natalka loves helping students get their thoughts and ideas down on the page in their most authentic voice. She's interested in all kinds of storytelling, especially folklore and oral history. 

KATIE

Katie (she/her) is a first-generation college graduate from San Diego, CA. She earned a BA in Art History and Museum Studies from New College of Florida and an MA in Art History from Tulane University, with a concentration in modern Mexican art. Before returning to school, she spent several years working in sustainable agriculture and even co-founded a small vegetable farm. While not completely fluent (yet!), she is happy to talk through papers in Spanish to the best of her ability. In her free time, she is usually painting, exploring nature preserves, or taking ballet classes.

ELISE

Elise is a dynamic writer, educator, and explorer whose talent has taken her from Division 1 basketball to trekking the Andes Mountains. Her adventurous spirit reflects infectious courage and a thirst for discovery. Originating from Phoenix, AZ, Elise's diverse background includes studying at the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College and earning a Masters in Creativity and Innovation from Drexel University in 2019. As a first-generation college graduate and lifelong poet, Elise's passion for storytelling is deeply ingrained in her identity.

KEVIN

Kevin (he/him) has been teaching English Language Learners (ELL) and College and Career Readiness (CCR) in the division of Adult Education at Delgado since 2018. He has taught English on the post-secondary level for more than 20 years. He has lived in New York, Miami and New Orleans. He holds a B.A. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University, and his M.F.A. is from Sarah Lawrence College.

TERRI

Terri (she/her) is a proud product of the Orleans Parish Public School system and alumna of Delgado Community College. After graduating from San Francisco State University, she has spent a career helping students get to and through college both in the Bay Area and New Orleans. She is a fierce knitter and keeps abreast of international politics and US foreign policy. She is a passionate writer who has published articles with online media outlets and is stoked about the opportunity to help others find their writing voice. 

VALEN

Valen (she/her) is a writer, artist, and educator who moved to New Orleans from the Silicon Valley. She has worked as a freelance tutor for many years, taught creative writing, and completed multiple teaching assistantships at Sonoma State University and University of San Francisco. She hopes to assist Delgado students with discovering their unique writing voices and building their confidence as writers. In her free time, she can be found making miniatures while watching Youtube documentaries. 

JOHN

John (he/him), a native New Orleanian, is a musician, composer, songwriter and singer who loves to share his passions with others. He loves to read stories, write poetry, sing songs, and always knows the score of a game that’s going on (especially when the Saints or Tigers are playing). He is a recent graduate (2025) of the University of New Orleans with a master's degree in music composition and when he is not in the CWRC, he is performing, scoring a film, or teaching guitar lessons.  

HAILEY

Hailey is a Bay Area native with a B.A. in History from Xavier University of Louisiana. There, she spent three years researching Straight University, the first Black college in New Orleans, exploring how education fueled Black activism from the Streetcar Act to Plessy v. Ferguson. She loves helping students grow as writers, meeting them where they are, and supporting diverse learning styles. Passionate about African American History, Queer Studies, and community building, Hailey is currently pursuing her Social Studies teacher certification. When she's not coaching or studying, you can find her either skating, crocheting, or watching her favorite show, Steven Universe.