“I never set out to become a writer, but my life’s path led me to it,” Spencer said.

This path began when the Writing Center was first opened at IU Southeast.

“I actually was the first student hired as a student consultant,” Spencer said.

Spencer worked as a part-time employee at the Writing Center until she graduated from the University of Louisville. Then, she became a full-time employee for the Writing Center.

During Spencer’s time at the Writing Center, she has had a chance to develop her writing skills through her favorite genre — poetry.

“During my time as an undergraduate here at IU Southeast and as a graduate student at University of Louisville, I won seven Metroversity competition awards for both fiction and poetry,” Spencer said. “I have had many of my poems published throughout the United States, from California’s Santa Barbara Review to Peregrine to Florida’s White Pelican Review.”

Spencer said her passion for science shines through her poetry. One of her poems, “Speaking of Sleep,” demonstrates Spencer’s affinity to science with its description of atoms as “mostly empty space.”

“I’m interested in quantum mechanics and read everything I can about that theory,” Spencer said. “I am creating a set of poems where I look at reality through quantum eyes, so having a good understanding of how quantum mechanics works is important.”

In addition to writing, Spencer said she loves to meet and assist students through the process of writing consultation.

“The best part of my job involves meeting people — people from all over the world to people who live across the street from IU Southeast,” Spencer said. “Working one-on-one with students gives me the opportunity to get to know them well, to know their stories and to watch them grow as writers.”

Spencer also has the opportunity to help many students who are English Learners. This presents a unique challenge for her.

“For ELs, I may have to read parts of his or her paper out loud so that the student can hear his or her mistakes,” Spencer said. “In different countries, there are different rules for writing. This can be a problem to work with.”

Spencer said she wants to encourage ELs along every step of the writing process.

“I never want EL students to feel bad about their writing,” Spencer said. “I want to give students hope that they can learn to write well.”
Spencer also said she believes every student has the chance to become a great writer.

“Many times, students don’t believe in themselves as writers, but each of us has an idea or story to share,” Spencer said.

Spencer said she wants to ensure every student has the right writing skills.

By BRADLEY COOPER

Staff

bradcoop@ius.edu