Tutors

When tutors are hired in the Writing Center, they begin a training process that involves familiarizing themselves with the Writing Center Handbook. New tutors then observe tutoring sessions between clients and senior tutors, reflecting on their experiences with fellow staff members. The Beren Writing Center conducts monthly staff development meetings to continually foster dialogue amongst tutors to share their successes and struggles in an ongoing process of learning. If you are interested in applying to be a tutor at the Beren Writing Center, please review our "Tutor Application Procedures" and submit your materials to Associate Director Andrea Rosso Efthymiou at efthymio@yu.edu.

Writing Center tutors are available to help you generate writing ideas, refine your rough drafts, or simply have a conversation about writing. Writing Center tutors not only support fellow student writers, but they are also prolific writers themselves.To learn more about individual Beren Writing Center tutors, take a look at our tutor bios below!

Rachel Benaim

Rachel, more commonly referred to by her last name, Benaim has always been a word maniac. She loves reading and writing- not so much the arithmetic though. Her spirit for syntax and vigor for vocabulary is partially what inspired her to become an English Lit major (...with a double minor in Art History and Middle Eastern Studies-- just for fun). Her passion for language and expression drives her to try to spread that love, or at least an amiable appreciation, to others. Come down to the Writing Center and see for yourself!  

Lizzy Bentley

Writing Instructor

Lizzy graduated from Stern College in 2010 with a double major in English Literature and Graphic Design. Having served as a writing tutor throughout her undergraduate career, she is thrilled to be back at the BWC in this new and exciting capacity. Geeking out over the writing process is one of her favorite activities, along with practicing Ashtanga yoga, sketching, and amassing copious amounts of knowledge on obscure topics via the blogosphere. Lizzy also works in the non-profit sector, serving as Community and Social Media Coordinator for the Global Day of Jewish Learning, a worldwide Jewish learning initiative.

Sara Malka Berger

Don't let the fact that she's a biology major working at the Writing Center fool you; she's a science nerd who not only enjoys big words like spherocytosis and opsonization, but can also help you construct a well defined thesis. She discovered her appreciation for writing right here at Stern, and for that reason is doubly thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her peers. She enjoys country music, pina coladas, getting caught in the rain and can't wait to work with you in the Writing Center.  

Chana Brauser 

A native of Hollywood, Florida, Chana Brauser prefers to be either baking with spelt flour, pawing through the racks of clothing in Williamsburg thrift stores while attempting to somehow blend in with the surrounding hipsters, or heatedly discussing all things Middle East. Chana spent a year studying in Michalalah Jerusalem College after high school, dedicating her spare time to single-handedly charting new frontiers in the Machane Yehuda shuk. During moments of inspired clarity, Chana is a proud history major in a world that at times seems determined to topple the dreams of liberal arts eficionados. Chana is looking forward to working in the Writing Center; as fun as it is to spend that much time wondering if she should perhaps pursue [insert "practical" profession here], it's always more fun to chill with Stern students and talk writing. When she's not contemplating her future or discussing thesis elements, Chana serves as the News Editor for the YU Observer. 

Hannah Dreyfus 

As a double Journalism and Judaic Studies major, Editiorial Intern at the Jewish Week, and Managing Editor at the Observer, Hannah Drefus spends most of her time reading, writing, and editing articles. Fortunately, she could think of no more fulfilling way to spend her time. Hannah sincerely loves writing and the writing-process, and hopes to communicate some of that optimism and enthusiasm to other students through her work at the Writing Center.

To break from her mad-typing spress, Hannah, who hails from Connecticut, enjoys Yoga, pretending she likes coffee (Starbucks), pretending she can dance (Zumba), and banana-flavored baked goods. She looks forward to discussing ideas, improving skills, and analyzing just about everything. Write on!

Miriam Hier

Miriam is currently a Senior at Stern College for Women, majoring in Psychology with a minor in English Literature. She was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, California but decided to pursue her goals in the big city. Although she spends most months bundled beneath her Northface to protect her from the chilly New York winters, she feels she has found her place and passions at Stern. She recently married her high school boyfriend and loves to spend time cooking in her Height's apartment. Besides working for the Writing Center, Miriam fills her free time by peer tutoring in Statistics, editing for the Observer, and hanging out with friends exploring NYC. Miriam looks forward to working with you in developing your thoughts, thesis, and writing skills. Come hang out with Miriam at the Writing Center! 

Shani Hirsch

Shani is a junior at Stern College majoring in Biology. Her love of health sciences and medicine, though, are not incongruous with her excitement for writing and throwing sophisticated diction into colloquial conversation. Originally from Philadelphia, she is enjoying her experience in Stern and NYC. She likes running, consuming (a lot!) of coffee, and spending time with friends and family. Shani is thrilled to be a part of the Beren Writing Center staff and is looking forward to helping you tackle the writing process!

Adina Kay-Gross

Adina Kay-Gross earned an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University where she was awarded a departmental research fellowship. Her writing has been published in a variety of magazines and literary journals and she is currently working on a memoir about her experiences growing up between New York and Jerusalem. Adina has taught creative writing and composition at Columbia University and Hofstra University, and she currently teaches composition at Stern College for Women and Yeshiva College. Adina is thrilled to have joined the writing center staff and looks forward to working with student writers! 

Avigayil Kelman

Avigayil was raised in Italy and Boston. She is a Stern Junior, majoring in Creative Writing. She spent the fall 2012 semester in Florence working as a correspondent for Vista magazine, the second English-speaking publication in Florence. If she had to explain living in Florence, she'd say it was like inhabiting the tiniest snow globe to encompass the whole world that there ever was--you could write every inch of the city, and when that was done, you still wrote parts of it away and wrote entire neighborhoods in. Her approach to writing emulates the words of Shakespeare: "I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space" (Hamlet, Act II). Writing is like that--one page with infinite prospects.

Avigayil has worked as an assistant to the Israeli author Maltilda Koen-Sarano in Jerusalem, which gave her a unique insight into the Israeli literary world. She admits to having an addiction to film and blesses the fact that Hemingway and John Steinbeck were born. She considers herself lucky to be able to engage in exchanges of ideas with unique students in the enlightened space that the Writing Center. 

Emily Long

Emily Long is the Beren Writing Center's English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutor. Emily has had experience working with ESL students from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds from her time spent teaching English abroad in Japan and South Korea as well as here in New York City at GEOS Language Institute and at Medgar Evers College. Emily is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Linguistics at the CUNY Graduate Center, focusing mainly on Phonology. She also works for the Endangered Language Alliance, which is an organization here in New York City that works to document, revitalize and empower threatened languages. Emily loves to travel, but when home in New York, spends free time doing yoga, seeking out new ethnic food restaurants, cooking, and watching embarrassing TV.  She considers herself lucky to spend her time with the interesting and intelligent international students here at Stern. 

Rachel Renz

Originally from Boston, Rachel Renz is a real Junior at Stern, double-majoring in Judaic Studies and English Literature. She particularly loves to write and speak about the ways in which these two fields intertwine. She looks forward to guiding fellow writers through their writing processes. She loves classical music, good books, and black raspberry ice cream with sprinkles. Apart from academics, Rachel is involved with the Student Holocaust Education Movement, the Beacon, and the Quest Fellowship program. 

Hannah Rozenblat 

A native New Yorker and dedicated writer, Hannah Rozenblat is in her third year at Stern, majoring in English with minors in Art History and Speech & Drama.  Her love for writing and interest in engaging in dialogue with other students about all kinds of academic fields brought her to the Writing Center.  Aside from this, her interests include theater, literature, history, art, traveling, and much more.  In her ‘spare’ time, she is also involved in the Stern College Dramatic Society (SCDS) and is the Arts & Culture editor for the Beacon.   

Chaya Weissman

Chaya Weissman is a senior majoring in Biology with a double minor in Art History and Theater.  She does like New York City. However, having grown up in Connecticut she prefers not-so-deliberately grown trees to those strategically placed along sidewalks.  She loves engaging in the discovery process of writing, and she is anticipating getting ideas flowing with students in the Writing Center.  

Chumie Yagod

Chumie is a senior at Stern College, majoring in Biology and Philosophy. She hails from Northern Maine/Pennsylvania (yes, simultaneously). Her hobbies include learning Torah, books, philosophy, teaching, painting, and Strange Loops. She loves thinking, writing, and teaching, and she can't wait to pursue these passions as a tutor in the Writing Center.