Skip to main content
W&M’s writing center nurtures community of support on campus
What might appear to students as a quiet corner of Swem Library is actually a hub for community-building and part of a collective, vibrant international community of writing centers.
Located on the first floor of Swem Library, the Writing and Communication Center (WCC) at W&M serves students across all disciplines and levels through free, peer-led support, one-on-one consultations, workshops and resources. Student consultants from a diverse range of majors work directly with student peers on projects, from academic essays and presentations to creative writing. Additionally, the Graduate Writing & Communication Center is also located on the first floor of Swem Library, and the Clem History Writing Center, located in 347 James Blair Hall, offers free consultations for students working on assignments for history classes.
When students make an appointment with a peer consultant in the WCC, they may be experiencing anxiety about their assignments, but the consultants strive to create a calm, supportive environment that leaves students feeling more confident. 
Trained through a 2-credit course that explores writing center pedagogy, peer consultants are thoroughly equipped to advise on a diverse array of material, approaching each appointment thoughtfully and collaboratively. Drawing on their training in communication, consultants support students at any stage of the process, even those who show up with a blank page.
While this personal and warm approach is distinctly aligned with W&M values, writing centers exist at colleges and universities across the globe, forming a field with its own scholarship and a network of professional organizations. For decades, scholars and practitioners have studied the theory of peer tutoring and collaborative learning, shaping writing centers into spaces grounded not only in practice, but also in research.
Earlier this academic year, members of W&M’s WCC joined the broader conversation.
The 2025 International Writing Centers Association Conference — met in Cincinnati under the theme “Movement and Metamorphosis: The (Non-)Spaces of Writing Center Work” — brought together professionals and students from around the world to think deeply about how writing centers support students as they develop their writing and communication skills.
Addison Dempsey ’26, a WCC peer consultant, presented research and helped shape the conversation on writing centers as a hub of community-building. Dempsey was joined by four fellow consultants, each of whom also presented research at the conference.
Student consultant Srija Upadhyay’s ’27 presentation touched on the conference’s theme of space through a discussion about how the WCC’s development of classroom workshops expands their presence beyond Swem Library by reaching faculty and students directly in the spaces where learning happens. 
In addition to its online materials and consultations, the WCC brings its expertise directly into classrooms across campus through 50-minute interactive workshops. These are most frequently in COLL 150 courses, though any professor may request a visit tailored to the needs of a particular assignment or discipline.
Consultants Thu Luong ’26 and Iqra Ahmad ’26 presented on how the WCC’s core values shape the everyday work of the consultants, emphasizing how principles such as empowerment and inclusivity are central to supporting the students they serve across all disciplines and backgrounds. “The Writing Center, at its heart, is about the nurturing of new ideas,” Luong said.
Senior consultants Dempsey and Reagan Downey ’26 presented a student-led initiative they have worked on for the past several semesters focused on the rewriting of the WCC’s mission statement. Reflecting on why she applied to present at the conference, Dempsey said, “I felt like our mission was important, and I felt like the work we were doing was really important. I wanted people to be able to take away something from it.”
The student consultants were accompanied by WCC director Lori Jacobson and assistant director Jay Jolles for three days of learning, collaboration and active engagement in conversations about the future of writing center work — an opportunity made possible through funding from the College of Arts & Sciences. Jacobson, who also presented at the conference, said she cherished watching students develop professional skills while learning new perspectives. For the WCC, research and professional development are not separate from its everyday work.
There is a strong sense of community among writing center students and professionals, according to Ahmad. The experience of working as a consultant has surpassed her expectations and she emphasized that, “These kinds of communities are crucial.”
Ultimately, the WCC is a space where student voices are cultivated and elevated. “We’re a community of students to talk to,” Upadhyay said. “We’re passionate about communication as a whole.”
Whether a student arrives with a polished draft or a blank page, the WCC serves as more than a place to get help with writing. By providing the space and support students need to grow both as students and individuals, the WCC helps students uplift one another and learn to trust their voices.
For students, learn more and schedule a consultation . For faculty, request a classroom workshop .