Our mission is to support a culture of writing across the university by bringing into focus the rhetorical strategies that turn writing in various genres from “words on a page” into a compelling, respectful, ongoing dialogue with peers, research communities, and the wider public.
Our approach to writing support focuses on facilitating the development of writing skills rather than offering a "quick fix" on writing projects. To that end, we maintain a number of ongoing initiatives designed to assist writers in the development of their writing abilities, namely: Writing Center Tutorials, Seminars, and various Writing Center Resources.
Our approach to writing support focuses on facilitating the development of writing skills rather than offering a "quick fix" on writing projects. To that end, we maintain a number of ongoing initiatives designed to assist writers in the development of their writing abilities, namely: Writing Center Tutorials, Seminars, and various Writing Center Resources.
About Us
WCP Assistant Director;
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
Creative Writing Coordinator
Creative Writing Coordinator
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
Webpage Moderator
Webpage Moderator
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
Fariza Tolesh
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
Andrew Drybrough
Writing Center Program Interim Director; WCP Instructor
Writing Center Coordinator;
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Instructor
WCP Teaching Assistant
Thomas Duke
Thomas Duke is a rhetorician who studies argumentation and communicating in persuasive and technical contexts. His most recent projects have focused on the role of adages or idioms in argument construction. He has recently taught MSC 601 Technical Communication, WCS 101 Communication and Society, WCS 150 Rhetoric and Composition, and WCS 302 Argumentation and Debate.
His Research Interests include: The history of rhetoric, propaganda, and argumentation. At present, he is particularly interested in the role of emotions in propaganda and persuasion.
His Research Interests include: The history of rhetoric, propaganda, and argumentation. At present, he is particularly interested in the role of emotions in propaganda and persuasion.
Position: WCP Instructor
Email:
Office: 4.401
James Michael Nielsen brings a diverse background in creative and technical writing to his role at NU, where he developed the technical and professional writing course. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Utah Tech University and a Master's in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Texas at El Paso.
When not in the classroom, Nielsen can be found rock climbing or hiking in remote wilderness areas, experiences that inform his creative writing in fantasy and science fiction. His adventurous spirit extends to his work as a professional videographer and content creator, most notably through his YouTube channel "Im not lost," which documents his outdoor expeditions, including an ambitious bicycle journey from Astana to Almaty in 2020. Nielsen's unique blend of technical expertise, storytelling, and multimedia skills reflects his commitment to innovative approaches in academic and creative communication.
When not in the classroom, Nielsen can be found rock climbing or hiking in remote wilderness areas, experiences that inform his creative writing in fantasy and science fiction. His adventurous spirit extends to his work as a professional videographer and content creator, most notably through his YouTube channel "Im not lost," which documents his outdoor expeditions, including an ambitious bicycle journey from Astana to Almaty in 2020. Nielsen's unique blend of technical expertise, storytelling, and multimedia skills reflects his commitment to innovative approaches in academic and creative communication.
James Michael Nielsen
James Swider
James Clifford Swider is currently a doctoral candidate in the Composition and Linguistics program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He earned his Master of Arts in English at the West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Before coming to Nazarbayev University, James taught various composition, literature, and language courses at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. James also was the assistant director of the writing center at IUP where he taught first-year composition and research writing. He has several published research articles and regularly attends academic conferences to stay current in the field of composition.
Research Interests: Writing center pedagogy; Rhetorical analysis; Comparative rhetoric; Applied linguistics
Research Interests: Writing center pedagogy; Rhetorical analysis; Comparative rhetoric; Applied linguistics
Jonathan Dupuy
Jonathan Dupuy holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and German and an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in literature where he was awarded Summa cum laude and membership into Phi Beta Kappa. Afterwards, he earned a Master’s degree in Classics from St. John’s College and an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis in Fiction where he first taught Creative Writing and Rhetoric.
Dupuy has published his writing in Signal to Noise, The Santa Fe Reporter and contributed writing to several local artists, was awarded writing residencies in Italy at Breadloaf, NES in Iceland and at the Edward Albee foundation in New York.
At Nazarbayev University Dupuy created and taught the first ever university level English language fiction writing courses in Kazakhstan beginning with Introduction to Fiction and extending out to over a total of five different courses. He was a founding member and editor of the tri-lingual journal Angime and continues to run the Illitérati book club for NU graduates and community members and is a current mentor at the Pen American Prison Writing Project.
Dupuy’s writing is influenced by his upbringing in Detroit, Michigan as well as his work as a dishwasher, a Harley Davidson mechanic, a golf caddie, a bartender, a film critic for public radio, a journalist, a DJ and the time he served in the US Marine Corps infantry, traveling to over twenty-five countries during which he was distinguished with the Marine’s highest non-combat award and a certificate of commendation for his service.
Dupuy has published his writing in Signal to Noise, The Santa Fe Reporter and contributed writing to several local artists, was awarded writing residencies in Italy at Breadloaf, NES in Iceland and at the Edward Albee foundation in New York.
At Nazarbayev University Dupuy created and taught the first ever university level English language fiction writing courses in Kazakhstan beginning with Introduction to Fiction and extending out to over a total of five different courses. He was a founding member and editor of the tri-lingual journal Angime and continues to run the Illitérati book club for NU graduates and community members and is a current mentor at the Pen American Prison Writing Project.
Dupuy’s writing is influenced by his upbringing in Detroit, Michigan as well as his work as a dishwasher, a Harley Davidson mechanic, a golf caddie, a bartender, a film critic for public radio, a journalist, a DJ and the time he served in the US Marine Corps infantry, traveling to over twenty-five countries during which he was distinguished with the Marine’s highest non-combat award and a certificate of commendation for his service.
Adina Arvatu
Adina Arvatu has a PhD in philosophy from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and a Master’s in comparative literature from Western University in Canada. Before joining the Writing Center in 2018, she taught humanities and social sciences subjects at both universities. At NU, she has been teaching first-year and advanced undergraduate writing and composition courses, as well as leading a PhD writing seminar. Her main research interests are genre theory and pedagogies in L2 writing instruction, problems in global English-medium instruction (EMI), and the construction of interdisciplinary knowledge. Her most recent publication is a co-authored article on graduate students grappling with English-medium instruction in Kazakhstan (2022).
Arlyce Menzies
Raised in the Rust Belt and educated in the Bluegrass and New England, Arlyce Menzies now teaches writing in the windy steppe capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. She received her MFA at Boston University, where she practiced poetry with Robert Pinsky and Karl Kirchwey, learned translation theory with Lorca scholar Christopher Maurer, copyedited fiction and non-fiction for Agni, and made an art installation with Chinese genius Yuan Lin. Arlyce enjoys other gifts like publication in New Ohio Review and The Baffler, translating poetry from Russian to English, and dancing to Bollywood hits with her two daughters.
Brandon Brock
Brandon Brock earned his Bachelor’s degree in English/American Literature and his Master of Arts in Teaching English degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in the United States. He has been teaching Rhetoric and Writing Studies as well as English Composition at the University of Texas at El Paso since 2011. He has experience working at the University Writing Center as well as experience working for an early college high school in El Paso, Texas.
Research Interests: Rhetoric and Writing Studies; Multimodal Composition; First-Year Composition; Assessment; Digital Rhetoric; Digital Media; Media Production
Research Interests: Rhetoric and Writing Studies; Multimodal Composition; First-Year Composition; Assessment; Digital Rhetoric; Digital Media; Media Production
Elizabeth Abele
Elizabeth Abele has previously taught Writing at research universities and community colleges in the USA, Kuwait and Malaysia. An active American Studies scholar, Dr. Abele has published in journals and edited collections on the intersections of American culture with history and gender, including essays on Shakespeare, Kurt Vonnegut, Ridley Scott, Jane Smiley, Red Riding Hood, and Bruce Willis.
During Fall 2024, she was a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Lisbon; for 2014-15, she was a Fulbright Scholar in American Studies at Universiti Malaya; 2006-14, she served as Executive Director of Northeast Modern Language Association. Before earning her Ph.D. at Temple University, she worked as a nonprofit administrator in development and marketing.
During Fall 2024, she was a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Lisbon; for 2014-15, she was a Fulbright Scholar in American Studies at Universiti Malaya; 2006-14, she served as Executive Director of Northeast Modern Language Association. Before earning her Ph.D. at Temple University, she worked as a nonprofit administrator in development and marketing.
Jane Hoelker
Jane Hoelker has been included in Marquis Who’s Who 2023 biographical volume as an International English Language Educator. She has led a career as an instructor of English in universities in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Jane earned a master’s degree in ESOL from the School for International Training in Vermont and a master’s degree in French literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recently, she completed an Interdisciplinary master’s degree in English literature and history from Western New Mexico University.
Having served in various leadership roles in the TESOL International Association, she was elected to the TESOL Board of Directors in 2008. Prior to this, she was President of TESOL Arabia in the United Arab Emirates. Her strong social conscience inspired her to give service in the global context. She volunteered in the Peace Corps as well as an English Language Specialist consulting with the U.S. State Department and conducting teacher training workshops.
She has published more than 38 articles internationally and has presented at numerous international conferences. What inspires her to write is bearing witness to that moment in the classroom where knowledge meets action and the process named learning empowers yet another student.
Having served in various leadership roles in the TESOL International Association, she was elected to the TESOL Board of Directors in 2008. Prior to this, she was President of TESOL Arabia in the United Arab Emirates. Her strong social conscience inspired her to give service in the global context. She volunteered in the Peace Corps as well as an English Language Specialist consulting with the U.S. State Department and conducting teacher training workshops.
She has published more than 38 articles internationally and has presented at numerous international conferences. What inspires her to write is bearing witness to that moment in the classroom where knowledge meets action and the process named learning empowers yet another student.
Jeremy Spring
Jerry Spring has taught English for academic and professional purposes at university level in various countries for over 30 years, including in Oxford, Ankara and Dubai. He has an undergraduate degree in experimental psychology and a master’s degree in English language education. Outside of work, he enjoys various sports and outdoor activities and devouring the contents of Nazarbayev University’s library.
Research Interests: He is currently particularly interested in issues of genre in academic writing and the role of AI in student learning and assessment.
Research Interests: He is currently particularly interested in issues of genre in academic writing and the role of AI in student learning and assessment.
Gamze Öncül
Gamze Öncül started teaching in 1993. Initially, she taught EFL classes at Kocaeli and Bilkent Universities in Türkiye. From 2004 to 2024, she mainly taught freshman academic writing courses, first at Bilkent University and then at Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus. Gamze holds a Ph.D. in English Language Teaching from Hacettepe University, Türkiye. She has a special interest in course and material design and writing assessment. She is interested in writing center theory and practice as well, but her latest publication is on digital literacy skills of first-year university students. She is also proud that she has translated two novels: Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis has already been published, and Any Old Iron by Anthony Burgess is still under review.
Yamen Rahvan
Yamen Rahvan holds a PhD in English and Comparative Literary Studies from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. He also has educational background in English Language Teaching, cultural studies, and philosophy. Between 2013 and 2023, he taught both academic writing and literature at different universities in Istanbul, Turkey. Courses he has taught include writing for the social sciences, business writing, medical writing, and technical writing for science and technology. He also has extensive experience with writing center consultations. Over the years, he has helped both undergraduates and postgraduates craft their statements of purpose, research proposals, literature reviews, research articles, and theses.
Research interests: English for Academic Purposes; Writing Center Studies; Theories of modern world-literature; Aesthetics; Sensory Studies.
Research interests: English for Academic Purposes; Writing Center Studies; Theories of modern world-literature; Aesthetics; Sensory Studies.
Marilyn Plumlee
Marilyn Plumlee majored in the teaching of French and German as foreign languages for her undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas (USA). She later obtained an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of North Dakota (USA) and a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Hawai`i (USA). She has taught a wide variety of language and linguistics courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at universities in the U.S., South Korea and Egypt. From 2000-2012 she was a faculty member in the College of English, Dept. of Linguistics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul (South Korea) and from 2012-2018 she was Associate Professor and Director of the MA TESOL program in the Department of Applied Linguistics at the American University in Cairo (Egypt).
Serving terms as the national president of the professional association of English language teachers in both Korea and Egypt, she has given invited conference keynote talks and workshops on language learning, foreign language teaching methods and developing inter-cultural communication skills in Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Egypt.
Serving terms as the national president of the professional association of English language teachers in both Korea and Egypt, she has given invited conference keynote talks and workshops on language learning, foreign language teaching methods and developing inter-cultural communication skills in Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, and Egypt.
Tiffany Moore
Tiffany Moore’s undergraduate degree is in Literary Studies with a minor in Chinese History and Culture from Middlebury College in Vermont; her MA from Boston College is in English Literature. She earned her PhD in English Literature at Northeastern University, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Cinema Studies. She has taught and tutored in all sorts of environments for all kinds of students since 1995. Before coming to Nazarbayev University she was in the UAE, before that, she was primarily based in New England.
Research Interests: Currently she is researching folklore, the history and influence of rock and roll music, and whatever else gets her attention on any given day.
Research Interests: Currently she is researching folklore, the history and influence of rock and roll music, and whatever else gets her attention on any given day.
Shane Ellis Coates
Shane Ellis Coates has been an instructor since 1996. He spent a year teaching in South Korea before moving to Istanbul in 1998. Since 2003, his teaching has focused primarily on academic and professional writing. He was the coordinator for the Academic Support Center at Istanbul Bilgi University, and spent a year working as a copy editor for The Report, an international business magazine published by Oxford Business Group, before returning to Korea in 2008. In 2009 he became the program coordinator for the newly established International Writing Center at Kyungpook National University. He holds undergraduate degrees in Literature & History; as well as a Master’s Degree in Global Higher Education. This website is his favorite pet project.
Research Interests: Higher Education; Education Leadership; ICT in Education
Research Interests: Higher Education; Education Leadership; ICT in Education
Zhanar Kabylbekova
Zhanar Kabylbekova earned her Bachelor's degree in Teaching English from Pavlodar State University and her Master of Arts in Public Policy degree from King's College London. She has worked as a teacher in different educational organizations such as Pavlodar Kazakh-Turkish lyceum, Pavlodar Pedagogical College, and also as a chief of the department of Development of Technical and Vocational Education and International contacts under the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan. Zhanar has been at Nazarbayev University for several years, initially in the Department of Communications (SST) and currently in the Writing Center Program. In addition to participating in research projects, she has strong administrative and tutoring experience in Communication and Writing Studies.
Research Interests: Writing Pedagogy; Communication Science; Globalization and Politics; Education Policy.
Research Interests: Writing Pedagogy; Communication Science; Globalization and Politics; Education Policy.
Nicholas Walmsley
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Nick Walmsley received his PhD in Central Eurasian Studies from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2016. Since then, he has taught at universities in Palestine and Kyrgyzstan before arriving at Nazarbayev University in 2025. As a teacher, he has taught a wide range of composition and humanities courses, with a particular interest in the history and literature of Central Asia. As a researcher, he has published articles and chapters on sufism in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
In addition to teaching and research, he is also a translator of Uzbek literature, ancient and modern, ranging from classical poetry to scifi novels for children. His passion project is a translation of several hundred ghazals (odes) by Ali Shir Navayi, the national poet of Uzbekistan.
In addition to teaching and research, he is also a translator of Uzbek literature, ancient and modern, ranging from classical poetry to scifi novels for children. His passion project is a translation of several hundred ghazals (odes) by Ali Shir Navayi, the national poet of Uzbekistan.
Nuraiym Kossybak
Nuraiym Kossybak sees working at the Writing Center as a beautiful outgrowth of her education at Nazarbayev University. Nuraiym is an alumna of NU, who obtained her BA in World Languages, Literature and Culture and earned her Master’s degree in Eurasian studies. She worked at the Department of Kazakh Language and Turkic Studies, where she taught Kazakh poetry to advanced speakers of Kazakh. Nuraiym is a writer and a poet, who enjoys writing in different languages and genres. Nuraiym loves yoga, crochet, dancing, fashion, sweets and her sweet students.
Research Interests: narrative and rhetoric, writing and psychology, teaching advanced language learners, creative nonfiction, comparative literature, literary style, Central Asian poetry and prose, Kazakh manuscripts in Arabic script, Islam and poetry, Kazakh literature outside Kazakhstan.
Research Interests: narrative and rhetoric, writing and psychology, teaching advanced language learners, creative nonfiction, comparative literature, literary style, Central Asian poetry and prose, Kazakh manuscripts in Arabic script, Islam and poetry, Kazakh literature outside Kazakhstan.
Thomas Carl Hughes
Thomas Carl Hughes earned both his Bachelors in English literature and Masters of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma.
He has taught university English in Miami, Florida, as well as in Korea, Saudi Arabia and Oman before joining the writing center staff at Nazarbayev University. At Nizwa University in Oman, he served on the writing center staff before moving to Nizwa University of Technology and Science to teach technical writing and technical communications.
He has taught university English in Miami, Florida, as well as in Korea, Saudi Arabia and Oman before joining the writing center staff at Nazarbayev University. At Nizwa University in Oman, he served on the writing center staff before moving to Nizwa University of Technology and Science to teach technical writing and technical communications.
Shahreen Mat Nayan
Shahreen Mat Nayan obtained her PhD in Communication (Rhetoric) from the University of Denver, Colorado (USA); She earned her Master’s in Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and her B.A (magna cum laude) in Communication from the University of Hartford, Connecticut (USA). She is a recipient of three research awards, and was the 2013 winner of the Best Journal Article Award (Humanities and Social Science Category) from the Malaysian Scholarly Publication Council (MAPIM) – Ministry of Education Malaysia. The winning article entitled "Hugging the Trees for Life: Implicating Bitzer in the Non-violent Rhetorical Situation of the Chipko Movement", was published in Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities (a SCOPUS-indexed publication).
Outside of the classroom, Shahreen is a corporate trainer certified by the Human Resource Development Corporation, Malaysia. When not busy pursuing her professional and personal goals, Shahreen drinks coffee in little cafes and video chats with her now grown-up kids back home in Malaysia.
Outside of the classroom, Shahreen is a corporate trainer certified by the Human Resource Development Corporation, Malaysia. When not busy pursuing her professional and personal goals, Shahreen drinks coffee in little cafes and video chats with her now grown-up kids back home in Malaysia.
Michael Jones
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: michael.jones@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.410
Email: michael.jones@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.410
Michael Jones has over six years of experience teaching academic writing, English for Academic Purposes, and communication skills in Palestine and Iraq before moving to Kazakhstan. His teaching emphasises critical thinking, clarity of expression, and intercultural awareness, encouraging students to see writing not only as a technical skill but also as a means of shaping identity and engaging with the world. Michael holds three master’s degrees from SOAS University of London, University College London and the University of Birmingham. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Education and Social Justice at Lancaster University, where his research explores the intersections of higher education, artificial intelligence, and social justice. His scholarly work draws on critical realism as a theoretical framework, enabling him to examine the deep structures and generative mechanisms that shape educational practices and student experiences and how higher education can both reproduce and challenge systems of inequality.
Research Interests: His teaching and research further engage with the role of artificial intelligence in education, particularly its ethical implications, its impact on academic integrity, and its role in reshaping writing practices. He is also an emerging content creator, producing educational materials on language, culture, and AI.
Research Interests: His teaching and research further engage with the role of artificial intelligence in education, particularly its ethical implications, its impact on academic integrity, and its role in reshaping writing practices. He is also an emerging content creator, producing educational materials on language, culture, and AI.
Marina Zaffari
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: marina.zaffari@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.409
Email: marina.zaffari@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.409
Marina Zaffari earned her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture from Radboud University in the Netherlands, with a minor in Cultural and Gender Studies. She holds a master’s degree in Multilingual Education from Nazarbayev University. She has multiple years of experience in writing, producing, and presenting in media. In the Netherlands, she worked as a language assessor and test developer for KTV, an organization that trained certified interpreters for the Dutch government. Before joining the Writing Center, she served as an academic mentor with the American Councils for International Education, supporting immigrant communities in Albania.
Research Interests: Linguistic identity, critical discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, curriculum analysis, and educational policy.
Research Interests: Linguistic identity, critical discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, curriculum analysis, and educational policy.
Bakhtiar Naghdipour
Bakhtiar Naghdipour holds a Ph.D. in English Language Teaching (ELT) with a focus on Second Language Writing from Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. He is an internationally certified teacher and teacher trainer (CELTA and DELTA holder) with extensive experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in writing, rhetoric, and research in Iran, Cyprus, and Oman.
Bakhtiar’s research interests are centered around writing pedagogy and curriculum in English-as-a-foreign-language contexts. His work has been published in top-tier peer-reviewed international journals, including The Journal of Second Language Writing, The Curriculum Journal, and The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. Recently, Bakhtiar has joined the editorial board of The Journal of Second Language Writing, where he hopes to promote research and foster productive conversations with practitioners, teachers, and scholars on issues related to second and foreign language writing in the Central Asian context. Currently, he is working on the incorporation of self-regulated learning and feedback practices into formal writing classes.
Bakhtiar’s research interests are centered around writing pedagogy and curriculum in English-as-a-foreign-language contexts. His work has been published in top-tier peer-reviewed international journals, including The Journal of Second Language Writing, The Curriculum Journal, and The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. Recently, Bakhtiar has joined the editorial board of The Journal of Second Language Writing, where he hopes to promote research and foster productive conversations with practitioners, teachers, and scholars on issues related to second and foreign language writing in the Central Asian context. Currently, he is working on the incorporation of self-regulated learning and feedback practices into formal writing classes.
Olga Campbell-Thomson
Dr Olga Campbell-Thomson trained as a language teacher (English and German) before obtaining her Master’s degrees in Linguistics and Speech Communication in the United States of America. Her Doctoral studies were based at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
Over the past thirty years, her career has encompassed research and teaching in the multilingual and multicultural environments of the United States, Cyprus, Qatar and the United Kingdom.
Research Interests: She has an enduring interest in language education and her current research is focused on the history of modern foreign language teaching.
Over the past thirty years, her career has encompassed research and teaching in the multilingual and multicultural environments of the United States, Cyprus, Qatar and the United Kingdom.
Research Interests: She has an enduring interest in language education and her current research is focused on the history of modern foreign language teaching.
Fariza Tolesh
Fariza Tolesh is an interdisciplinary scholar and educator whose work bridges economics, politics, and education. She holds a PhD in Education from Nazarbayev University, an MA in Applied Data Analytics from Astana IT University, and an MA in Demography from Charles University in Prague. Fariza has led and collaborated on international research projects with the University of Sussex, Ulster University, producing work on language policy, migration, and labour market integration. She has extensive experience mentoring students in research methods, academic writing, and data analysis, and is committed to fostering critical thinking and global perspectives.
Research Interests Her research interests include using big data to study social phenomena, exploring social media as a site for political expression and civic engagement, and conducting multidisciplinary research at the intersection of economics, politics, and education, with a particular focus on Central Asia.
Research Interests Her research interests include using big data to study social phenomena, exploring social media as a site for political expression and civic engagement, and conducting multidisciplinary research at the intersection of economics, politics, and education, with a particular focus on Central Asia.
Carlos Abaunza
Carlos Abaunza is an international educator who holds degrees in the humanities and social sciences (BA in Education, MA in Literature, MA in Sociocultural Analysis, Ph.D. in Sociology and Anthropology, postdoctoral fellowship in Migration and Refugee Studies).
Carlos has over 25 years of teaching experience in several public and private institutions in Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and more recently the North of Africa. His research and publications mostly focus on migration issues, human development, and identity, inequality, and multilingualism in Central America and the Caribbean. Carlos is also an international consultant in the areas of knowledge management and migration governance for higher education institutions and international organizations, respectively.
Research Interests: International migration and development, migration governance; globalization, identity, and violence; performance poetry, subalternity, and dissent; academic writing and research methodologies, and AI in education.
Carlos has over 25 years of teaching experience in several public and private institutions in Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and more recently the North of Africa. His research and publications mostly focus on migration issues, human development, and identity, inequality, and multilingualism in Central America and the Caribbean. Carlos is also an international consultant in the areas of knowledge management and migration governance for higher education institutions and international organizations, respectively.
Research Interests: International migration and development, migration governance; globalization, identity, and violence; performance poetry, subalternity, and dissent; academic writing and research methodologies, and AI in education.
Andrew Gordon Drybrough
Andrew Gordon Drybrough completed an undergraduate degree and postgraduate teaching certificate (PGCE) in Geography in the UK. He taught Geography in secondary schools and worked in a bank before returning to teach English language in private schools in the UK. After teaching undergraduates English in South Korea (2007-2012), he completed an MSc in TESOL (2013) and then taught academic English and educational research methods to master’s students, before, during and after studying his PhD in Education (2019) at the University of Edinburgh (UK). He worked at the Graduate School of Education (GSE) at Nazarbayev University (NU) from 2022 before joining the Writing Center in 2025. He has published conference papers and journal articles on translanguaging, critical thinking and academic writing, and has been the faculty advisor on the NU GSE Research in Education (NUGSERiE) in-house journal since 2023.
Samira Esat
Samira Esat received her training as an ESOL Education Specialist, - graduating with a PGCE from the Institute of Education, University of London. Before coming to Nazarbayev University, she taught English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at the University of Leeds. Prior to this, she has taught various strands of English courses within different settings and environments such as the British Council, Sudan and other UK Institutions. She also worked as a freelance content writer for various internet companies. Samira also received extensive training in Broadcast Journalism as a radio journalist for BBC World Service, BBC London and various other media outlets both in Radio & Television. Samira hopes that her diverse expertise will prove beneficial to students and faculty at Nazarbayev University.
Spencer Harrison
Spencer Harrison served as Fulbright ETA at Karaganda Buketov University in Kazakhstan where he offered writing tutorials including for applications to exchange programs, prepped students for exchange programs to the U.S., created a community writing center, and assisted in the establishment of a university writing center. Spencer has an MA in English literature from the University of Illinois Chicago, an MS from St. John’s University (NYC), and a BA in English and World Literature from Pitzer College. Spencer has led numerous workshops/presentations at international writing center conferences.
As an international educator, Spencer primarily focuses on translingual communication practices to aid in the intercultural transition that participants of cross-border education exchange programs undergo.
As an international educator, Spencer primarily focuses on translingual communication practices to aid in the intercultural transition that participants of cross-border education exchange programs undergo.
Gianfranco Languasco
Gianfranco Languasco holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso and a bachelor in Communication from the Universidad de San Martin de Porres. He has worked in media environments as a journalist, served as one of the editors for the bilingual art and literature magazine Río Grande Review, and was a member of the editorial board of the Revista de Literatura Mexicana Contemporánea (Journal of Contemporary Mexican Literature). In Literature, he appeared in the narrative anthology "El Tanatonauta" (Bisagra Editores, 2011) and also published the short story collection "Dirty Sexy Money: cuentos" (Casatomada, 2012).
He has taught creative writing (fiction and non-fiction), English composition, Spanish language and culture, aligned reading and comprehension and media writing courses during his time in Texas, Chicago, Wuxi (China) and Lima (Peru).
Research interests: Latin American and Latino culture in the US. Latin American Films. Film theory. Urban studies. Subaltern studies. Media studies. Foreign Languages. Latin American Tradition. Writing and Composition. Narrative Theory & Poetics.
He has taught creative writing (fiction and non-fiction), English composition, Spanish language and culture, aligned reading and comprehension and media writing courses during his time in Texas, Chicago, Wuxi (China) and Lima (Peru).
Research interests: Latin American and Latino culture in the US. Latin American Films. Film theory. Urban studies. Subaltern studies. Media studies. Foreign Languages. Latin American Tradition. Writing and Composition. Narrative Theory & Poetics.
Ian Peterkin
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: ian.peterkin@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.413
Email: ian.peterkin@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.413
Ian Peterkin has an MFA in creative and professional writing from Western Connecticut State University. He previously taught in the United States, China, and Dubai. His short stories and poems have appeared in several literary journals, most notably The Río Grande Review, Soliloquies, and Tenth Street Miscellany. He is currently working on film projects.
Adam Hefty
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: adam.hefty@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.411
Email: adam.hefty@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.411
Adam Hefty holds a Ph.D. in History of Consciousness and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As an undergraduate, he studied at Harvard University (Philosophy and Government) and Deep Springs College. He participated in a working group at the University of California Humanities Research Institute and was a Fulbright Scholar in El Salvador. He taught interdisciplinary, humanities-based courses for seven years in California before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2014. He worked as a professor in a core curriculum program there for ten years; his teaching areas of focus included writing, critical thinking, self-assessment, and communication skills.
His research interests include genealogies of social problems and philosophical abstractions implicit in everyday "common sense." His interlocutors and methodology are based in philosophy, critical theory, cultural studies, and materialist feminism. He is currently completing a book manuscript entitled "Labor and Lamentation, from Acedia to Late Modern Alienation and Depression," which is under contract with Verso Books. He has written for topical and collaborative blogs and analytical magazines outside of the academy as well as for academic journals.
Outside of the classroom, he can often be found chasing his son, who enjoys running up and down ramps and admiring heavy construction machinery.
His research interests include genealogies of social problems and philosophical abstractions implicit in everyday "common sense." His interlocutors and methodology are based in philosophy, critical theory, cultural studies, and materialist feminism. He is currently completing a book manuscript entitled "Labor and Lamentation, from Acedia to Late Modern Alienation and Depression," which is under contract with Verso Books. He has written for topical and collaborative blogs and analytical magazines outside of the academy as well as for academic journals.
Outside of the classroom, he can often be found chasing his son, who enjoys running up and down ramps and admiring heavy construction machinery.
Gulden Issina
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: gulden.issina@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.406
Email: gulden.issina@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.406
Gulden Issina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English in 2008 and began her teaching career the same year. She joined the Professional Development Programme at Nazarbayev University in 2011, and from 2010 to 2024 worked in the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools system. She completed her Master’s degree in Leadership in Education at Nazarbayev University in 2016 and earned her second higher education degree as a Teacher of Geography and History in 2023. Gulden has 11 years of experience in the International Baccalaureate (IB) system as an MYP/DP English teacher, Personal Project Coordinator, Middle Years Programme Coordinator, IB Workshop Leader, and IB Examiner. In 2024–2025, she worked as a Leadership Instructor in the Centre for Preparatory Studies at NU. Her teaching focuses on developing academic writing, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Research Interests: Leadership; Collaboration; Writing Pedagogy and Academic Integrity.
Research Interests: Leadership; Collaboration; Writing Pedagogy and Academic Integrity.
Joy Ross
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: jc.ross@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4...
Email: jc.ross@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4...
Joy Ross...
Benjamin Gibbon
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: benjamin.gibbon@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.
Email: benjamin.gibbon@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.
Benjamin Gibbon began his teaching career in 2012 after completing a BA in International Relations and Peace Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University. He went on to earn an MA in TESOL from the University of Hull in 2020. He has taught English in a wide range of international contexts, including the UK, Libya, Iraq, and China, working with students from beginner to advanced levels. His experience covers general English, IELTS/TOEFL exam preparation, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP), with a particular focus on rhetoric, research skills, and critical thinking. He has also designed curricula and assessments, managed academic programs, and developed innovative approaches to online learning.
Nurly Marshal
Position: WCP Instructor
Email: nurly.marshal@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.401
Email: nurly.marshal@nu.edu.kz
Office: 4.401
Nurly Marshal believes that writing is never just about words on a page. It is always shaped by people, cultures, and the contexts in which it happens. She earned her Master’s degree in Multilingual Education from Nazarbayev University and has taught English in diverse settings, including general, business, specific purposes, and academic English. Her teaching is grounded in international standards yet remains responsive to the realities of multilingual learners. Nurly has engaged with many forms of writing, such as academic essays, research articles, project reports, safeguarding policies, comics projects, and community initiatives across both formal and informal education. She has taught at Nazarbayev University and Coventry University Kazakhstan, and her fellowship in Chicago deepened her expertise in community-centered writing and learning.
Research Interests: Her research interests include trilingual education, teacher agency, multiliteracies, and reflective writing. She enjoys helping students see writing not only as a skill but as a powerful way to connect ideas, identities, and communities.
Research Interests: Her research interests include trilingual education, teacher agency, multiliteracies, and reflective writing. She enjoys helping students see writing not only as a skill but as a powerful way to connect ideas, identities, and communities.
© 2023 Writing Center Program
Contact Info
+7 (7172) 69 48 12 -------- +7 (7172) 70 47 33
Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 53, Astana, Kazakhstan
