When students run into trouble with writing assignments, they can easily find assistance and receive direction from the staff at the Center for Writing. But, until this year, faculty facing the same issues had little access to one-on-one writing help.

This semester, professors can turn to the newly hired Mary Reichardt for help with all aspects of professional and academic writing.

The university has offered a faculty writing program for years, but it did not feature a personalized, one-on-one approach. Reichart plans to focus more on the individual needs of faculty writers.

“I do, essentially, what the writing center does for students, but for faculty,” Reichardt said. “It’s really necessary because writing is a skill that is never done.”

Reichardt will assist faculty members with anything from journal articles to grant-writing and resumes, and work with whomever needs her assistance.

Xiaowen Guan, a communication and journalism professor, worked on her grant-writing skills with Reichardt in spring of 2015. Guan said it was helpful to work on these skills with a professional.

“Grant-writing is an important transferable skill for faculty but none of us really received any formal training during graduate school,” Guan said. “In this sense, Mary’s one-on-one writing development is so valuable.”

Another part of Reichardt’s job includes helping faculty whose native language is not English.

“Imagine writing in a language that isn’t native to you. It’s challenging, even more so in a professional, academic setting,” Reichardt said.

Reichardt is currently the only person on staff with her position but is hopeful that her work will expand as faculty begin to reach out.

“We want faculty to know that we’re here and we’re free,” Reichardt said. “Writing is a difficult skill and we are here to help.”

Whitney Oachs can be reached at oach5325@stthomas.edu.