Administrative Staff - Writing Center
Leigh Ann Dunning, PhD
Director of the Writing Program and Director of the Writing Center
Leigh Ann Dunning has spent her life writing and her career teaching writing. Under her leadership, the Writing Center has expanded significantly, offering tutoring in writing, information literacy, research, speaking, intercultural competence, and generative AI. Leigh Ann is widely recognized for mentoring tutors and creating opportunities for undergraduate research and professional development.
Her scholarship focuses on writing center studies, peer tutoring, and emerging technologies in writing. Recent publications include “Centering AI Literacy: Exploring Brazilian International Students’ Perceptions of ChatGPT and Peer Tutoring” in The Writing Center Journal and “‘Will AI Steal My Glory?’: Power Relations Perceived by College Instructors When Grappling with Generative AI” in the Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching.
She earned her doctorate in Composition and TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking Italian food and spending time outdoors hiking and biking with her husband and three children.
Tinghan Xuxia, PhD
Assistant Director of the Writing Center and Brown Visiting Teacher-Scholar in Writing Studies
Inspired by her PhD advisor, Mary Jane Curry, Tinghan has been exploring the writing practices of users of English as an additional language (EAL) and the reality of multilingualism in global academia through the lens of social and linguistic justice. After earning her bachelor’s degree in English, she pursued a master’s degree in TESOL at the University of Southern California, followed by a PhD in Teaching and Curriculum at the University of Rochester.
As an English as an EAL teacher and writing instructor, she has been working with students from marginalized groups throughout her career. Such experiences have made her a strong supporter of culturally responsive pedagogy, who values students’ expertise and real-life experiences and is devoted to creating a safe and inclusive learning community for all. Before joining Stetson, she served as the Coordinator of Writing Support Services and Assistant Director of Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring Services.
In her personal life, she enjoys traveling, reading mystery and detective stories, watching documentaries, and bird- and dog-watching.