About Dr. Leslie
Experienced, thoughtful support for every stage of the writing process.
How I Became a Writing Teacher
I grew up in New Jersey and studied English and Political Science with a minor in writing at Drew University. After earning a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, I worked as a writer and editor for several publications.
I also spent five years as an Admissions Coordinator at Columbia’s journalism school, where I read graduate applications and personal statements from the other side of the desk. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of what makes writing have an impact.
I later earned a Ph.D. in English, specializing in writing studies. For more than twenty years, I have taught composition, literature, business writing, journalism, and personal narrative at the college level, both in person and online. I have worked with thousands of student drafts, helping writers at all levels find their footing, develop their ideas, and strengthen their work.
I have also published on writing instruction and presented at national conferences on how thoughtful, supportive teaching can help students become more confident and independent writers.
Why I Teach Writing
I love the moment when a draft stops sounding like what the writer thinks they are supposed to say and starts sounding like them. Whether we are working on a personal statement, literary analysis, or research paper, my job is to help each writer develop that voice and shape their ideas into a clear, meaningful piece.
Good writing instruction goes beyond correcting grammar or polishing a single assignment. Students need a process they can use again. I help writers generate ideas, organize their thoughts, develop a clear focus, support their points, and revise with purpose.
Scholarship & Teaching Philosophy
I am a published scholar in writing studies. My chapter, 'Critical Pedagogy and the Composition Classroom: Searching for a Middle Ground Between Epistemological Despair and Radical Hope,' appears in Self + Culture + Writing: Autoethnography for/as Writing Studies(Utah State University Press, 2021).
My research focuses on how students develop voice, confidence, and critical thinking through writing. I bring these same evidence-based methods to every 1-on-1 coaching session.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
My approach is friendly, direct, and collaborative. I meet writers where they are, ask questions that help them clarify what they want to say, and offer honest, encouraging feedback.
Depending on the writer and the assignment, we may work on:
Finding a meaningful topic or direction
Developing a thesis or central idea
Organizing the essay
Choosing details and evidence
Strengthening paragraphs and transitions
Preserving the writer’s natural voice
Revising sentences for clarity
Correcting patterns in grammar and mechanics
We begin with the ideas and structure, then consider voice and tone, and finally address grammar, formatting, and other sentence-level concerns. This helps writers revise thoughtfully instead of trying to fix everything at once.
Students remain the authors of their own work. I do not write or rewrite essays for them. I provide the questions, instruction, feedback, and tools they need to make their own decisions and become more independent writers.
From New Jersey to Hawaiʻi
I now live in Kailua, Hawaiʻi, where I have also taught high school English Language Arts. This recent classroom experience keeps me connected to standards-aligned assignments, the expectations high school students face, and the support they need to grow as writers.
I continue to have strong ties to New York and Northern New Jersey. All coaching sessions take place online through one-on-one video meetings, allowing me to work with students across time zones.
Credentials at a Glance
🎓 Ph.D. in English with a specialization in writing studies
📰 M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
📚 More than twenty years of college writing instruction
🏫 High school English Language Arts teaching experience
✍️ Extensive experience teaching personal narrative
💻 Professional writing and editing experience
📄 Five years reading graduate applications and personal statements
📖 Published author on writing instruction
🎤 Presenter at national academic conferences