Dr. Becca Cassady, Director
Dr. Becca Cassady joined the Graduate School in 2022 as the Dissertation, Thesis, and Graduate Writing Center Program Director. In her current role, she directs a team of graduate writing consultants from across disciplines as they work with students on their writing and publications, offering feedback on writing projects and helping foster effective writing and publication habits. She also oversees Technical Reviews and assists graduate students in crossing the finish line as they format, finalize, and publish their theses and dissertations.
Before joining the Graduate School, Becca earned her PhD in English with a concentration in rhetoric and composition from Baylor. She has taught in various capacities in Baylor’s English Department and Honors College, first as a graduate student and then as a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow. Her research interests include learning transfer, writing center theory, and literacy.
Becky Presnall, Coordinator
Becky Presnall is a second-year PhD student in the Department of English specializing in Middle English Arthurian Literature and Classical Reception in Children’s Novels. She completed her BA in English with a concentration in Medieval Languages before coming to Baylor University to pursue her Master’s in Medieval Literary Reception. In addition to her role as the Graduate Writing Center Coordinator, Becky has also taught English 1310 for the English department and serves as the Doctoral Administrative Fellow for the Graduate School. Outside of the office, you can usually find her hosting movie nights with friends, reading books, watercolor painting, or taking long walks with her corgi, Bertie.
Joyce Chang, Consultant
Joyce Chang is a sixth year PhD student in the department of Sociology at Baylor University. Her research centers Asian Americans in the race and assimilation discourse with a special attention on the role of religion on Asian American belonging. Additional research topics include racial attitudes, social movements, religious switching and Asian diaspora. Born and raised in California, Joyce attended the University of Southern California where she majored in communication and religion. Upon graduating, she enrolled in Fuller Seminary to pursue a Master of Arts in Theology and in Intercultural Studies. Joyce is passionate about empowering others to discover their voice — either through speaking or writing. If she is not seen teaching undergraduates in the Sociology department, one may find her hosting college ministry hangouts at her house, planning events or learning to cook a new dish!
Caroline Franks, Consultant
Caroline Franks is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her research interests are in aphasia and quality of life, specifically using the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia as a philosophy to guide her research. She hopes that her research empowers and strengthens those who need support in conversation and daily life. Before her time at Baylor, Caroline attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders and her Master of Science degree in Communicative Disorders. Along with her position as a Graduate Writing Center Consultant, Caroline is a Graduate Research Assistant, in which she works alongside her mentor to complete various research and teaching tasks. In her free time, Caroline enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping for new clothes, and experiencing new coffee shops!
Wemimo Jaiyesimi, Consultant
Wemimo Bright Jaiyesimi is a fourth-year PhD student in the theology and ethics concentration at Baylor University’s department of religion. Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Wemimo completed his bachelor’s degree in economics at Lagos State University before going on to earn a Master of Divinity in theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to moving to Waco in the fall of 2021, Wemimo spent three years in Wales, UK, as a research student in the professional doctorate in interfaith studies program at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter. Wemimo has taught and supported undergraduate and graduate classes both at Baylor and in the UK. His research focuses, broadly speaking, on questions of religion in public life. Wemimo is married to his sweetheart, Amara. Passionate about football (“soccer”) and an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona, Wemimo still feels terrible that Lionel Messi left the club.
Nolan Reisen, Consultant
Nolan Reisen is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in the department of Political Science at Baylor University. Originally from Iowa, Nolan completed his undergraduate education at Kenyon College with a degree in Political Science. Before coming to Baylor, he worked for two years at a law firm in Washington, D.C. and later completed a Masters in Liberal Arts at St. John’s College. His research focuses on Plato and ancient Greek political thought, particularly on the relationship between the desires of an individual and the duties imposed by political society. To this end, he has been studying the Ancient Greek language for over three years. Nolan is quite passionate about his studies and has enjoyed teaching at Baylor immensely. When not studying, he enjoys hiking, reading fantasy and science fiction, and hanging out with friends.
Megan Woodyard, Consultant
Megan Woodyard is a fifth-year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Science, with research interests surrounding applying advanced computational statistics to ecotoxicology. Megan earned her undergraduate degrees in Statistics, English, and History and a Master’s degree in Applied Biological Sciences at Arizona State University before attending Baylor, which contributed to her passion for working and writing across disciplines. She has worked as a writing tutor as an undergraduate and guides the substantial writing component of Baylor’s exciting ENV 3310 class. Outside of work, Megan loves reading romance novels and playing trivia games.