Dr. Joel Benabu is an experienced writing specialist and educator with a Doctorate in the field of Shakespeare Studies from the University of Toronto. With over 10 years of teaching experience, in many of UofT writing centres, he has expertise with a variety of genres and disciplinary conventions. Dr. Benabu's goal is for his students to take ownership of their writing and develop their unique voices.

David holds a PhD in English (Rhetoric and Writing Studies) from the University of Alberta. David has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the United States and Canada. Originally from California, David has taught writing, critical thinking, and research methods courses at San Diego State and CSU Monterey Bay, the University of Alberta, and the University of Toronto.

David's research interests include Abolitionist rhetoric, Rhetoric and mobility and writing pedagogy. In his free time, he enjoys boxing, exploring new coffee shops in the city and spending time with his family. 

Marvin holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, specializing in teaching and research in Language and Communication, Discourse Studies, English for Academic and Specific Purposes, and Linguistics. His professional experience includes roles as a grant-maker and project manager, where he honed his skills in corporate communication within the philanthropy sector.

Currently, Marvin serves as a writing instructor at the Health Sciences Writing Centre, the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, and the Centre for Professional Skills at Rotman Commerce. He also teaches the undergraduate course "Writing for University and Beyond" at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Nina has been instructing in several writing centres and departments at U of T since 2013, providing instruction in various disciplines and pursuits with a focus on scientific and academic accuracy. She is an award-winning author of over a dozen novels and non-fiction books and she brings this background to her work with students: addressing aspects of clarity from narrative flow and thematic continuity to active voice. She has been teaching fiction writing courses to students wishing to publish for over two decades. Her short stories have been published and translated into several languages throughout the world, including: Apex Magazine, subTerrain Magazine, Metastellar, Nova Magazine, Delos Digital, Mincione Edizioni, among others. Nina holds an M.Sc. degree in ecology/limnology and has published numerous papers in scientific journals on her environmental research. As a scientist, she designed and facilitated training courses, workshops and seminars in environmental management and environmental education to industry, academia, private sector and government.

Nina is a professional photographer and has been actively blogging since 2007; her site TheMeaningOfWater.com, which attracts over 2000 views weekly, explores ecological phenomena and issues. Her site NinaMunteanu.me is devoted to all aspects of writing and storytelling.

Nina is fluent in English and has a good understanding of French, German, and Romanian.

Roz Spafford did graduate work at San Francisco State University, focusing on creative writing; there she also completed a certificate program in teaching writing and participated in three-year program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEXA) developing curricula at the intersection of science and humanities. She has taught writing at the Health Sciences Writing Centre since 2012, working particularly but not only with Social Work students; she also has worked at the New College Writing Centre since 2010. Previously, she taught writing and chaired the Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she still occasionally teaches creative writing. She has published a book of poetry, Requiem (Writers & Books, Rochester), along with short stories, pieces of creative non-fiction, book reviews, and columns. For more information, see www.RozSpafford.com.