Joan Rosen, professor emerita of English, and her husband Robert (left), made a $300,000 grant that helped establish the new writing center. OU President Gary Russi (right) dedicated the Joan Rosen Writing Studio on Oct. 23.

The Joan Rosen Writing Studio, located in Kresge Library, provides a place for Oakland University students to hone their writing skills under the direction of Interim Director Jeanie Robertson and the peer writing consultants who provide support and guidance. The studio was officially dedicated on Monday, Oct. 23 in the name of Joan Rosen, one of the strongest supporters of OU’s writing programs.

“The writing center is something we have hoped to achieve for the Oakland University community for several years now,” said OU President Gary Russi. “Writing skills are important in every facet of a student’s life, and it is our goal to make sure that every Oakland graduate has the writing skills they need to communicate effectively and succeed in the workplace.”

Joan Rosen, professor emerita of English, and her husband Robert, made a $300,000 grant that helped establish the new writing center. As a professor of English at Oakland University in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Rosen served as the director of OU’s original writing center. Budget constraints caused the center to close in the late ‘70s and Rosen was determined to bring the vital resource back to campus.

“This gift is just the latest symbol of the depth of her commitment to the teaching of writing and communications,” said Russi. “It is the generous support of alumni and friends that will make the Oakland University Writing Center an even larger presence on campus.”

The center began serving students in early 2006. During the first five weeks of the fall semester, 14 writing consultants worked with 645 students. The center has seen an increase in student visitors from 80 the first week to 175 the fifth week.

“We are already providing a significant service to students,” said Virinder Moudgil, vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “And we look forward to the services that the center hopes to offer the broader community in the future.”

The Joan Rosen Writing Studio is located on the first floor of Kresge Library on the north side of the building. At the dedication, a plaque was placed on the wall, permanently thanking the Rosens.

The studio is adorned with a mural that was painted by OU students from the organization La Pittura and designed by art and English senior Casey Conlon. A student in Professor Lynn Galbreath Fausone’s illustration class, Conlon, along with the rest of the class, submitted a proposal for a mural for the center.

An active member of La Pittura, Conlon feels like the mural has allowed him to leave a lasting mark at Oakland.

“It was a lot of hard work to complete the painting in the time frame but it was a great experience,” said Conlon, who worked on the painting for a week and half before the dedication.

Conlon plans to study art in graduate school after discovering his artistic side last winter. As an English major, Conlon tried to follow in an uncle’s footsteps and minor in journalism but it wasn’t for him. He kept the major but changed his minor to photography before taking drawing and painting classes that convinced him to switch his minor to art.

“Thinking back to just a few years ago, it’s amazing how much has changed. I didn’t really care about art at all. It’s become my passion now,” Conlon said.

The Writing Center provides support to all OU students and helps the students get more out of the writing process. Writing consultants are available at the Joan Rosen Writing Studio in the Kresge Library on Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A satellite site, located in 117 East Vandenberg Hall provides consultation services from Sunday through Wednesday from 7 to 10 p.m.

For more information on the Oakland University Writing Center, visit the Writing Center Web site or call (248) 370-3120.