Meet the Learning Support Team
Click a name below to learn more about each specialist or schedule an appointment:
| Leadership and Administrators | |
|---|---|
| Kellie Zaremba | Kevin Sparrow |
| Maleek Richardson | Rachel Stephens |
| Graduate Writing Specialists | ELL Specialist | Computer Skills & Technology Literacy Specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alverio | Nichole DelValley | Benjamin Page |
| Mary Ellen O'Hara |
Meet our Leadership Team:
Kellie Zaremba (they/them/theirs)
Associate Director of Learning Support
Kellie (they/them/theirs) has a decade of experience teaching writing at both the high school and undergraduate levels. Patient and understanding, Kellie prides themself on helping to push students to develop and expand on their written communication skills. A New England native, Kellie holds a B.A. in English Literature from Trinity College, a M.A.T. in Secondary English Education from Tufts University, and a M.S. in Written Communication from NLU. In her free time, they enjoy camping with friends, cooking, cross stitch, reading, checking out local literary and LGBTQ+ events, and fostering dogs. Email: kzaremba1@nl.edu.
Kevin Sparrow (they/them/theirs)
Department Manager
Kevin Sparrow (they/them/theirs) has been working professionally as a writer, editor, and educator since 2008 and with National Louis since 2016. They received an MFA in Writing from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received the 2014-15 MFAW Teaching Fellowship from SAIC. They also work with different theatre groups in the city as a playwright and Literary Manager. Kevin enjoys both creative and academic writing, and they love to help other people develop their writing skills and their voices.
Email: ksparrow1@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Kevin.
Maleek Richardson (he/him/his)
STEM Manager
Maleek Richardson (he/him/his) has worked as a mathematics tutor since 2013. From Algebra and Calculus to Partial Differential Equations and Analysis, he has helped many students succeed in their most challenging courses. In 2017, Maleek graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Since then, he has tutored hundreds of students to succeed in their math classes and continues to do so at NLU with pride! When he is not doing math, Maleek enjoys spending time with friends, traveling and eating food from around the world, and playing video games.
Email: mrichardson14@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Maleek.
Meet our Math and Computer Science Specialists:
Michael Ordower (he/him/his)
Senior Math Support Specialist
As someone who used to be "bad at math," Michael (he/him/his) now understands that "bad at math" is an illusion. He believes that nearly everyone (including you, dear reader) is secretly a mathematical genius lying dormant. Accordingly, Michael has accepted the following mission: to help students conquer feelings of mathematical inadequacy. He has an MEd in Learning Sciences Education, with a concentration in Mathematics Education (National Louis University, 2024); a BA in mathematics and Spanish (Amherst College, 2015); and a BS in computer science (University of Illinois at Chicago, 2020). He has worked on and off as an educator since his sophomore year of high school, both privately and through various academic institutions. His hobbies include doodling, playing guitar, and providing unsolicited life advice to friends and family.
Email: mordower@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Michael.
Dhruvil Prajapati (he/him/his)
Math & Computer Science Support Specialist
Dhruvil Prajapati (he/him/his) is a Math & Computer Science Support Specialist with NLU Learning Support. To contact Dhruvil, see the links below.
Email: dprajapati@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Dhruvil.
Benjamin Page (he/him/his)
Computer Science & Technology Literacy Specialist
Benjamin (he/him/his) has more than five years of experience as an educator. He received a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Information Systems from NLU, with substantial work in Elementary Education as well. He is enthusiastic about coding and troubleshooting computers, and he is passionate about teaching and explaining concepts from the ground up.
Email: bpage5@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Benjamin.
Galen Turoci (he/him/his)
Math & Computer Science Support Specialist
Galen Turoci (he/him/his) got his degree in Computer Game Design from UC Santa Cruz, in the process becoming highly proficient in the fields of computer science, math, teamwork, and written & verbal communication. He has had a passion for game development since he was little, and spends much of his free time working on game projects in the hopes of becoming a self-employed independent game developer. His other hobbies include playing games, practicing archery, and training in Krav Maga. He has two wonderful cats, Phantom and Guenhwyvar, that he will show you pictures of if you ask.
Meet our Writing and English Specialists:
Carlos Alverio (he/him/his)
Senior Writing Support Specialist
Carlos’ (he/him/his) passion for putting words on paper led to his earning a BA in Professional Writing and an MFA in Creative Writing. This in turn has kept him traveling between the creative arts and academia. He has developed projects for graphic novel publishers, video game designers, and literary journals. Carlos’ time in academia includes work with Columbia College, Northwestern University, the Chicago City Colleges, and Instituto del Progreso Latino. In recent years, he has branched out into developmental editing, helping to guide non-fiction books to reach publication. These diverse experiences fuel his love of words to both feed and challenge the imagination. Promoting multi-culturalism, self-advocacy, and critical thinking are all core values he looks forward to bringing to his work with the Graduate scholars of National Louis University.
Moon Abbott (they/them/theirs/he/him/his)
Writing Support Specialist
Moon Abbott (they/them/theirs/he/him/his) is a non-binary creative with a focus in writing and filmmaking currently based in Chicago, IL but originally from the metro-Detroit area. Their creative work often examines the concepts of gender and sexuality from various, authentic, and historical perspectives. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema Art + Science with a Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Their portfolio includes a plethora of award-winning short films, screenplays, stage plays, and published articles and analyses. They are also the co-founder of a Chicago-based film festival called New Generation Filmmakers Forum. Moon was recently voted Best Filmmaker 2025 in the Chicago Reader.
MJ Dean (they/them/theirs)
Writing Support Specialist
MJ Dean (they/them/theirs) is a Chicago-based writer and educator. They earned their MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing from DePaul University in 2023 and have previously tutored writing at the College of DuPage. Their work has been published or is forthcoming in RHINO Poetry, Hooligan Magazine, Poetry East, and elsewhere. In their free time, MJ enjoys scouring Chicago for the best breakfast spots, watching Lake Michigan, and playing the bass guitar. MJ is a co-founder of the Family Resemblance performance series and a collaborator with Exhibit B: A Literary Variety Show.
Nichole DelValley (she/her/hers)
ELL and Writing Support Specialist
Nichole (she/her/hers) has been an educator since 2012, working primarily with ELLs. She has taught English subjects to undergraduates at universities in China; grammar and writing courses at an English language institute in Peru; and English literature, language arts, and humanities at the high-school level in Taiwan and Seattle. She has also taught English subjects online and designed an Indigenous-based-and-experiential after-school program in Maui, HI. Before coming to NLU, Nichole worked remotely as a copy editor for nurse writers, editing blog content, whitepapers, and nursing courses. Nichole has a bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Illinois and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington, focusing on Multicultural Education. She's passionate about designing English curricula centered on culturally sustaining pedagogies. Nichole enjoys exploring nature in her free time—swimming, paddling, snorkeling, and hiking. An avid traveler, Nichole has lived abroad most of her adult life and traveled throughout Asia and South and Central America. She loves trying different foods, hiking across diverse landscapes, and immersing herself in new cultures everywhere she goes.
Email: ndelvalley@nl.edu.
Schedule an appointment with Nichole.
Nina Marjanovic (she/her/hers) Writing Support Specialist
Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, Nina (she/her/hers) moved to the United States to pursue her tennis and academic career. As an undergraduate student, she double majored in Political Science and International Studies, with a minor in Sociology. She recently graduated from Bradley University with a Master of Arts degree in English. She also worked as a graduate assistant at the Bradley University Writing Center, where she helped students improve their writing skills. In her free time, Nina enjoys spending time with her family, taking long walks with her husband and dog, and sipping on hot coffee while binge-watching her favorite shows.
Email: nmarjanovic@nl.edu
Schedule an appointment with Nina.
Mary Ellen O'Hara (she/her/hers) Writing Support Specialist
Mary Ellen (she/her/hers) is an academic and theatre director. Originally from the coast of Maine, Mary Ellen has pursued her interests in theatre and writing through master's degrees at the University of Iowa; Trinity College, Dublin; and Bowling Green State University. In Chicago, she taught academic writing for several years at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as North Park University. Mary Ellen can’t remember a time when she didn’t enjoy teaching. She began teaching neurodiverse students at fourteen; later, she worked with students in the gifted and talented program teaching writing and drama. As an undergraduate, she conducted acting workshops and ran a theatre company. Since then, she has never stopped in her passion to help students realize their unique and remarkable potential. Currently, Mary Ellen is researching and writing a book of creative non-fiction.
Email: mohara6@nl.edu
Schedule an appointment with Mary Ellen.
Testimonials
"Maleek was always going above and beyond to explain the material in different ways when I didn’t understand."
"Benjamin was absolutely amazing. Ben quickly helped me figure out how to solve my issues and was very polite. He is a legend."
"I am constantly growing and evolving in my writing because of Moon. My GPA is good because of what Moon brings to the table."
"I have a confession: I think I'm starting to like math. I wish I had met Michael twelve years ago -- he would have helped me enjoy the subject a lot more."
"Nichole was extremely helpful and went above and beyond to help me understand the directions for the assignment by doing her own research and helping me construct an APA paper. She was patient and kind and made me feel very comfortable as she guided me through the process."
