Skip to main content
Family, Home and Social Sciences
FHSS Writing

About the FHSS Writing Lab

About the FHSS Writing Lab
Our Advisors
Preparing for a visit

The FHSS Writing Lab is a free writing service that assists students within the BYU College of Family, Home and Social Sciences. Our advisors are friendly undergraduate students from a variety of social science disciplines who have extensive writing experience and are trained in teaching writing. We offer individual, face-to-face sessions where we serve to help students become better writers by focusing on the global aspects of writing, such as thesis construction, organization, transitions, idea development, logical coherence, style, and argument clarity. Students can walk in or schedule an appointment via email or telephone, or by reserving a time online. We welcome writers and their papers at any stage in the writing process.​

The advisors in the FHSS Writing Lab are undergraduate students from a wide variety of disciplines within the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences. They have been chosen as staff members based on their writing experience and tutoring skills. Each advisor has an individual approach, but all have the same goal: to help students better understand an​d enjoy the writing process.

Our Writing Advisors

data-content-type=""

Chris Bahr

Chris (St. Clair County, AL) is a political science major whose political views will always happen to be the opposite of what you’re arguing for. Put a book in front of him and he will probably read it, be it Machiavelli's The Prince or Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. When reading and writing aren’t occupying his time, he may be found making maps, playing strategic games, or wandering campus with a faraway look in his eyes. He hopes to work as a political analyst studying predictors of success for rebellions and revolutions, and also to prove ultimately that milk chocolate is the best chocolate. In the meantime, writing is a human art he’s happy to spend his time with.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Brooklyn Barlow

Brooklyn (Huntington Beach, California) is currently a Psychology major and an International Development minor. Her goal is to either become a school psychologist or be a trauma psychologist for a humanitarian fund following graduate school. She served her mission in Gilbert, Arizona, and then made it to her original assignment in João Pessoa, Brazil. She loves long walks on the beach, binge watching Netflix, dancing in the kitchen, and serving on BYUSA when she is not working at the writing lab. She enjoys traveling, watching football, learning new cultures and languages, and making sure that people know that they are loved and valued. She can often be found hanging out with friends and trying to find the best places to eat in Utah, so if you have any recommendations, stop by!
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Nathan Bean

Nathan (Duvall, Washington) is a history major and sociology minor. He has not yet made plans for after he graduates, but he is about 79% confident it will come to him sooner or later. He is the oldest of four kids and loves visiting home and playing board, card, and video games with his siblings. He served a mission in the Utah Salt Lake City and Utah Layton missions from 2017-2019. He really loves sports, especially soccer. He also loves fictional universes that span multiple movies, shows, video games, and/or books such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Marvel (though Star Wars is by far his favorite). In addition to the Writing Lab he also works for BYU Grounds and loves doing things outside (even if that is just raking leaves).

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Grady Call

Grady (Moapa Valley, NV) is an International Relations major and an English minor. He is still trying to figure life out, and especially this whole bio thing. Eventually, he may end up studying law. Or international business. Or end up in some consulate or embassy somewhere. Truth is, he’s not really sure yet. All he really knows is that he loves spending time with his siblings, nieces and nephew (he claims he’s the favorite uncle). He enjoys fitness and sports, though when he’s not in the gym he’s probably trying a new flavor of ice cream or seeing how many tacos he can fit into his body. Grady served in the McAllen, Texas and Hermosillo, Mexico missions and is passionate about his Mexican-American heritage, good books, and the Gospel.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Matthew Grendell

Matthew (Puyallup, Washington) is a psychology major and a Spanish minor. He plans on pursuing a clinical psychology PhD and becoming an adolescent therapist. Matthew also loves storytelling in all its forms, whether it be writing, movies, or games. He enjoys writing his own stories and hopes to one day publish one to share with others. During his free time, Matthew enjoys writing, worldbuilding, or binging shows with his wife. His love for creativity started young with the Percy Jackson books but continues today with creative works like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He also loves food and will often spend his Saturday nights exploring new restaurants with his wife.

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Marinne Hammond

Marinne (Gilbert, AZ) is a senior studying psychology at BYU. After schooling, she plans to pursue a career in mental health counseling. She is the oldest of four kids and loves visiting her family down in Arizona where the sun is always shining! Marinne has been playing the violin since first grade and is now a private violin teacher and freelance performer. She is a music theory nerd and can’t listen to a song without analyzing it! She is passionate about nature meditation and loves hiking up to the Bells Canyon Waterfall in Sandy, Utah. She has loads of fun with her close friends in Provo, whether it’s going out to eat, chatting the night away, or watching a good chick flick. She has a knack for fashion and jumps at the opportunity to help someone put together a perfect outfit. She has enjoyed writing since elementary school and is passionate about helping fellow students find fulfillment in their own writing.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

McKenzie Kolstad

(Gilbert, AZ) McKenzie is a psychology major and a political science minor. She plans on pursuing a doctorate degree in criminal psychology, with a goal of working for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit in the future. She loves listening to all different genres of music and plays the guitar, violin, and piano. She’ll tell you that she’s a little too obsessed with reading and writing and hopes to someday become a published author. Whenever she’s not buried under a pile of homework, McKenzie can usually be found at the nearest Swig getting a drink, working on her first book, or planning elaborate trips to travel Europe that she can’t afford. For now, she loves spending time with her friends (watching movies and tv shows is definitely one of her favorite pastimes) and seeing what adventures Utah has to offer.

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Brooke Overly

(Orange County, California) Brooke is a psychology major and statistics minor. Her goal is to become a school psychologist so she can help children receive the resources and support they need to overcome the odds and succeed. Brooke loves people and having adventures with her friends and family. This may include (but is not limited to) skydiving, playing soccer, or just finding new board games to play. Also, one of her hobbies is watching behind the scenes or analysis videos on movies and tv shows, as she enjoys the filmmaking, acting, and psychology of the art.
Brooke served her mission in Huancayo, Peru for 8 months before being reassigned to the Boston, Massachusetts mission due to COVID19 where she finished the remainder of her service. She is excited to be back at BYU and keep on loving life.

overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Brynn Pyper

(Rexburg, ID) Brynn is a psychology major and has minors in both music and family life. She hopes to someday work as a licensed anxiety and depression counselor and will likely talk your ear off about mental health and personality types if prompted. In her free time, you could find her happily clattering away on her laptop, curled up with a good book, draining threes at the gym, or locked away with a piano and a water bottle in the basement of the HFAC. She dreams of taking her friends and family back to the rich, green land of the midwest where she served her mission to stay up late watching the fireflies come out. She also prides herself on her apple-cracking skills, although she may claim otherwise if the apple is too big, too small, or not ripe enough.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=
data-content-type=""

Elena Storms

(San Antonio, TX) Elena is a psychology major with a minor in Family Life. She plans to go to graduate school to become a Marriage and Family Therapist in order to serve struggling couples and families. Her father is in the Air Force, so she has lived in a variety of places including Hawaii, Rhode Island, and England. She recently came home from serving a mission in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the people are wonderful and the heat is dry. She enjoys watching Christopher Nolan movies, embarking on road trips, listening to alternative bands, and eating Chipotle. Though she has a serious case of procrastination and leaves most writing projects until the "panic monster" awakens, Elena has a passion for writing and literature and is excited to help others with their writing journeys.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= overrideTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= overrideTextAlignment=

Preparing for a Visit to the FHSS Writing Lab


To make the most of your visit to the FHSS Writing Lab, please come prepared with the following:

  • A copy of the assignment.
  • A copy of your draft, either hard copy or on a laptop. We will not work with a phone or a tablet.
  • You are welcome to bring in your writing at any stage in the writing process (e.g. thesis, outline, introduction, incomplete draft).
  • An idea of how we can help you with your paper. This can include appropriateness, focus, organization, development, introduction, conclusion, word choice, tone, or documentation style. Please note that we are neither grammar experts nor an editing service. By focusing on global issues, you can apply principles of writing on other papers and can become a better writer.
  • We are happy to assist all students with global writing issues and assignment-specific requirements. Our advisors cannot provide ESL-specific grammar help or proofreading.