SOE Research and Writing Support
The School of Education (SOE) Research and Writing Support Center is dedicated to empowering SOE graduate and undergraduate (ESHD) students by providing personalized writing and research assistance tailored to their unique academic and professional goals. We believe that strong writing and research skills are essential for success and offer one-on-one tutoring, workshops, and resources to help students at all levels. Our mission is to foster a supportive environment where students can develop their writing and research abilities, gain confidence, and use these skills as tools for self-expression and change. We are committed to inclusivity, recognizing the diverse backgrounds of our students and helping them navigate their academic journeys. We believe in the power of research and writing for change—to raise marginalized voices, bring awareness to social issues, and participate in civic engagement.
If you have any questions, email soewritingsupport@ucr.edu
Meet Our Team
Research and Writing Support Center Director
Bryan Asdel is the Research and Writing Support Center Director for the School of Education at UC Riverside. Previously, he was Associate Dean of Academic Support Services at Barstow Community College. Bryan holds an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry from Arizona State University. He has taught at community colleges, universities, and the Arizona State Prison Complex. He serves as a poetry editor for Iron City Magazine, a literary journal dedicated to creative expressions by and for the incarcerated. Passionate about making writing education engaging, accessible, and equitable, Bryan is committed to helping students of all backgrounds realize their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities through the transformative power of language.
Graduate Writing Mentors
Eric Davidson is the Graduate Writing Mentor at the SOE Research and Writing Support Center. He is a Ph.D. candidate at UCR studying Higher Education Administration and Policy, and earned his M.A. in Higher Education and B.A. in Political Science - International Relations from the University of Arizona. His scholarship examines the philosophy and political economy of higher education through the lenses of sport, alternative culture, internationalization, and postcolonial thought. He is also an Instructor for SOE courses and a Research Associate at the UCR Center for Athletes' Rights and Equity. In his work with the Writing Center, he aims to foster each student’s intellectual growth by providing them with a collaborative space to advance their agency and voice through writing.
Katrya Ly is a Graduate Writing Mentor at the SOE Research and Writing Support Center and a doctoral student in the UCR School of Education's Higher Education Administration and Policy program. She began her journey in higher education at Irvine Valley College and later transferred to UC Irvine where she received her B.A. in Social Policy & Public Service. Her research and work—driven by her experiences as a first-generation college graduate, revolve around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at universities, racial equity in higher education, and higher education access and attainment for Southeast Asian students.
Writing Assistants
Idalia Herrera is an undergraduate writing assistant at the SOE Research and Writing Support Center and a double major in Education and Liberal Studies at UC Riverside. She is a current FIERCE/BCEP Fellow—a program dedicated to preparing undergraduate students to become community-focused, equity-centered professionals committed to serving the Inland Empire. Through her experiences as a first-generation student, a tutor, and a FIERCE Fellow, Idalia has deepened her commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the academic community. At the SOE Research and Writing Support Center, her goal is to foster confidence and self-expression in her peers, empowering them to develop the skills essential for personal, academic, and professional success.
Leyna Hoang is an undergraduate writing assistant at the SOE Research and Writing Support Center. She is a 4th-year Philosophy & Art History major, as well as a 2nd-year member of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. Her research interests lie within existentialism, phenomenology, and ontology. More specifically, she is interested in death, immortality, and the meaning of life, exploring these topics from both a practical and art historical perspective. With the help of the SOE Writing and Research Support Center, she hopes to help other students with writing through friendly peer advising.