Writing help resources at the College, however, have not always been as effective or accessible as they are now. When Snively first arrived at Amherst, she was the writing program; she served as the College’s only writing counselor for 13 years, a role that is now divided among the Writing Center’s staff. In her words, she was “extremely busy.”
She noticed that Amherst was the only liberal arts college in the nation that lacked a program to help students improve their writing. In 1994, she raised enough support from the Board of Trustees to start the Writing Center with a staff of five tutors and one fellow. Snively aspired to create a program like those at Dartmouth College, Princeton and Cornell Universities, among other top learning institutions across the country.
Since its humble beginnings, the Writing Center has expanded its staff and resources tremendously. The number of students that take advantage of the Writing Center has increased by about 100 per year since 2000. By the end of 2006, the Writing Center was unable to accommodate the large numbers of students seeking help. As a result, the College’s faculty joined the Writing Center staff, led by Snively, to petition for the expansion of the Writing Center. The College responded by providing new headquarters in Charles Pratt Dormitory, along with increased funding for a larger staff that now includes two writing fellows and 20 peer tutors. Amherst’s Writing Center now offers about 140 hours of face time per week, making it one of the most impressive in the country.
When Snively was asked for a reason for deciding her retirement, her response was simply, “I’ve been here for 27 years.” Her husband, Henry Winkley Professor of History Peter Czap, will also retire this year. The couple loves to travel and anticipates trips to “Italy, Italy and Italy.” Snively is also a poet with four published books and she is excited about having more time to focus on her fifth once she finishes her last year at the College. She also looks forward to having more time to enjoy her hobbies such as gardening and cooking.
Next year, Professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies Michele Barale will assume the role of Director of the Writing Center and she aims to follow the traditions of the Snively years. “I hope to keep in place as efficient and welcoming a Writing Center as the one that Susan has created over these years,” Barale explained. “If I can do that, I will be very lucky, indeed!”
Snively said that after she leaves, she hopes the faculty, spearheaded by Barale, will better integrate the Writing Center into the curriculum and encourage its use across all departments at the College. When asked what her greatest accomplishment at the College was, Snively jokingly replied, “surviving.” She also mentioned with nostalgia how much she is going to miss her staff. She still keeps in touch with some of her first writing tutors and she respects all of her tutors’ contributions and sincere dedication to the Writing Center. After speaking with staff members, it is apparent that Snively’s absence will not go unnoticed. Not only is she a great leader, but she also extends her passion for writing to those around her. Writing, however, is not Snively’s only passion. “I’ve learned a lot about celebrity gossip since getting to know her this year,” said Writing Center Fellow Alexx Campbell ’07, leaning on a stack of US Weekly’s that Snively cycles through the office. Overall, Snively’s contributions to the College have significantly impacted Amherst students over the past 30 years and will continue to help students improve their writing for decades to come.