How long have you worked at Buffalo State?
I've been working at Buffalo State since the fall of 2012. I've been an academic tutor at the Writing Center my whole time here.
What motivates you to provide excellent services for your colleagues, students, and supervisor?
I'm motivated by all the students coming through our doors—the different walks of life and corners of the world they represent, their stories, their openness, and their courage.
What personal philosophy about working with others guides your day-to-day work?
I think I generally follow a philosophy of kindness, gratitude, and treating others as I wish to be treated.
What do you do when you are not working?
I enjoy spending time at the community center I run, called the WASH Project, which is around the corner from Buffalo State. I also really enjoy rollerskating, as well as swimming, collaging, hanging out with my eight-year-old daughter, and going on random adventures with my partner.
"On a typical day at work, Barrett might assist a freshman on a CWP essay, work with a graduate student on a thesis, help a non-native English speaker with grammar and syntax, and help a senior with a graduate school application essay—sometimes all in the same day and back to back. Regardless of the challenge or situation, Barrett remains unfailingly positive and encouraging to all the students with whom he works, as well as his coworkers.
Barrett's job as a writing tutor primarily involves working with students’ one-on-one. On an average day at work, he might meet with 15 different students, each with different questions, concerns, and learning needs. Barrett takes the time to really talk with each student—focusing not just on making their papers better but helping them to become better writers. His attentive and supportive interactions with students exemplify the college mission statement.
Barrett consistently keeps an eye on the pulse of the Writing Center, noticing areas of improvement and making suggestions about what we could be doing better to assist students and promote writing on campus. I can always count on him to be flexible and open to change, particularly in the service of our students and the Writing Center.
Most importantly, the students that Barrett works with notice his caring, student-centered approach."
Comments from students who Barrett has tutored:
"Very good at keeping a person motivated to keep on moving forward in their writing."
"He did not rush and took his time really reading my paper and working with me to make it better."
"Extremely helpful without being far too critical or coming off mean-spirited. Very kind and laid back, made me feel very comfortable.
"Barrett's advice has helped me achieve a higher level of writing!"
"It is a pleasure to work alongside Barrett Gordon in the Buffalo State Writing Center. He is a kind, caring, and skillful writing tutor. His attentive and supportive interactions with students exemplify the college mission statement. Every student who works with Barrett is able to feel more empowered and confident as a writer and, just as important, respected and valued as an individual on our campus and in our community."
"Barrett is an all-encompassing professional tutor. He is always more than willing to help a student in need. Even when his day is full with appointments, he will take a couple minutes in between his sessions to give a student a piece of writing advice or walk them over to the reference desk for further help. He really cares about student success. His positive attitude is his most invaluable aspect. He does not complain when he is met with a difficult task. Instead, he finds a constructive way to approach the obstacles that can sometimes come our way.
He is always willing to assist his fellow tutors in problem-solving and has proven to be a very supportive coworker. Barrett is the most versatile tutor we have. He is an all-around people person in the way that he has accomplished so many successful relationships with students from all backgrounds, of all ages, at all levels of education. Buffalo State College takes pride in the diverse community of our campus and it is professional writing tutors like Barrett that truly support the respect and welcoming environment of our college. Multiple times, a student that has previously worked one-on-one with Barrett has stopped by the Writing Center just to thank him in person for his assistance. Barrett is humble and appreciative."
