English

The English Center

Located in building 2100 on the 1st floor, the English Center encompasses a Reading Room space and a Drop-in Tutoring Center where we serve all Las Positas College students in bettering their college reading and writing skills. We provide a productive space where students can work, receive tutoring, and recharge between classes.

English Center Front

Instructional Assistants in the English Center

Our Instructional Assistants offer personal tutoring sessions and group workshops in our new drop-in English Center space in RM 21112. They share a wealth of experience and knowledge in English Reading and Writing skills with all LPC students. They also support students in some English classes. Look for them in and around the English Center for help with anything.

Among other duties, they:

Provide learning assistance to students individually or in small groups
Revise essays, explain feedback, and provide next step solutions
Direct students to appropriate college resources, such as academic counseling, DSPS, the health center, and additional tutoring services

For other reading and writing support, please meet with a RAW tutor, meet with a tutor on a weekly basis through the Tutorial Center, and/or attend a SmartShop.

The English Center Presents:

Online Learning Resources

UC College Essays / PIQs

STAR essay and interview response method

Essay Basics

Video will be posted this fall 2026

In-Person Resources

Drawing of a book with the caption "shhh...I'm reading"

Silent Reading and Study Room (room 21110)

Come join us in the Reading Room to enjoy quiet reading and study time. This room offers not only peace and quiet, but comfortable chairs, charging outlets, desks, snacks, tea, coffee, and loaner devices like laptops and headphones. (Located next door to the English Tutoring Center in 21112, so tutoring is just a step away!)

Meet Our Team

Senior Instructional Assistant

Noël Fagerhaugh (She/her)

nfagerhaugh@laspositascollege.edu

MA in English Literature with a concentration in Writing Pedagogies from Mills College
BA in English Literature with a concentration in Diasporic Literatures from Mills College

Noel Fagerhaugh profile pic

Noël, our Senior Instructional Assistant to the English Department at Las Positas College, brings over 20 years of experience in tutoring, leadership, and teaching—including serving as English Faculty at Merritt and Laney colleges from 2015 to 2023. A proud native Oaklander and first-generation graduate, her academic journey began as a student at Laney College before transferring to Mills College, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English Literature and Writing Pedagogies. Noël is deeply engaged in institutional leadership, having served on Academic and Classified Senates, represented the PFT faculty union, and joined the Chabot-Las Positas district 2024–2025 CLIP leadership cohort. Outside the classroom, her background spans environmental non-profit management and metal arts. She is a poet, artist, gardener, and dog mom who actively volunteers for her local animal shelter and a horse therapy program to help individuals with disabilities experience healing through horsemanship.

Instructional Assistants

Savannah Cyrus (she/her/hers)

AS in Liberal Arts & Sciences: Science, Math and Technology- Chabot College
Certificate of Achievement in Spanish- Chabot College
Certificate of Proficiency in Creative Writing- Chabot College

Savnnah Cyrus profile picture

Savannah (she/her) was born and raised in Fairfield, California, but her heart and home lie in the East Bay. She is a former community college student. Savannah attended Chabot College where she was also a tutor in Chabot’s WRAC (Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum) center and an ESL Writing Coach. She transferred from Chabot to UC Davis where she studied Linguistics. Savannah is into video games, hiking, math, and learning about languages. She also enjoys reading and has recently added to that enjoyment her newfound fondness of audiobooks. Savannah is tooooootally into table top games and she plays Dungeons and Dragons three times a week. She enjoys learning new things, and she has an electric enthusiasm for sharing what she has learned with other people. Savannah likes to think of herself as a forever student of both the people and the world around her. Feel free to approach her with any inquiries, as she is ever eager to engage in an organic unearthing of ideas in an enlightening and encouraging way. 🙂

Abbie O'Hara (she/they)

B.A. in Comparative Literature and History, University of Oregon
M.A. in Literature, University of California Santa Cruz

Abbie O'Hara profile picture

Abbie O’Hara (she/they) is from San Ramon, California, where she played travel softball and volunteered for the local library. After attending University of Oregon for a B.A., Abbie moved back home and worked as an SAT tutor. Next, she received her M.A. in Literature while working as a teaching assistant for extremely cool courses like Shakespeare and Film or “The Curse of The Mummy.” Abbie also enjoys reading gothic literature, walking, hiking, camping, and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite part of her work at Las Positas is helping students write super awesome essays.

For questions about this page, contact Noel Fagerhaugh.