Administrative Staff
Dr. Laura Stengrim, Director (she/her)
Language(s): English
Dr. Laura Stengrim is the Founding Director of the Speakers Workshop and Specialized Faculty in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois. She joined us in 2024 after eight years as a faculty member and director of the Speaking Center at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Stengrim holds a Masters degree in English (Writing Studies) and Ph.D. In Communication from the U of I. Her research interests include rhetorics of globalization, trade, and war, political histories, international and multilingual students in U.S. higher education, and writing and speaking pedagogies. Throughout her career, Dr. Stengrim has enjoyed mentoring and working with students in writing center and communication center spaces, and watching them build confidence as they step into their unique and fabulous selves. When left to her own devices, you will find her enjoying nature, walking with dog and human friends, taking cooking classes, and generally enjoying life in Chambana.
Nihan Sanic, Graduate Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English, Turkish
Nihan Sanic holds a B.A. in Foreign Language Education with a minor in European Studies from METU. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL). In addition to working at the Speakers Workshop, she teaches academic writing courses for multilingual students as a Teaching Assistant, and serves as a rater for the university’s English Proficiency Exam. Her research interests include second language writing, feedback engagement, and oral communication, with a special focus on comprehensibility, fluency, and speech flow in L2 learners. Nihan is passionate about helping students build confidence not just in their speech preparation, but also in their spoken delivery—whether in the classroom or on stage. Outside of her work, she enjoys reading contemporary fiction, volunteering at the local library, exploring the Trader Joe’s snack aisle.
Nicole Campbell, Graduate Coordinator (she/her)
Langauge(s): English
Nicole earned her M.A. in Communication from Illinois and her B.A. in English from the University of North Texas. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication. She teaches public speaking and writing courses, and her research centers on the history and rhetoric of prisons in U.S. political culture. She enjoys helping students gain confidence in public speaking and strengthen their delivery skills. Outside of her research and teaching, Nicole enjoys staying active, reading fantasy books at the Literary, and caring for her houseplants.
Lauren Johnson, Graduate Coordinator (she/her)
Language(s): English
Lauren Johnson holds an M.A. and a B.A. in communication from the University of Kentucky. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication here at Illinois where she focuses on organizational communication in the context of disruption. While her primary focus is understanding how organizations collaborate around crisis or disaster, she also works with group processes, network analysis, and helping scientists collaborate with other scientists across disciplines. Lauren enjoys working across disciplinary boundaries and is enthusiastic about helping others communicate about their research. In her free time, Lauren can be found tending to plants (both inside and outside), consuming lots of science fiction media, and trying to play D&D whenever she can.
Undergraduate Consultants
Olivia F., Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English
Hi! My name is Olivia and I am a sophomore studying advertising in the College of Media. Some of my interests include reading and spending time with friends and family! I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with students on campus to help them expand their skills through the Speakers Workshop.
Khushee S., Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English, Gujarati, Hindi
Khushee is a junior majoring in Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, with a minor in Business. Despite her analytical academic focus, she has a deep passion for public speaking. With over three years of training and experience at Toastmasters International’s Gavel Club, she has honed her skills in public speaking and earned several awards in public speaking competitions at the high school and college levels. As a dedicated mentor, she is committed to helping other students excel and has been a part of the Speaker’s Workshop since September 2023. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, baking, and writing poetry.
Carly S., Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English, ASL
Carly is a freshman majoring in Graphic Design at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. Despite her great passion for design and typography, she loves all arts, favoring artists from the prodigy photographer Annie Leibovitz to local Chicago sculptor Yvette Mayorga. Coming from a musical family, Carly is a drummer and singer, attending an extracurricular activity, School of Rock, for around 11 years. She is ready to participate and give her design sense to the Speakers Workshop’s creative section and provide support to those seeking to strengthen their public speaking and presentation skills. Her hobbies include art, music, true crime, trying new food, and supporting animal shelters and rehabilitation centers.
Jillian H., Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English
Jillian is a sophomore majoring in Communication with minors in Advertising and Public Relations. She has been performing in both musicals and straight plays for over a decade, and more recently began competing in poetry reading contests, placing in the top five at the 2023 Illinois Regional Poetry Out Loud Contest. She is very passionate about the spoken word and seeing the impact that it can have on an audience. Jillian is a Student Alumni Ambassador, as well as a Communications Chair for the Orange Krush, and enjoys traveling, reading, and trying new foods in her free time.
Saaniya M., Consultant (she/her)
Language(s): English, Hindi, French
Saaniya is a junior majoring in Econometrics & Quantitative Economics, with minors in Business and Statistics. Alongside her analytical background, she is deeply passionate about communication and mentorship. Having recently joined the Speakers Workshop as a peer consultant, Saaniya is excited to work with fellow students in STEM fields to enhance their communication and speaking skills. With prior experience in social media management, she enjoys exploring creative outlets that help amplify voices. In her free time, she enjoys working out, reading and engaging with diverse student organizations on campus.