UCCS Oral Communication Center
Graduate Teaching Assistants
| Marcie Hureau Marcelle Hureau is completing her graduate degree
this December 2009. Prior to attending
the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Marcelle spent 31 years in the
United States Air Force, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant. During her career in the military, Marcelle
performed with The United States Air Force Academy Band as their lead
vocalist. Additionally she developed the
video production department for the band where she served as director, producer,
production coordinator, editor and musical talent. More than a dozen of her
musical programs were broadcast on PBS, The Pentagon Channel and American
Forces Network to troops and their families worldwide from 1999-2007. Since becoming a part of the UCCS, Marcelle
has worked in the Oral Communication Center working as a Graduate Teaching
Assistant. She has developed and
presented workshops and created mock job interviews to match the needs of
requesting professors since 2007. She states that her all time favorite unforgettable and inspirational speech was President George W. Bush’s address to the nation after the attack on 9/11. |
Todd Waters Todd Waters grew up in Denver, Colorado, and
came to UCCS in 2005. He spent four years achieving his undergraduate
degree in Communication, and is thrilled to have entered the graduate
program. Todd enjoys writing, reading, analyzing and swimming. He
loves any kind of music and can always be seen with a Mountain Dew in
hand. His career aspirations include teaching, publishing, and
traveling. Todd is excited to be a Graduate Teaching Assistant for
Public Speaking and hopes to learn as much as he can from his students
and the experience.He states that his favorite speaker of all time is Wayne Dyer. |  |
 | Coral Laski Coral Laski is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, and a minor in Leadership Studies. Coral is pursuing a Master of Arts in Communication and is working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Comm. 210, Public Speaking. Coral hopes to pursue a career in Corporate Training and Development following her completion here at UCCS. Coral is very active in Martial arts and should obtain her green belt in Shaolin Kung Fu this fall, 2009. Coral’s favorite public/motivational speaker of all time is Zig Ziglar, a well-renowned spokesman. |
| Cathryn Supplee Cathryn Supplee is completing her graduate degree in Communication in May 2010. She plans to continue studying toward a Ph.D. in Communication. For the past 7 years, Cathryn has taught a variety of high school classes at The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, including World Literature, Creative Writing, a C.S. Lewis elective, and Rhetoric. Currently, Cathryn is teaching online high school English at College Pathways, The Classical Academy’s new early colleges program. This is Cathryn’s second year to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She enjoys helping students flourish in all areas of communication, both spoken and written. Cathryn loves to travel, hike, and write. She loves to read, anything from theology or Calvin and Hobbes to chaos theory or current bestsellers. She hopes to continue teaching at the university level. Cathryn’s favorite speech that she has heard recently was from John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Pixar and Disney Animation, at Pepperdine University’s graduation ceremony. |
 | David Owens David is a native of the Colorado Springs area and an alumnus of William J. Palmer High School. He recently graduated from UCCS with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and is enjoying his first semester as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Oral Communication Center. After he completes his education, David would like to utilize his skills and abilities to empower others to realize their full potential and plans on pursuing a career as a teacher in the University system. Besides reading and writing in his free time; Mr. Owens enjoys running, hiking, biking and numerous other outdoor activities. David’s favorite speaker is a New York Times bestselling author and host of, “Democracy Now!,” Amy Goodman. |
Peer Tutors
Jesse Perez
Jesse Perez is a senior majoring in Communication and Geography and Environmental Studies. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1998 from Las Cruces, New Mexico and has lived here ever since. He loves the outdoors and the diverse landscape of Colorado Springs. He began his studies at UCCS in 2006 and recently completed his coursework for his Communication degree and is now currently working on finishing his Geography coursework. Jesse enjoys all outdoor activities especially: rafting, hiking and repelling as well as listening to all types of music and spending time with his family and friends. Jesse enjoys working with people and feels that the Oral Communication Center is a great place to do just that. After graduating he plans to continue his studies in a graduate school program and hopes to find a career working in some form of community engagement.
Jesse’s favorite speaker is Winona LaDuke
Aubrey Dix
Aubrey Dix is an Organizational Communication major. Her goal is to continue school until she can teach at the high school or college level. She would also love to coach high school girls’ basketball. She is currently a senior at UCCS and is enjoying every minute of it. She enjoys any sport you can throw at her and coaches 5th grade girls basketball now. She was born and raised in Colorado and could not imagine living anywhere else, although she would love to travel after she graduates. She enjoys interacting with people and public speaking, which is why she works in the Oral Communication Center. This will be her 4th year working in the lab so feel free to stop by and see her anytime.
Aubrey Dix is an Organizational Communication major. Her goal is to continue school until she can teach at the high school or college level. She would also love to coach high school girls’ basketball. She is currently a senior at UCCS and is enjoying every minute of it. She enjoys any sport you can throw at her and coaches 5th grade girls basketball now. She was born and raised in Colorado and could not imagine living anywhere else, although she would love to travel after she graduates. She enjoys interacting with people and public speaking, which is why she works in the Oral Communication Center. This will be her 4th year working in the lab so feel free to stop by and see her anytime.
One of her favorite and most inspiring public speakers is Jillian Emmy.
Tutors in Training
Erin Brietske
Erin is a Sophomore, working on her double-major in Communication and Psychology. She began attending UCCS in the Fall of 2008. Erin is a Colorado Springs native who attended Air Academy High School where she was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC and received the position of Squadron Vice Commander. She is also an active member of the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Cadet Explorer Program and is the Cadet Captain of the Post. Erin’s career aspirations are to serve as a member of the Colorado Springs Police Department, eventually working as a K-9 Officer. In her spare time (which are few and far between moments), Erin is an avid photographer, as well as enjoys dancing, listening to all forms of music, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She has also become a highly competitive Wii player. This is Erin’s first year working in the Oral Communications Center and she is extremely excited to help and work with students.
Erin Brietske
Erin is a Sophomore, working on her double-major in Communication and Psychology. She began attending UCCS in the Fall of 2008. Erin is a Colorado Springs native who attended Air Academy High School where she was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC and received the position of Squadron Vice Commander. She is also an active member of the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Cadet Explorer Program and is the Cadet Captain of the Post. Erin’s career aspirations are to serve as a member of the Colorado Springs Police Department, eventually working as a K-9 Officer. In her spare time (which are few and far between moments), Erin is an avid photographer, as well as enjoys dancing, listening to all forms of music, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She has also become a highly competitive Wii player. This is Erin’s first year working in the Oral Communications Center and she is extremely excited to help and work with students.
Erin’s favorite speaker is John F. Kennedy, and her favorite speech of JFK’s is his inaugural speech where he states, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
Katie Taylor
Katie Taylor is currently a senior majoring in Organizational Communication. She has lived in Colorado her whole life until recently when she spent a semester participating in an internship in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She hopes that when she has graduated she can partake in another internship with the company. Katie is not sure which direction she wants to go in regard to a career path, but is keeping the doors open for any opportunities that may arise. When she is not in school or studying, she spends the majority of her time volunteering with children and middle school students at her church.
Katie’s favorite speaker is Rob Bell.
Carrie Horner
Carrie grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and is now a sophomore pursuing a degree in Applied Communication. She serves with the Navigators here on campus, a Christian ministry that provides worship, prayer, fellowship and Bible study to its members. She has not yet solidified her plans for the future, but has considered journalism, editing, teaching and counseling. No matter what career she enters, Carrie desires to spend her life seeking the Lord and loving people.
Carrie’s favorite speaker is Pastor Ed Taylor
(Calvary Chapel Aurora).
Brandon Ortega is a major in applied communication. He hopes to one day use his degree to work in the world of sports and particularly in boxing promotions. He was born and raised in the Colorado Springs area and enjoys the state of Colorado and all it has to offer. Some hobbies of Brandon are playing a wide variety of sports, going to events, coaching youth athletes, and Latin dancing. He loves to make speeches and is always willing to help students improve their speeches. He enjoys making fun and exciting speeches for the speaker’s audience to take pleasure in.
Brandon's favorite speech is Franklin Delano Roosevelt's, Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation Speech
Connie GrieszConstance Greisz was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She came to UCCS in 2005, and is currently working on finishing up her Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Communication. She plans to begin graduate school in 2010. She enjoys anything that has to do with music and loves concerts. She plans on becoming a teacher in the near future, and her future goal is to own a business. Constance has many aspirations for her future, some of which are unrelated, but Communication is the thread that holds everything together. She loves people and is very excited about working in the Oral Communication Center to meet new people and help people become successful with Communication.
One of Connie's favorite speakers is John F. Kennedy.