Aliah Showkatian

Meet Aliah M. Showkatian - Honors English, Writing & Spanish Tutor

Aliah M. Showkatian is a highly accomplished writer and editor with an Honors English B.A. from George Mason University, complemented by minors in Spanish and Digital Media and Web Design. With extensive experience as a Co-Editor-in-Chief, content manager, and intern at prestigious institutions like the Library of Congress and PEN America, Aliah specializes in manuscript editing, copy writing, and literary analysis.

Areas of Expertise:

  • English & Writing: Holds an Honors English B.A. and has experience writing copy, personal op-eds, and student/faculty features.

  • Editing: Served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Hispanic Culture Review and as a copy editor for Succeed Magazine, overseeing the selection and editing of hundreds of submissions.

  • Spanish: Minored in Spanish and managed a bilingual annual literary publication.

  • Research & Analysis: Researched and wrote weekly misinformation memos and led seminars on Latin American free expression.

Teaching Philosophy:

Aliah's teaching philosophy is centered on mentorship and leadership. As Co-Editor-in-Chief, she managed and trained a team of assistant editors, readers, and peer reviewers, guiding them through the complex process of manuscript selection and editing for a bilingual literary journal. She applies this same collaborative and instructive approach to her tutoring sessions.

What Makes Aliah Special:

  • Elite Internship Experience: Aliah has held internships at the Library of Congress, assisting with the National Book Festival, and at PEN America, where she researched free expression and disinformation.

  • Editorial Leadership: She served as Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Hispanic Culture Review, overseeing the entire publication process from submission selection to printing.

  • Published Contributor: She was a research, fact-checking, drafting, and editing contributor to the PEN America "Freedom to Write Index 2019".

  • Academic Presenter: Aliah has presented her academic research at prestigious events, including the Johns Hopkins Macksey Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Education & Achievements:

  • Honors English B.A., Minors in Spanish; Digital Media and Web Design, George Mason University

  • Co-Editor-in-Chief, Hispanic Culture Review

  • Literary Initiatives Programming Intern, Library of Congress

  • Free Expression Leadership Fellow, PEN America

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