Multilingual Writing Specialist

In addition to consulting the English language and writing resources, students for whom English is an additional language can access academic support offered by our Multilingual Writing Specialist, Professor Natalie Mera Ford. She offers:

  • One-with-One Meetings: International and domestic multilingual students can meet with Professor Mera Ford at any point in the academic year. This is an opportunity to collaboratively review drafts of your course writing, to discuss language-related questions, or to prepare self-sponsored writing (such as award applications). Please email nford1@swarthmore.edu to schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting.
  • Drop-in Office Hours: Multilingual students are encouraged to drop by Professor Mera Ford's office in Old Science Hall 104 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. or by appointment to talk about any work-in-progress or communication points.  No appointment is necessary! If you prefer to meet via Zoom or schedule an appointment at a different time, please email nford1@swarthmore.edu.
  • Workshops & Gatherings: Multilingual students from any class year are invited to join Professor Mera Ford and multilingual peers in group forums that address writing topics from across the disciplines. Come share your experiences, challenges, strategies, questions, and insights.  See below for upcoming events.

If you would like to arrange a meeting or to register for upcoming events, please contact Professor Natalie Mera Ford at nford1@swarthmore.edu.

Fall Multilingual Program Events

Date: 1/30/2026

 

Time:        2 - 3pm

 

Location: Old Science Hall, 120

(Writing Center)

January Multilingual Forum: Reconnect with multilingual peers and discuss accents in the classroom.

January 30, 2026 ML Forum Flyer

*Register at tinyurl.com/swatMLevent by 1/29/2026.

Date: 2/27/2026 

 

Time: 

2 - 3pm

 

Location: Old Science Hall,  120

(Writing Center)

February Multilingual Forum: Share workload strategies to navigate linguistic labor in midterms.

February 27, 2026 ML Forum Flyer

*Register at tinyurl.com/swatMLevent by 2/26/2026.

Date: 3/27/2026

 

Time: 

2 - 3pm

 

Location: Old Science Hall, 120

(Writing Center)

March Multilingual Forum: Enhance your eloquence in written and spoken English.

*Register at tinyurl.com/swatMLevent by 3/26/2026.

Date: 4/24/2026

 

Time:

2 - 3pm

 

Location: TLC (1st fl. McCabe Library)

April Multilingual Forum:  Get input on your in-progress writing, whether a course paper, creative piece, or translation.

*Register at tinyurl.com/swatMLevent by 4/23/2026.

 

Tri-college Linguistic Diversity Series

Since 2018, Swarthmore’s Multilingual Writing Specialist Professor Natalie Mera Ford has collaborated with her counterparts at Bryn Mawr and Haverford to develop additional Tri-College resources and community for writers for whom English is an additional language. This partnership led to the Multilingual Writing Specialists designing and facilitating a reading/discussion group series based on themes related to multilingualism and linguistic justice in higher education. Sponsored by Mellon Seed Grants, the interactive workshops have benefited from the participation of more than 100 members of Tri-College faculty, students, and staff in eight meetings over the past three years. Natalie and her Bi-Co colleagues are now launching a fourth year of this work and look forward to exploring further ways to advance and celebrate linguistic diversity and agency in the liberal arts. Please see here for details about past and upcoming workshop focuses. If you would like to join this conversation, please email nford1@swarthmore.edu.