Kyria Brown

• BA in Gender and Women’s Studies, University of Wyoming
• MSW (Organizational Leadership and Policy Practice), University of Denver
• MPH (Health Equity in Maternal and Child Health), University of Colorado-Anschutz

Kyria is a PhD candidate in the social work program at the Brown School, as well as a Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellow. Her research interests revolve around perinatal harm reduction and the criminalization of pregnancy. Before coming to WashU, Kyria worked as a birth doula for about a decade and will forever consider herself a birth nerd. She also has experience in working with street-based sex workers and in harm reduction.

Kyria is The Writing Center’s Brown School specialist, offering writing and public-speaking support to all Brown School students via a dedicated schedule in our scheduling system. 

For 2024-2025, Kyria has been named our Dr. Burton Pu Distinguished Fellow. Read more about the Dr. Burton Pu Distinguished Fellowship here.

What brought you to The Writing Center? 
The first time I used a writing center I had just returned to college to finish my undergraduate degree—years after I completed an associate degree. By a stroke of luck, a professor recommended the writing center. I continued using the writing center throughout my undergrad and at the universities where I got my MSW and MPH. When I came to WashU, one of the first things I did was search for The Writing Center. I met with Jo and never looked back. As soon as I could, I applied to be a Graduate Fellow. Entering my third year at The Writing Center, I am so excited to work with Brown School students as the Brown School Specialist.

What do you like most about working with writers at The Writing Center? 
I love watching students realize that they are experts in their writing. As a tutor, you can see their writing confidence growing. I also love working on a project long-term with a student and getting the opportunity to get to know them and their work. What I love the most about working at The Writing Center is being able to work with students in an academic third space instead of having to evaluate their work.

What do you find most challenging about writing? 
The starting period before I know the shape that the writing will take. I can never describe it, but I always reach a point where something clicks, and I know where the piece is going. Everything seems to fall into place after that—not that writing is ever effortless, but it’s like I suddenly have a map. Before that moment, though? It can feel almost physically painful to keep writing and getting stuff down on the page, hoping I reach that magic moment.

What advice do you have for writers? 
Write it wrong first. As someone who has struggled with it, perfectionism will only hinder your writing. Writing it wrong, or even setting a timer and making yourself write without stopping, will get you further faster than waiting for the perfect words.