Meet the Speaking Center Staff

Phil Choong (Speaking Center Director)

Phil Choong (he/him) is a faculty member in the Rhetoric and Language Department and has been the Speaking Center Director since 2024. At USF, he has taught courses in public speaking, writing, podcasting, and rhetorical criticism.

Email: pchoong@usfca.edu

This is a picture of Philip Choong, Speaking Center Director

Peer Coaches

  • Gabby Baldos (Physics major)
  • Makayla Bell (Fine Arts major)
  • Audrey Binsfeld (Communication Studies major)
  • Harrison Combs (Computer Science major)
  • Arianna Costello (Finance major)
  • Gilang Dalimunthe (Entrepreneurship & Innovation MS program)
  • Anita de Sousa (English major)
  • Serena D'Souza (Psychology major, Criminal Justice and Journalism minors)
  • Elise Green (Economics major)
  • Aisha Kamara (Neuroscience major)
  • Tay Novales (Politics major, Criminal Justice minor)
  • Meshwa Pandya (Psychology major)
  • Nissika Jim Rakesh (Computer Science and Economics majors)
  • Owen Roura (Biology major)
  • Sandy Rubuye (Juris Doctor Candidate in the Law School)
  • Sylvia Rubuye (Public Health major)
  • Kitty Vo (Business Analytics major)

Make an appointment

Join Us

To become a peer coach, you need to have completed your Core A1 Public Speaking requirement and have a faculty member who can recommend you. We especially welcome students who may have struggled with public speaking in the past or who are coming from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

New coaches will enroll in RHET 327: Speaking/Writing Center Internship. This 2-unit course prepares students to work in the Speaking Center and/or the Writing Center at USF. Participants will engage both theoretical perspectives and hands-on practices for tutoring rhetoric, oral communication, and composition. Upon successful completion of the course, students are eligible to apply for a peer coaching position in the Speaking Center and/or Writing Center. Returning coaches may repeat this course for up to 6 credits.

To find out the next time RHET 327 is being offered and we are hiring, please contact the Speaking Center Director, Prof. Phil Choong (pchoong@usfca.edu)