Stop drowning in apps. Start talking to a human.
You don’t need another productivity app, AI essay tool, or anonymous online tutor. You need someone who knows your name, understands your workload, and helps you build a plan that actually works.
I am a retired Professor, living in Eugene, OR. I now serve as an academic coach and accountability partner for college students (mostly at UO, OSU, and PSU) who are smart but overwhelmed, disorganized, or just tired of doing school alone in front of a screen.
We meet in person to:
- Plan your week on paper or a whiteboard (no app required)
- Talk through essay ideas and help you write drafts that sound like you
- Check in regularly so things actually get done
This is analog support for the digital age. Real conversation. Real accountability. Real progress.
How this is different
Look, I get it. You can paste your prompt into ChatGPT and get a halfway-decent draft in 30 seconds. But:
- That’s not your voice. It’s generic, and your professor can tell.
- You didn’t learn anything. You outsourced the thinking.
- You’re one honor code violation away from serious consequences.
We talk through your ideas first.
What are you actually trying to say? What’s interesting about this topic? What’s confusing you?
You write the draft.
I teach you writing skills and give you resources to make this easier—including how to ethically leverage AI tools in academia.
We revise together.
I show you where your argument gets muddy, where your structure falls apart, and how to make it clearer and stronger—so you can do it yourself next time.
This is about building skills you actually own. Not renting them from an algorithm.
Here’s how I help
Weekly check-ins + planning
For students who lose track of deadlines or feel constantly behind
- We meet once a week (in person in Eugene or online).
- We map out your week: what’s due, what’s hard, what to tackle first.
- I help you break big projects into small steps and actually start them.
- Between sessions: light check-ins (texts or emails) to keep you on track.
Think of it as: having a co-pilot for your semester who won’t let you procrastinate until Sunday night.
Writing support (essays, projects, papers)
For students who struggle to start, organize, or finish written work
- We brainstorm and outline before you write.
- I help you clarify what the assignment is actually asking for.
- You draft. I give feedback on structure, clarity, and argument.
- We revise together until it’s strong and sounds like you.
What this is: I teach you how to write better and stand out in a world of AI slop.
Essay and Project Intensives
For students facing a big paper or project with a tight deadline
- 1–3 focused sessions over 1–2 weeks.
- We take your project from “I have no idea where to start” to “I have a finished draft.
Best for: capstones, final papers, or major assignments.
What students have said
Jo Mulligan“Dr. G is great! He was like having a personal professor that always had the office hours I needed.”
Portland, OR
How it works
Initial consult (20–30 minutes, free)
We talk about current challenges, goals, and what’s not working—sometimes with a parent, sometimes just the student.
Weekly or twice‑weekly sessions
We meet in person to plan the week (online if it is helpful to you), work through assignments, and build systems that make school feel manageable.
Ongoing support between sessions
Light‑touch check‑ins (texts or emails as agreed) to keep students on track with plans and deadlines.
This works best if you:
- Are overwhelmed by deadlines and feel like you’re always catching up
- Procrastinate until the last minute (and hate yourself for it)
- Struggle to start essays or don’t know how to organize your ideas
- Feel like college is just you, alone, staring at a screen all day
- Want to actually improve at writing and planning—not just survive this semester
You don’t have to be ‘struggling.’
Plenty of my students have good grades—they just want to feel less stressed and more in control.
You don’t have to have ADHD or a diagnosis.
Though many of my students do, and I’m familiar with how different brains work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tutoring?
Not really. Tutors help you with one subject (like chemistry or calculus). I help you with the skills behind all your classes: planning, time management, starting projects, and writing clearly. Think of it more like coaching.
Do you use AI or write essays for students?
No. I help you write better. I don’t write for you. I can teach you how to ethically use AI tools in an academic setting, while maintaining your own voice and still learning the fundamentals of a good argument though.
Why not just use ChatGPT or Grammarly?
You can. But AI can’t teach you how to think, organize an argument, or write in your own voice. And if your professor catches you (they will), you’re in serious trouble. I teach you skills you’ll actually own.
Do we meet in person or online?
Both. The preferences is always in person. Often I meet students at coffee shops and libraries on their campus. I like to have the flexibility though to meet online if that is what serves you best or you get sick.
Do my parents have to be involved?
Nope. This is between you and me. If your parents are paying, I’m happy to send them a brief update once a month (with your permission), but the work is focused on you.
What if I have ADHD / anxiety / [other diagnosis]?
I work with a lot of neurodivergent students. I’m not a therapist, but I’m experienced in helping students build systems that work for how their brain actually functions—not how it’s ‘supposed to’ work.