Published on Sep. 9, 2026

By: Kate Lopez

“She needs wide open spaces, room to make her big mistakes.” 

When asked what song the Writing Center should add to its 50th anniversary celebration playlist, alumni Jozie Crouch selected The Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces.” 

“Maybe it’s because I get really into country music every summer, but what’s more college (and Writing Center) than making mistakes, stumbling towards dreams and finding where you belong?” Crouch said. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2023, Crouch found her next wide-open space in Chicago, a city she fell in love with when she visited as a 14-year-old. Now, at 25, she has settled into her life in the Windy City, just a ten-minute walk from Wrigley Field. 

“I have an apartment I love in a neighborhood I feel at home in with my cat named Otto. I participate in a horror book club and spend my weekends writing for fun from breweries or walking along the Lake [Michigan] with friends. I’m proud of all the little joys I’ve created for myself, and the life that they add up to in Chicago,” Crouch said. 

For three years, she managed communications for the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC), a STEM education nonprofit providing mentorship-based, hands-on learning experiences to high school students in the state.  

“I turned complicated programming into a cohesive mission that spoke to a wide variety of audiences. To do this, I developed content across several mediums, including newsletters, social media channels, impact stories, data reports and informational materials about their programs,” Crouch said. 

At the heart of her work lies an enduring passion for the written word.  

“I like to say that if it involves writing, I have a hand in it,” Crouch said. “In this role, I got to experiment with so many types of writing. From grant applications to social media captions and feature articles about program participants, every day looked a little different from the last. Having that variation is what keeps me not only satisfied but constantly growing as a professional.” 

Crouch first discovered her verve for nuanced writing styles at the Missouri School of Journalism. 

“I started down a lot of different paths, newspaper writing, magazine writing, strategic communications, and every time I inevitably got distracted by a greener pasture. Eventually, I figured out that I need variety to find fulfillment in my work and started applying to general communications and marketing roles,” Crouch said. 

Those paths intertwined at the Writing Center, where she became a tutor in Fall 2021. Over the course of two years, Crouch helped over 200 students with an assortment of writing styles.  

Her favorite memory as a tutor was getting to help recurring students develop a singular work across multiple appointments.  

“These students would come to me week after week with improved versions of the same piece, and every time we got to strengthen a new element of what they were working on. It was so meaningful, not only getting to watch the papers grow through every stage of revision, but to see the students become more confident writers,” Crouch said.  

Crouch’s time at the Writing Center was insightful, not just for allowing her to assist writers with their work, but also by challenging her own perceptions of writing.  

“For a long time, I assumed the only way to share your work as a writer with the world was to publish something. As a tutor, I learned that wasn’t true. Every time I sat down with someone and reviewed their essay, helped them pinpoint what they were trying to express or made writing more approachable, that was also engaging with the world as a writer. It’s a remarkable feeling to pen a story, but it’s downright magical getting to support someone else as they tell their own,” Crouch said.  

At ISTC, Crouch’s communications work supported over 5,000 students. Yet, the most purposeful way she continued the Writing Center’s mission was by helping one particular student who was selected to speak at a large showcase event. The program manager worried that the student’s speech didn’t match the tone of the event, so Crouch volunteered to help. 

“When I sat down with that student, I may as well have been sitting at a desk in the Writing Center. The appointment routine came back to me like no time had passed, review the assignment, ask about her concerns and goals, read the speech aloud, ask questions. Together, over the course of that hour, we strengthened the speech’s focus and voice. More importantly, though, she grew more assured of her work, which is always my priority when preparing a student for public speaking,” Crouch said. 

After the showcase, Crouch’s colleague approached her, blown away by how much the speech had evolved. It then became a requirement for all student speakers to meet with Crouch for at least one revision session. 

“I am incredibly proud of the fact that I found a way to continue using my skills as a storyteller and a writer to support others’ learning,” Crouch said. 

Now, Crouch is seeking to tell stories and write impactful work in a new wide-open space. To students of life also searching for their next step, she has some advice to offer.  

“Whether you’re like me and enjoy variation or you’re looking to specialize, start out in a generalist role. You get to try a lot of new things, build a diverse portfolio and learn more about what you might want to pursue in the future,” Crouch said. 

Learning doesn’t stop at the desk. Crouch knows that exercising curiosity in conversations can do wonders for personal and professional development. 

“Whether you’re trying to make new friends as an adult, form professional connections or deepen the relationships you already have, it can be challenging to jump from small talk to meaningful conversation. Asking good questions is a great way to bridge the two stages,” Crouch said.  

Above all, Crouch encourages learners to embrace any opportunity for growth, but don’t be too hard on yourself if the road gets a little bumpy. 

“When my parents dropped me off at Mizzou, my dad’s parting words were, ‘You don’t have to be perfect, Jozie. You just have to be perfect at being Jozie,’” Crouch said. “My past self had some trouble finding satisfaction in imperfection. My current self is doing better with it. I’m really hoping that my future self is skilled in the art of imperfection.”