Individual consultations provide speakers with personalized support and feedback tailored to their needs and their speaking situation. Use the link below to make an appointment!
What Should I Expect?
Each consultation is unique, but you can expect to discuss your goals for the session and what support you need. Your consultant will tailor the session to your needs and preferences, and they can help you with a variety of presentation skills, including brainstorming, constructing your argument, organizing your presentation, building a visual aid, and more. The consultant will likely close your session by recapping what you did together, reevaluating your goals, and making recommendations for moving forward. They might recommend making a second appointment if you need additional support. We will adapt to you to provide you with the personalized support and feedback you need!
There are a few things you can do ahead of time to make your consultation as helpful for you as possible:
- Know where you should go for your consultation. You can find that information in your confirmation email.
- Read over and bring all assignment sheets or presentation requirements. It’s also helpful to bring those documents as well as any existing work to your appointment.
- Come to your appointment with an open mind and some sense of what you’d like to accomplish.
Individual Consultation Policies
Appointment Limits
Speakers are limited to two consultations per week, including in-person and Zoom appointments.
Cancellations, No Shows, and Late Arrivals
You may cancel your appointment up to 3 hours before your session. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late to your session, we may mark it as a no show and give that time to another speaker. If you cancel, miss, or arrive late to 3 appointments in one semester, you will be blocked from making appointments for the rest of the semester. Please contact us at speakingcenter@library.illinois.edu in the case of extenuating circumstances.
Recurring Appointments
We will try our best to arrange recurring appointments on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis if you believe they would be useful to you. Contact us at speakingcenter@library.illinois.edu to discuss what options are available. All other policies apply. Please note that we cannot guarantee recurring appointments.
About Our Consultants
Our consultants are public speaking and presenting experts from a variety of academic backgrounds. Even better, they’re friendly and eager to help you!
Wallace Golding is the Speaking Center’s Lead Consultant and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication, where he studies rhetoric and public discourse and teaches courses in public speaking and writing, rhetorical criticism, public policy, and visual rhetoric. He has directed the Center since its opening in August 2022.
Abby H. is an Undergraduate Consultant with the Speaking Center and a junior studying communication. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and is willing to provide recommendations for local restaurants and the best rom-coms. She has worked with the Center since August 2023.
Khushee S. is an Undergraduate Consultant with the Speaking Center and a sophomore studying economics. In her free time, she enjoys baking and writing poetry, and even published an anthology of her own work in 2021. She has worked with the Center since August 2023.