Robert: Pico Rivera tutor

Certified Tutor

I received my Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2004. I majored in Philosophy and English, with concentrations on poetry composition and Irish literature. My Ph.D. is in Philosophy, from Temple University (2010). I am currently Assistant Professor of Philosophy at West Chester University. Prior to that, I taught at the University of the Arts, Rosemont College and Temple University. My teaching specializations include foundational undergraduate courses such as critical thinking and logic, first-year writing and the history of ideas.

I have ten years of experience teaching at the college level, and have taught at a wide variety of institutions, from research universities to liberal arts colleges and fine-art schools. I focus much of my efforts on discovering how to meet the specific needs of diverse groups, and I emphasize an approach to teaching that meets students where they are and cultivates growth. I often try to weave together the strongest resources from both old and new sources. I have designed several courses which put traditional philosophical ideas and figures in dialogue with contemporary pop-culture (including Watchmen, The Simpsons, and South Park). These classes allow me to engage with the students' interests and, in being mindful of their strengths I am able to challenge them and they have been eager to meet these challenges. Some of my former students have gone on to doctoral programs in law and philosophy, others have started businesses, and one is a documentary filmmaker.

Tutoring provides me an even better opportunity for the sort of one-on-one interaction and dialogue that I think is essential for education. While I tutor a variety of subjects, I'm most passionate about helping students improve their reading and writing skills. This is a great way to open students up to the relevance of academic study to their own questions and concerns in life, as well as providing them with key communication skills that will help them succeed in whatever they go on to do.

Most of my days are filled with teaching, researching, writing or spending time with my wife and step-son. However, I'm always keenly interested in learning new things, particularly new ways of doing and making things. (Ask my why I do most of my writing on a manual typewriter.) I'm an avid cook, and whenever possible, I like to travel and spend time outdoors.