Award-Winning Tutors from Duke University

I am fourth-year medical student seeking to use some flexible time before I graduate to work with students interested in learning and growing to new heights.

I am a current student at Duke University School of Medicine pursuing my MHS degree in Physician Assistant studies. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care with which I practiced as a Respiratory Therapist with focus in Adult critical Care. I have several certifications and I am a certified clinical simulations instructor. While I tutor a broad range of courses, I am passionate about Algebra, biology, anatomy & physiology, Medical terminology, medicine, ACLS, BLS,NRP, Respiratory board exams prep and pharmacology.Assisting students through tutoring is a desire of mine. I believe that every student has what it takes to excel academically if given the right resources and attention they deserve.

I recently graduated from Duke University with a degree in biomedical engineering. I really enjoy math and science and I am eager to help other students in related subjects. In my free time, I like to run, play basketball, spend time at the shore, and cook.While I was a student at Duke, I worked as a student manager for the Women's Basketball team. I also completed a couple years of research in the Human Movement Performance Lab where I analyzed patient's walking patterns both pre- and post- total ankle replacement surgery.

I find my success in helping others to succeed and reach their goals. My main objective as a tutor is to empower my students and guide them toward their own success by instilling confidence in them. I understand that every student has their own learning style as well as unique passions, strengths and interests. I aim to get to know my students individual strengths and passions in order to make the material interesting and meaningful for them. I believe in an individual's creativity and I create individualized and personal lessons based on what kind of learner a student is. I believe that education is power and that the best way to empower someone is to teach them.I grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated high school with an IB Diploma in 2010. After high school, I headed down south to North Carolina where I studied at Duke University. I created my own interdisciplinary major and graduated in May 2014. During my time in college, I was lucky to spend a semester studying in South Africa at the University of Cape Town and return to the country the next summer to conduct independent research. After graduating from Duke, I accepted an international teaching position with WorldTeach. I was very grateful for the experience to live on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia for a year and teach reading and writing to high school juniors and seniors. Although my formal experience is working with high school aged students, I have background experience working with younger students, as well. I have experience teaching reading and literature, essay, creative and persuasive writing as well as public speaking. I am also experienced in teaching test preparation and test-taking strategies, resume and personal statement preparation, and leadership. Further, I am an experienced researcher and editor. I am an avid reader and a skilled writer. I aspire to help my students feel confident and positive about their education and future.

I received my PhD in Microbiology from Northwestern University in 2025 and my Bachelor's in Biology from Duke University in 2017. I have a passion for connecting driven students with the resources they need to succeed. I am based in Chicago.

Kirsten is a recent graduate of Duke University where she received her Master of Biostatistics, and she has a BS in Mathematics from Wheaton College in Illinois. While earning her master's degree she did research with a professor in statistical genetics, and was able to do internships at QuintilesIMS and the Duke Biostatistics core. During her time at Wheaton College, she was a TA for semesters in mathematics, and collaborated with faculty on a research project in computational epidemiology and was acknowledged in the published article, The Schedule Effect, which looked at how school scheduling can impact infection rates. Although Biostatistics is her passion, Kirsten has been heavily involved in tutoring students in mathematics and statistics. It is fulfilling for her to watch a students face as they understand a mathematical concept for the first time. In her free time, Kirsten enjoys playing basketball, hiking with friends, playing saxophone, and baking.

Hello! I'm Jordan Davidson, a graduate student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, with a Bachelor's in Applied Physics and Humanities from Yale University. With over 5 years of tutoring experience, I specialize in subjects like English, college essay writing, creative writing, and physics. My approach to tutoring centers on each student's unique interests, transforming academic concepts into engaging projects that ignite curiosity and foster a love for learning. I've successfully guided students to improve their understanding and performance (often doubling test scores!), and I'm dedicated to creating a supportive environment where they can thrive. I believe that every student has a distinct academic entry point, and I'm passionate about helping them discover and cultivate their passions. Let's embark on this learning journey together!

I am a rising senior at Duke University. I major in Computer Science and am also getting a minor in Physics. I have had experience tutoring/teaching as a teaching assistant for three classes: Intro to Databases, Electricity and Magnetism (for engineers), and Computer Network Architecture. I have had industry experience in software development as an intern for IBM and a cybersecurity analyst for TIAA. Outside of school/work, I play the piano and train with the Duke Taekwondo Club. I have a strong background in computer science, physics, and math, but I love learning about and helping students with a wide variety of subjects!

I love Math and Science. I am a Duke University graduate with a degree in Computer Science, where I also played football and am currently working on a Master's Degree in Cybersecurity. I have always loved math and science and problem solving and these subjects have always been easy for me. I know this is not the case with many people and I have been tutoring since high school. I used to volunteer the local elementary and middle school and also my peers. In college, I helped tutor teammates and family and friends. I was the go to person for math and science when someone needed help even friends siblings at home in different states. Every since I can remember I have always been good at math and enjoyed learning different levels. For tutoring, I have learned to adjust how I tutor based on the needs of the person because everyone learns math different. I currently have a full time job but in my spare time I like being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and animals. My family has a couple cats and a few dogs and I love to go spend time there with them.

Hello, I am a Duke University graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I have experience tutoring all levels of Spanish language, all sections of the SAT, as well as algebra, pre algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus! I love kids & I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of patience! Let me help you :)

I'm a graduate of Duke University where I received a JD and an MA in History. I received my undergraduate degree from Emory University also in History. My legal experience includes working as a summer law clerk for two appellate judges and as a summer associate at a large law firm in New York City. In college and in law school I tutored for a variety of subjects and enjoy working with students one-on-one to tackle and master difficult concepts. In my spare time, I enjoy taking in all that New York has to offer including biking in the park, cooking, and golfing.

I'm Rob! I graduated from Duke University in 2016 with a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Economics. I've been a math teacher in the DOE for the last 2 years and have a Master's of Arts in Teaching. I specialize in high school math and test prep for the ACT, SAT, and GRE.As a math teacher for the last 2 years, I've found that students often aren't given enough time in the classroom to fully grasp new concepts before moving on to new material. This often leads to "gaps" in their knowledge, which are hard to fill without providing them with 1-on-1 help. This is how I can benefit my students the most, by providing the the 1-on-1 attention they need. When I start with a new student, I first work to identify the gaps in their knowledge, and then methodically fill in those gaps to help them reach a stronger conceptual understanding.I want to help my students as much as possible. As part of my approach, I like to understand my students' long term academic or professional goals to make sure I'm working with them in a way that's most beneficial to those goals.I live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. I'm can do remote sessions or in-person. Please contact me if you would like to set up a free 15 minute consultation!

I have tutored many people in the past - from elementary school kids to Duke University athletes. I really enjoy the challenge of helping students understand material that was previously foreign to them. I am highly dedicated, make my own lessons and try to make learning as fun as possible.

Hey, I'm John, and I'm currently a rising junior at Duke University studying Economics and Political Science. I scored a 1570 (800 math, 770 EBRW) on my SAT, and have helped numerous personal friends and family friends improve their SAT scores through personalized tutoring. All of my students have scored above a 1450, and one student I worked with jumped from 1140 to 1550 in three months (a 410-point increase). Whatever your starting point, I focus on finding exactly where you're losing points and building a plan around those specific gaps. Outside of tutoring, I spent last summer as an investment banking summer analyst at Lazard, and I'm an incoming 2027 summer business analyst at McKinsey & Company in New York City.

I am a recent graduate of Duke University in Durham, NC where I obtained my Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics with a concentration in Finance and a French minor. I am originally from Rock Hill, SC, but I am a new Financial Analyst at IBM in Armonk, NY. I was a Calculus I and II tutor through the Academic Resource Center at Duke for two years, and I developed much experience in this role. I learned that in order to be an effective tutor, the I must not only teach the materials learned in a clear manner, but must also be able to teach beneficial study habits for the student to apply throughout his or her coursework.I am a very analytic person with a diverse learning background. I have learned many disciplines, and thus I am a tutor for a wide range of subjects in Mathematics, Economics, and French up to the level of French II. Math has been a passion of mine since I was able to count, and my interest my other subjects of knowledge have developed over the years.Outside of academics, I am a musician. I have played percussion from sixth grade and throughout college, and I hope to continue this passion in a more informal setting. I played snare drum on the drumline throughout high school and college, and that was a major highlight of my educational experience. I also enjoy arts and crafts, running, and exploring New York City.

Hi there! My name is Evan and I'm a rising senior at Duke University. At Duke, I designed my own major called "Documenting Justice: The Role of Photographic Narratives in Activism." I'm passionate about documentary photography and social movements, and my degree program gives me the wonderful opportunity to study both! Although my course of studies is pretty social sciences/humanities based, I absolutely LOVE math! I was a huge math geek in high school and I love any opportunity I get to spread that enthusiasm for math to other students.Outside of my academic interests, I love playing music and writing new songs for my guitar, ukulele, and harmonica. I'm also a Netflix aficionado and may or may not have binge-watched all nine seasons of The Office multiple times.I'm passionate about ensuring that all students reach their full potential. I'd love to work with you and help you become the best in whatever subject you're looking to improve!

Hi! I'm a passionate and enthusiastic educator who loves helping students from elementary through college grow and succeed. I've taught all subjects as a substitute teacher at Durham Academy, but Spanish and French are my favorite! I also provided one-on-one tutoring with One Up Tutors, making learning languages and other subjects fun, engaging, and rewarding. Most recently, I worked as a teacher assistant at Duke University, helping students navigate ethics courses, organize their work, and understand complex ideas. I enjoy working with learners of all ages and abilities, and I'm all about creating highly effective lessons. Let's make learning exciting and help you reach your goals!

I am a graduate of Dartmouth College where I majored in History. I also received my M.Ed. from Boston College so that I could become a middle school and high school social studies teacher. Currently, I am working concurrently on my JD (at Duke University) and my Ph.D. in Education (at Boston College) and hope to one day combine the two degrees by working in policy. I have tutored or been in the education field my entire life and love it when I am able to help a scholar learn something new. I love to tutor a broad range of subjects but primarily focus on History and English. I particularly love working with scholars on their college essays and finding ways to get their unique voice and experience into writing. Education is crucial and it is important to work with scholars so that they realize the vast amount of knowledge there is in the world. In my free time, I love putting together puzzles, playing Xbox, or cheering on the Dallas Cowboys!

I am an analytically-driven in Duke University's Class of 2023 pursuing degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Economics. I have a thirst for knowledge in mainly the mathematics and sciences, and I thoroughly enjoy conveying my passions through tutoring. My experiences in student-tutoring began in High School where I tutored SAT, Mathematics, and Physics. My favorite subjects to tutor are SAT and ACT Math, Physics, Calculus at all levels, Algebra, and Statistics. One of the many reasons I enjoy tutoring is because I can utilize my effective communication skills to illustrate complex concepts to students in relatable and interesting ways.

Education is a passion, as well as a life-long commitment, for me. I was a National Merit Scholar finalist in high school and then graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a history major and a comparative area studies minor. I graduated from University of North Carolina School of Law in the top 15% of my class and later returned there as an adjunct professor of Legal Research and Writing. I later received a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UNC-Chapel Hill where I had a 3 year National Science Fellowship and was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student award twice. I then taught for over a decade at Montana State University in the Native American Studies Department. I have since tutored high school and college level students in the social sciences and English for over 7 years.I am an exceptional writing tutor. I have numerous scholarly articles published as well as editorial experience on an academic journal. I have two published books as well. I also tutor for the PSAT/SAT/ACT, as well as helping students with their college essays. My students and their education are very important to me. I enjoy helping them achieve their objectives. I tailor my tutoring to their individual needs and learning styles. I am personable and warm; students like me and find me easy to work with. I have had great success with students mastering school subjects and standardized tests after working with me. Many have made exceptional improvements.

I am a recent graduate of Duke University, with a Master of Science degree in Global Health. I spent the six previous years working for Novartis as a Head of Communications in the Vaccines and Diagnostics division. I joined Novartis after completing my undergraduate degree with honors in English language and literature from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.I can help both students and professionals with all ranges of English writing and reading skills, including grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension and retention, English as a second language, essay writing and editing, higher level literature analysis, thesis writing and editing, business writing, and presentation and public speaking skills.I have taught and tutored students from elementary school through the graduate and professional levels. I have served as a professor's assistant in British Literature and Dramatic Arts classes, and have conducted caregiver classes on the Picture-Exchange Communication System for children with speech disorders.I have also tutored on the tools needed to becoming an exceptional student, including organizational skills, memorization and mnemonic devices, study-to-the-test techniques, responsible speed reading, and time management.My philosophy toward tutoring hinges on two primary goals: 1) to tutor in a way that not only meets the student's academic goals in the near-term, but also imparts a methodology that will carry the student toward future and continued success, and 2) to foster self-motivation in a student by making English fun!I love sharing my passion for language and literature with others, especially in helping overcome the "fear of the blank page" and other anxieties. Its never too late to learn to write well, to enjoy reading, or to apply these important skills to achieve your academic and professional goals.Personally, I love the time to enjoy a good book, but I also love traveling, attempting challenging recipes, kayaking, hiking, and taking my dog Cali to the beach.

I am an incoming first-year medical student with a deep passion for the human body and mind. As a student who thrived with tutoring, I love teaching students how to think about problems and answer tough questions.

I am a rising junior at Duke University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Studies. Over the course of my studies, I have developed an extreme interest in education policy. I’ve had the great opportunity to work with the BOOST program at Duke University to use science and technology to inspire economically challenged and underrepresented students in Durham’s public schools. Although I am capable of tutoring a wide variety of subjects, I am most passionate about English and writing. In addition to my major, I’m pursuing minors in English and History, for I consider the arts and humanities to be a crucial part of a holistic and fun education. I’m a kind and easygoing person who relates well to others. In addition to being a tutor for students, I plan on being a mentor; I plan on being someone that students can turn to for advice on admissions, college life, and more. At Duke, I’m an active member of many organizations, including social life, a cappella, and political clubs. In my free time, I enjoy reading, exercising, cooking, singing, and spending time with friends.

I am a 2021 graduate from Duke University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with Distinction. At Duke, I also minored in Global Health and Chemistry and was a recipient of the Benjamin N. Duke full-ride scholarship based on leadership, service, and academics. I will be attending Yale Medical School as a member of the entering class of 2022. Having recently navigated the medical school application process with many interviews and acceptances, I have begun helping others with their essay writing and application prep. I come from a large Caribbean family and I love learning about other cultures while sharing my own. I enjoy teaching and have worked with everyone from Kindergarteners to middle and high school students to college students and even older adults! My primary teaching experience and interests are all elementary and middle school subjects, biology (through college level), beginner Spanish, essay writing, and test prep/study skills. I have also been an art educator for K-10 and adults!

I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Duke University with a concentration in animal behavior. I enjoy Biology because it sheds light on who we are and where we are from, plus it is a great excuse to be outside. I have experience teaching people who struggle with English from teaching in Taiwan as well as tutoring SAT prep locally to immigrants. My strongest subjects are Math and Science. When I teach I try to use examples and explain some study methods I use to make learning faster. I also know a few tricks to help save time and make the standardized test taking process a little bit smoother. Right now I am working on getting my pilot licenses and when I have some free time I enjoy music, basketball and video games.

I am a current graduate student at Duke University in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, and I am a graduate of Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biotechnology and a minor in Chemistry. I was a tutor for the past three years at Assumption College. Working with students one-on-one and leading large group reviews has developed my ability to explain complex material to students in a simple and understandable manner. I have always enjoyed explaining material to others, and I find it satisfying when the students finally understand the concepts. I learned that in science it is crucial to be able to articulate concepts to people of diverse backgrounds. I also believe that it is essential to pass my knowledge and passion to others so they can make their own contribution to the scientific community. In my spare time I enjoy being active. I usually swim, run, and attend boxing classes.

Hello! My name is Julie and I graduated from Duke University with a double major in Neuroscience and French and a minor and Chemistry. I also took the MCAT this past spring and scored a 522. My subscore breakdowns were (131/131/129/131).I teach all sciences (biology, chemistry, anatomy, etc.), French, and MCAT prep. For French, I have been studying for 10 years and am completely fluent.Outside of tutoring, I enjoy running, yoga, and spending time with my friends. I am a Marshall Scholar and will begin graduate studies at the University of Cambridge in the fall.

Hello everyone! It's Devanshi and I am so excited to get to work with you. I am a student at Duke University and love academia! My favorite parts about teaching are how much I get to learn, which I think is amazing, and getting to serve others through education.

I am a registered nurse that earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Studies from the University of Richmond. As a dedicated tutor with experience supporting students from Duke University School of Nursing and serving as a teaching assistant in microbiology, I am passionate about making education in the biological and medical sciences both accessible and enjoyable. I specialize in tutoring a range of subjects including Biology/AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Medical Terminology, and Nursing School courses such as Fundamentals, Pathophysiology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Maternity Nursing, and Pediatric Nursing. I also provide preparation for standardized exams like the NCLEX and TEAS. My favorite subjects to teach are the biological and medical sciences, as I find the human body to be an endlessly fascinating puzzle - one that is both complex and rewarding to explore. I strive to create a warm, engaging, and inclusive learning environment where students feel supported and empowered. I believe that education should never be a source of frustration or negative emotions; instead, it should be an opportunity for growth, confidence, and curiosity. In my sessions, I use concise, easy-to-follow reviews, practice questions, critical thinking exercises, and the teach-back method to ensure deep understanding and long-term retention. I also emphasize real-world applications of the material, helping students make meaningful connections that stick. Outside of tutoring, I enjoy arts and crafts, reading mystery novels, playing the flute, and spending quality time with my cat, Lilo. I look forward to helping you reach your academic goals with confidence and clarity

I am committed to making tutoring fun and beneficial for all my students. I graduated magna cum laude from my high school as salutatorian in 2018, with distinction from Duke University with a B.S. in neuroscience in 2022 and am an incoming graduate student at Columbia University. Although each of my academic experiences posed different challenges, one thing made me successful at each stage- my zeal for learning. In my experience as a tutor and in my future endeavors, I want to impart this excitement for learning to each of my students. In tutoring sessions, I introduce topics in fun and engaging ways while thoroughly teaching key concepts and important skills. I then give students the opportunity to personally engage with the material by exploring and problem-solving. I adapt my approaches for each students' particular learning style, strengths, and weaknesses to make them excel in their desired subjects and excited about learning.

A professional greatly passionate about learning, education, and teaching. Studied at Duke University and traveled the world! I enjoy helping others learn and achieve their academic goals. I love meeting new people and have a friendly, down-to-earth personality.

Tutoring was a central fixture of my extracurricular life during high school and college prior to my entering the business world as an entrepreneur. I missed the experience of instructing and mentoring in the years since I last tutored, and out of a desire to recapture the sense of fulfillment that comes with being a teacher, I began privately SAT tutoring in the local area a few months ago and was reminded of how well suited my personality and my intellectual curiosity are to teaching. I always loved taking standardized tests; I thought of the problems as fun puzzles. And I love sharing that outlook and enthusiasm with students who are trying to improve their SAT performance. I find it completely invigorating to see students grasping the concepts that underlie the problems we work through together, and it is so fun to develop a unique relationship with each pupil. There really is such nuance to helping each student overcome his or her unique set of test taking-related challenges, and I think it's a captivating experience each time.

I have taught ten different philosophy courses at the university level, plus independent studies and Honors College courses. I also have experience teaching and tutoring the LSAT. Finally, I have experience teaching philosophy to high school students through the North Carolina Governor’s School, East Campus and the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), both of which were residential summer programs.I am committed to helping students acquire skills necessary for life-long learning. I prize education as an occasion for student development, discussion, and the refinement of communicative and analytical skills. I enjoy my role as a tutor and I anticipate increasing fulfillment as the scope and depth of my skills are expanded and refined.I understand my role as a tutor to be a facilitator of the academic and intellectual development of students. I firmly believe that students should be provided with opportunities to achieve success every class. Materials should be organized as much as possible to accommodate diverse learning dispositions, so I try to vary my teaching methodology according to the needs of my students. My experience teaching philosophy has helped me develop the crucial ability to awaken the analytical skills and evaluative abilities in students. My goal is to empower students to become responsible, successful, and productive members of a multicultural society.

I recently graduated from Duke University with a BA in Public Policy. I am in New York City studying acting, and I want to bring the same energy, enthusiasm and compassion that is required on stage to my students. I have experience tutoring for the SATs, and I have had significant experience serving as a mentor to younger students, particularly in the university setting. I love coaching and helping students discover their intellectual passions. Most importantly, I am thrilled by the prospect of helping a student set concrete goals and progress towards actualizing them in an academic realm. But above all I want to work with students to help them develop strategies that are personally effective and furthermore that link their passions with their education.

Hi! I'm Kishen Mitra, a recent Duke biomedical engineering graduate with a passion for making STEM education accessible and engaging for students at all levels. At Duke, I served as a Teaching Assistant for upper-level BME courses including Modeling Cellular and Molecular Systems and Modern Diagnostic Imaging Systems, where I guided 90+ students through complex technical material. I also tutored student-athletes in calculus, differential equations, and chemistry, helping them build both conceptual understanding and academic confidence. Beyond the classroom, I've been deeply committed to mentorship. As an E-Team Peer Advisor at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering, I mentored two cohorts of first-year students through their transition to college. Currently, I mentor high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM through Project Exploration in Chicago, supporting them as they explore their academic and career aspirations. I'm also the Founder and Program Director of STEM 4 All Kids, a nonprofit that has brought hands-on STEM enrichment to 500+ students across 9 Title I schools in Florida and hosted free biannual camps for 75 underserved middle schoolers in Durham. I love breaking down complex concepts, adapting my teaching approach to each student's unique learning style, and celebrating progress together. Whether you need support with math, physics, chemistry, SAT/ACT prep, or college application materials, I'm here to help you succeed. Let's work together to reach your goals!

PhD Mathematics. Undergrads in Physics and Maths. Duke University and NYU alumni.

I am a third-year college student enrolled in a rigorous international program and I will graduate with two bachelor's degrees in 2023. One degree will be from Duke University and one will be from Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China. I received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Duke Kunshan University. I spent my freshman year studying in China, and I now live and study on Duke's campus in Durham, North Carolina. I have always been a strong student, with a current 3.94 GPA in college. I earned a 1510 on my SAT and am great at SAT tutoring as well as editing college application essays. I am also proficient in Spanish as a second language, and have experience tutoring Spanish language learners as well as Spanish-speaking English language learners. I have more than 3 years of tutoring experience working with children ages 7 up to adults. As a tutor, I consider myself knowledgable, motivated, and patient.

I graduated from Duke University with a BS in Economics and a BA in Linguistics. I was also on the Duke Dance Team, studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, speak Spanish and Chinese, and have worked on a couple start-ups. I will be starting a job in August in finance in New York and have worked as a tutor for 6 years, both privately and with America Reads and Counts. I love working with motivated students and always see great improvement. I am especially strong with SAT and PSAT test prep tutoring. I am excited to work with students in NYC!

I love to learn and to help others learn, a pleasure I had for nearly forty years as a college instructor in writing and literature at The College of Wooster in Ohio. Although I taught many classes in these subjects, much of my teaching was done in one-on-one conferences on how to write for a variety of purposes: explanations, arguments, analyses, research, poetry and fiction. I worked with writers from those having basic difficulties to sophisticated seniors working on complex research papers or creative collections of stories and poems.My primary approach is first to try to understand you as a learner, to identify not just problems but also how you work best with a particular style, and to devise a way of learning that fits both you and the form of writing to be developed. Although a writer needs to understand the "rules," such as grammar, the goal is to discover how you can learn to use both the rules and your knowledge and creativity for your own purposes.In literature, my tutoring begins with an emphasis on comprehending the text, identifying patterns and themes, and finally coming to an analysis or interpretation that arises from this understanding and makes sense of as many aspects as possible. Literary interpretation is not a mysterious game, iibut a skill that can be learned and practiced by you with excellent results.In tutoring for tests, such as the GRE or SAT, my approach focuses on understanding the kinds of thinking the tests want to identify, the ways in which the questions try to identify them, and the best strategies for answering the kinds of questions asked. Importantly too, I help the you to recognize your past experiences with these questions--perhaps in other forms--as an important way of easing anxiety about the tests.I am a patient, understanding and experienced tutor, mentor and teacher. My basic belief is that people learn best from encouragement and practice that brings insight, and never from ridicule or harshness. I look forward to working with you to improve your skills in the subjects and goals you want to work on.

I'm a passionate explorer, educator, and scientist. I am a Planetary Science Researcher (PhD, 2008). I write grants to NASA to use spacecraft data to study the composition and evolution of rocky planetary bodies (Moon, Mercury, asteroids). My research is broad and interdisciplinary that equips me to tutor many subjects and also to show students connections between subjects when it improves subject mastery. I have been teaching and tutoring for over twenty years, at every level of my education and career. In high school I taught aerospace education and aviation search and rescue while I earned my pilot's license. As an undergraduate at Duke I tutored athletes in Geology, Calculus, and Electrical Engineering core courses and I was a teaching assistant for Computer Science and Linear Circuits Laboratory. In graduate school I was a teaching assistant in geology. And as a professor, I've taught undergraduate and graduate science courses at a major U.S. research university. Most recently I designed a combined English and Engineering elective to students with limited English Proficiency at a small university in Colombia.In addition to my academic and career experience I spent four years traveling and living abroad. I supported my travels by working part-time, remotely, on my NASA-funded research projects. At the same time I encountered so many new challenges in both language and culture that I am even better equipped to identify diversity in my students' cultures, backgrounds, and motivations. This has made me a better teacher because being immersed in unfamiliar and confusing situations honed my observational skills and intuition. Constant struggles to make myself understood in my mediocre Spanish or to reword a concept for a confused non-native English speaker have expanded my creativity in the range of ways to explain things that I never thought possible.I believe that encouraging a student's natural curiosity is key to successful learning. I prefer to relate learning material to real world applications (particularly outer space) and the interests of the student. I am particularly passionate about making science and math accessible to humanities or social science students and I pride myself on being able to demonstrate the importance of the subject I am tutoring to many areas of academics and civic life.The most important strategy I employ in tutoring is making it a positive experience. That means working with the student to get them on board *wanting* to learn the material for themselves, independent of requirements. One of my favorite ways to do this is to explore the student's passions and interests and then relate the material they need to learn to something they love. In other cases, a positive experience requires eliminating frustration and/or fear of failure. I've always been a successful student, but my efforts to learn Spanish, outside the classroom, because I needed it to survive, are still the most challenging of my life. I can empathize with students who say they "just aren't a math person" and work to dissuade them of that self-concept.I am a strong advocate of active learning (coming around to this slowly while tutoring students with limited English proficiency and seeing, first-hand, active learning activities overcome communication barriers). But I personally learn best by lecture, practice problems, and explaining to others. Thus I communicate with the student to determine their preferred style of tutoring but I'm also aware that students aren't always the most self-aware and I use my observation skills to consider other approaches that may be helpful.