After completing a self-designed major in Latin America: Language, Literature and Culture from Antioch College, I obtained Master's degrees in Latin American Studies and Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. Over the years, I have worked as an elementary ESL teacher, an urban planner, and in my current position as an educational researcher. Furthermore, for the last four years, I have taught test prep instruction for the GRE and GMAT exams at the University of New Mexico, and have taken on private tutees in these subjects as well. I find this work to be immensely gratifying. I love to watch students grow in their knowledge and gain the confidence to reach their educational and career goals. I meet students "where they are," whether they just need to brush up on a few rusty skills, or must tackle major concepts that they never quite grasped in the first place. I find that many students deal with test anxiety or have mental blocks about certain topics (hello Math!), and I enjoy working with them to overcome those challenges as needed. (It doesn't hurt that I'm also a certified childbirth doula; it may sound strange, but some of those same breathing, relaxation, and visualization techniques can be surprisingly effective when it comes to taking standardized tests). Former students describe me as patient, compassionate, and skilled at making tough concepts easy to grasp. I love to watch them succeed in their educational journeys, and I look forward to helping you along your path, too!