Biography

As a student at Western Washington University, I found myself drawn toward the sciences by my increasing fascination with the molecular underpinnings of human health and disease. My interest in these subjects was cemented when I began doing research in a biochemistry lab led by one of my professors. Under his watchful eye, I started to realize how little of the biological world is truly understood. I developed a passion for the study of biology and chemistry, the foundational tools used to explore processes that cannot be seen.

My newfound curiosity led me to pursue a Biochemistry degree and complete a minor in Sociology centered on global health. After graduating from WWU, I worked in a research lab in Seattle as a research scientist for two years, then began a biochemistry Ph.D. program at UCSF. I have since left that program to further explore my interests in education and clinical medicine.

During each of my endeavors, I’ve found time to teach, tutor, and mentor biology and chemistry students at multiple levels of knowledge and ability. Those experiences have been essential in shaping my present tutoring philosophy. In addition to nailing down important facts and figures, I aim to instill in my students the ability to think critically about new and diverse situations. In order to succeed in this difficult but important task, I repeatedly steer students back to a discussion of the overarching concepts at play in a particular question or process. In this way, I assist students in seeing the connections between ideas that might otherwise seem detached. Working one-on-one with each student is an amazing opportunity as it allows me to identify any gaps in understanding and promptly fill in those gaps before expanding our discussion to new topics. While working with a student preparing for the SAT, ACT, or MCAT, I also focus on building a strong understanding of the scope and style of the exam. I enjoy exercising my brain and helping my students do the same!

In addition to my time spent with students, I take pride in my leadership role at AJ Tutoring. I lead a team of tutors engaged in teaching a wide range of subjects, helping them navigate the complexities of one-on-one tutoring.

In my free time, I can usually be found cooking, baking, or trying to work off all those extra calories by running and cycling.