I was born and raised in the East Bay, where I attended Dorris-Eaton and College Preparatory school in Oakland. I developed a deep love for mathematics and science that propelled me to major in biomedical engineering and minor in math at Johns Hopkins University. While there, I studied a wide range of coursework: science, film, philosophy, literature, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. I became involved in research as an undergraduate and pursued graduate school at UCSF, where I studied neuroscience and epigenomics. After graduating with an M.S., I worked at a start-up in the biotech space as a computational biologist for 3 years and focused on developing new drug treatments for inflammatory disorders. Throughout my journey, I have benefited from brilliant teachers and mentors that planted seeds of wisdom and helped me grow in ways I couldn't have imagined possible. 

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I began teaching in college. I was a student leader in a peer-led team learning program. I facilitated weekly meetings of a team of 6-10 students to develop their understanding of vector calculus. Later, I had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant for a core biomedical engineering class in models and simulations. Many of my students were stressed about their grades and performing well, and I learned to encourage them to believe in their abilities to learn. More recently, I tutored high school students in all maths and sciences at a local tutoring company before founding Joyful Mind Tutors with Alice. 

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I love math because of its infinite applicability and natural beauty. I developed a passion for math at an early age because it was fun--and it opened new ways of understanding beautiful concepts that I still love to ponder today, such as 0, infinity, and the nature of change. While working with students, I prioritize helping students connect personally to topics that can seem pedantic, which often results in a noticeable shift in their perspective and greater appreciation for what they are learning. 

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I utilize a non-judgmental holistic tutoring approach: I like to get a full picture of the interests and personality of my students. My philosophy is to utilize “bad habits” as “secret talents” and transform these qualities to make them work for the student instead of hindering them. 

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Beyond teaching, I enjoy hiking; practicing meditation and yoga; spending time with friends, family, and my cats; and learning Sowa Rigpa and Chinese medicine and acupuncture. 

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Awards at Johns Hopkins: 

Dean's List All Semesters
General Academic Honors
Biomedical Engineering Departmental Honors
Whiting School of Engineering Richard J. Johns Award
David T. Yue Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching