Meet our Team! Our Academic and Test Prep Coaches are passionate about imparting STEM Fluency to our students and equipping them with the strategies and tools they need for success on standardized exams… and beyond!

Our all-star coaches are STEM experts and professionals who have scored nearly perfect on all sections of the college and graduate admissions exams that they coach. Achieving the ideal student-coach relationship is extremely important to us; we match each student to a coach who is not only able to optimally meet that student’s needs but is also optimally able to effectively communicate and connect with the student on a personal level.

Our coaches function as mentors. They go above and beyond to learn their students’ habits, interests, and needs. Selecting the best coach for each student creates a positive, highly effective learning environment – a strong alliance that yields premium results.

Learn more about our Academic and Test Prep Coaches and how they can help you succeed!

Matthew Espy

Matthew Espy

  • PhD candidate at Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Bachelor’s and Master’s from Harvard University in Applied Math with a focus in Economics
  • Because of AP credits, earned both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s degrees in just four years
  • Received the notable Harvard University Scholarship, the Ron Brown Scholarship, and the Jackie Robinson Scholarship
  • State Champion in the Georgia Math League for 4 consecutive years
  • Took both Advanced Placement Calculus BC and Advanced Placement Computer Science as a sophomore in high school, Multivariable Calculus and Advanced Placement Statistics as a junior, and classes at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a senior
  • Participant in Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP)
  • Scored 1540 out of 1600 on the SAT with a perfect 800 in Math
  • Scored over 700 on Math Level I SAT Subject Test, Math Level II SAT Subject Test, and Physics Subject Test
  • National Merit Scholar and National Achievement Scholar

Study Tip:

The key is to learn the material, not memorize it.

 

Camila España

Camila España

  • MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, received a full academic scholarship as a Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management Fellow, held several leadership positions, authored and published two case studies currently in use in business school curriculum
  • Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources, Envoys Fellow
  • Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, Presidential Scholar, graduated both Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors while leading clubs and playing club soccer
  • 4 years of experience in middle and high school tutoring in various subjects as well as 2 years teaching SAT and GMAT Prep
  • Scored in 92nd percentile on GMAT on first attempt
  • Scored in the 99th percentile on ACT
  • Scored 5 on AP Calculus AB and AP Spanish exams
  • Hobbies include soccer, photography, cooking, crafting and DIY projects, and travel

Study Tip:

If you’re not already a “flash cards” person, become one! The act of writing down formulas and problem-solving tricks will help you remember them AND you’ll be able to use otherwise idle time (like standing in a grocery line) to study! Win-win. Additionally, practice taking the test in different environments. You need to be able to perform well under different conditions since you never know what you’ll get on test day.”

Jacqueline Tu

JacquelineTuBioPic

  • Currently pursuing Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology with GPA: 4.00
  • Top 10% of Aerospace Engineering class at Georgia Tech
  • Valedictorian at Dublin Coffman High School in Dublin, Ohio with GPA: 4.58
  • 34 on the ACT 36 in Math, 35 in English, 34 in Science, and 32 in Reading
  • 800 on the Math Subject SAT, 780 on the Chemistry Subject SAT
  • Tutored peers throughout high school and college
  • Earned 4 or 5 on AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP Computer Science, AP English Language, AP Calculus BC, AP Biology, and AP US Government exams
  • Earned 6 or 7 on IB Math HL, IB Psychology, and IB Spanish HL exams
  • Hobbies include figure skating, running, calligraphy, painting, traveling

Study Tip:

Spread your studying out over weeks or months – focus and repetition will help you retain concepts. Cramming won’t!

Veronica Perry St. Cyr

  • MBA from the University of California Los Angeles – Anderson School of Management where she received a full academic scholarship as a Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management Fellow and Forte Fellowship Award and held several leadership positions
  • Graduated with an MBA as Dean’s List recipient
  • Attended Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Magna Cum Laude Graduate, Deans List, and Economics Honor Society
  • Graduated high school from North Atlanta High School as Top 10% graduate
  • Scored 1400/1600 on the SAT with a 720 in the Math section
  • Score 720/800 on the GMAT
  • 5+ year volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta
  • Hobbies include sending time with her family and dog, exploring new restaurants, and traveling

Study Tip:

Notes are your friend, take care of them, be sure they are neat, and always refer back to them.

Thomas Kersey

  • BBA student in Managerial Sciences at Georgia State University
  • Total of over 180 earned hours and completed through Multivariate Calculus as a Math major
  • AS in General Studies
  • Award for highest score on paper-based Statistics test
  • Completed Advanced Placement Calculus AB and Physics C, scoring a 5 on the Physics C
  • Scored 770 on the Math section of the SAT
  • Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
  • Helped facilitate ropes course events with GSU’s Outdoor Challenge Program
  • Hobbies include camping, mountain biking, and woodworking

Study Tip:

Have a dedicated area solely for studying. Keep it organized and quiet without unrelated items to reduce distractions and improve your focus.

Femi Odelowo

Femi Odelowo

  • PhD student in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology
  • BS and MS degree in Electrical Engineering
  • Member of the Eta Kappa Nu an Alpha Pi Mu honor societies
  • Taught Math and Physics at the high school level
  • Scored above 90th percentile on the GRE Quantitative (780) and Verbal (710) sections

Study Tip:

Work as many problems as possible. Remember practice makes perfect.

Diana Tiwari

Diana Tiwari

  • Graduate of Emory University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology
  • Member of the Emory Scholars Program where she was a Dean’s Achievement Scholar, recognizing students who have shown exceptional capability and involvement in the academic and extracurricular life of the Emory community
  • Member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, an honor society where students are selected based on their academic performance in college (3.75 minimum GPA is required)
  • Tutored peers at Emory in General Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Organic Chemistry
  • Tutored middle and high school students while she herself was in high school in Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry, including her three younger siblings
  • Ranked third in her high school graduating class with a 4.475 GPA
  • Enjoys playing tennis – she competed for both the singles and doubles tennis match at the Academic All-State competition, and emerged a tennis champion

Study Tip:

Be sure you are getting proper sleep and nutrition – your health can affect your academic performance just as much as the work you are putting in studying.

Jaye George

Jaye George

  • Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology major and Theater Studies minor at Emory University
  • Received Academic Excellence Awards in Geometry and Biology and The Most Outstanding Student in Math Award as a high school freshman
  • Took AP Chemistry and AP World History as a sophomore, AP Biology and AP Psychology as a junior, and AP Calculus AB as a senior
  • Graduated from high school as valedictorian of his class with a 101.6 GPA
  • Georgia Merit Scholar
  • Enjoys listening to music and following his favorite sports teams

Study Tip:

Organize and categorize your studying by general themes. This helps you make connections or apply several concepts in a multi-step problem.

Judith Cruz

Judith Cruz

  • Applied Mathematics major at Emory University and Civil Engineering major at Georgia Tech
  • Tutored peers in math and science throughout high school and college
  • Worked for Benjamin Franklin Academy as a one-on-one tutor and tutor for college entry level exams like the Accuplacer
  • Due to her outstanding high school accomplishments and hard work, Judy received the “Superintend Scholarship,” which is only awarded to two seniors in each high school in Dallas; the award granted her $1,500 to use every semester throughout college
  • Scored a 5 on her AP Calculus AB and BC exams, and a 4 on her AP Chemistry exam
  • Lived in Dallas, Texas where she loved attending Texas Rangers baseball games, and enjoying how everything, really, is bigger in Texas!

Study Tip:

Sometimes it is better for you to read the textbook yourself, that way you can see what area you have trouble understanding, and then you can ask specific questions to your teacher or tutor.

LaRita Williams

LaRita

  • PhD student in Chemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • B.S. degree in Chemistry from Howard University, Magna Cum Laude
  • Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities
  • Graduated high school with a 4.5 (weighted) GPA
  • National Achievement Scholar
  • International Baccalaureate Program Participant
  • Recognized by Duke’s Talent Identification Program
  • Enjoys practicing yoga and cooking delicious vegetarian meals

Study Tip:

Keep yourself motivated by setting short-term study goals and rewarding yourself (with a snack or quick television break) as you meet them. Also, try explaining the material to a friend or someone nearby. Teaching reinforces your knowledge and helps you identify any gaps in your understanding.

Denise Smith

Denise Smith

  • Pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Completed her Master’s Thesis at the Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Awarded the Joe S. Mundy Global Learning Experience Endowment Fund
  • Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University
  • Taught computer science and math as a counselor for the pre-college PAVE program at Vanderbilt University for four summers
  • Ranked in the top 10% of her high school class with a 4.25 GPA

Study Tip:

The best way to figure out if you truly understand something is to teach it to someone else. If you cannot clearly explain it, figure out where your weaknesses are and strengthen those areas by reading your textbook, doing online research, asking a teacher, or working with an academic coach.

AJ Bhalkikar

AJColor

  • Currently working on Master’s degree in Computational Math at Georgia Tech
  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida
  • Taught College Math to college students and tutored AP Computer Science for high school students
  • Scored a 328 / 330 on the GRE with a perfect score on the Quantitative section
  • Coached robotics and competitive programming teams
  • Interests include traveling, chess, tennis, and golf

Study Tip:

Practice Makes Perfect. It’s that simple.

Stephanie Ivery

Stephanie Ivery

  • Earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tuskegee University
  • Former teacher at Saint Joseph’s Catholic School in Tuskegee, Alabama and Pre-college Initiative Chair for National Society of Black Engineers at Booker T. Washington High School
  • Tutored both children and adults in math, science, and various test preparations
  • After working in the Chemical Engineering industry for many years, she embarked upon a career change and became a High School Mathematics Teacher.
  • Believes that that you are at your best when you are engaged in something that you are not only gifted to do, but also passionate about.
  • Involved in music and travels to countries such as Liberia to aid in teaching music workshops throughout the community
  • Currently teaches Math in Henry County

Study Tip:

Practice everyday! One of the biggest problems is that students try to memorize problems, instead of learning concepts.

Shivam Sah

Shivam Sah

  • Applied Mathematics major Economics minor at Emory University
  • Scored a perfect 800 on the math section of the SAT both times he took the test (2290 Super-score: 720 Reading, 800 Math, 770 Writing)
  • Mathematics Level 2 SAT Subject Test score 770
  • Participated in the American Invitational Mathematics Competition (AIME) and the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) and scored the highest in the state on the AMC during his sophomore and junior years in high school
  • Loves anything outdoors, including hiking, frisbee, basketball, snowboarding

Study Tip:

When you study, there should be no distractions – no music, tv, or phone anywhere nearby. When I studied for the SAT, I was extremely productive with my time and blocked all distractions.  Thus I only had to study for 30-40 minutes a day [as opposed to multiple hours a day] because my study time was so productive.”

Colton Moran

Colton

  • PhD Candidate at Georgia Tech in Chemical Engineering (Presidential Fellowship)
  • Graduated with a bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering with a 3.9/4.0
  • Awarded multitude of academic scholarships during undergraduate studies
  • Tutored college level courses in physics, calculus, and chemistry during while an undergraduate student
  • Awarded outstanding Junior and Senior engineer at Ohio University
  • Awarded outstanding Senior Leader for the Russ College of Engineering
  • Scored above 90th percentile for Math and Writing on GRE​

Study Tip:

It’s not how much you study, it’s how well you study. Focus for at least 45 minutes a day in a subject, and it will compound your learning!

Cynthia Vint

Cynthia Vint

  • Graduated in the top quarter from Science & Engineering Magnet High School in Dallas, Texas – named Newsweek’s Top Ten Public Schools for several years
  • Completed Calculus AB and Computer Science A as a high school freshman, Calculus BC as a high school sophomore, and Statistics as a high school junior. As a junior, she also took AP Chemistry and AP Physics B, and as a senior she took Computer Science AB, Biology, and Physics C
  • Received college credit for 17 AP courses, receiving a 5 on Calculus AB, BC, Chemistry, Physics B, English Literature, and others, and receiving a 4 on Biology, Statistics, Physics C Mechanics, World History, and English Language.
  • ACT composite score 34
  • Math Level 2 SAT Subject Test score 800 and Chemistry SAT Subject Test score 790
  • Music and Middle Eastern Studies major at Emory University
  • Recieved Emory’s Amy Johnson scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco for eight weeks
  • Has tutored students of various ages since high school in subjects ranging from Reading and Writing to Math and Science
  • Studies Arabic and Spanish, and her main hobby is playing the piano in the classical tradition

Study Tip:

When studying for a test, it’s always a good idea to review graded tests, quizzes, and other assignments. Focus on the problems you get wrong and make sure you understand not only the correct solution, but also where you made mistakes.

Andrew Freedman

Andrew

  • Graduated from Ocean City High School in Ocean City, New Jersey with a 4.24 GPA
  • Took AP Calculus AB (5 on test), AP Calculus BC (4 on test), AP Statistics (5 on test), AP Physics (4 on test), AP Chemistry (4 on test), AP U.S History (4 on test)
  • Scored 760 on the Math section of the SAT
  • Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
  • Graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering
  • Worked for Raytheon testing Missile Defense systems as an Engineer for three years
  • Currently a Masters Student at Georgia Tech in Electrical Engineering
  • Loves to play guitar, watch football, and practice yoga

Study Tip:

The key is to make it fun. Treat it as a game and you won’t even realize you are working!

Roopika Risam

Roopika Risam

  • PhD candidate in English at Emory University (4.0 GPA)
  • Received the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship, recognizing her commitment to teaching, and the Arts and Sciences Fellowship, supporting her graduate work
  • Earned an Master’s degree in English with Distinction in 2007 from Georgetown University (4.0 GPA), where she held the Writing Center Associate Fellowship and the Center for New Designs in Learning and Technology Fellowship
  • Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and South Asian Studies in 2003 from the University of Pennsylvania
  • Taught English grammar, composition, and literature and SAT preparatory skills to ninth, tenth, and twelfth grade students in Washington, DC
  • Has taught more than 15 college English courses at Georgetown and Emory Universities
  • Served as an SAT essay grader since 2005
  • Earned an 800 on the SAT Reading and Writing sections
  • Earned 6.0/6.0 on the GRE Analytical Writing test

Study Tip:

Practice active reading every day. When reading a newspaper article, essay, or story, label the main idea and supporting details. Reading test passages and editing your essays will be much easier when you know what to look for.