Brent Pottenger, MHA

Jesuit High School ’02

University of California, Davis ’07
University of Southern California ’09

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Subjects:

Science, math, test prep, and pre-med advising

Tutoring Philosophy:

“My primary goal as a tutor is to empower students by helping them learn how to learn. Through active engagement and interaction, I do my best to instill in students practice and study habits—“tricks of the trade”—that will enhance their academic experiences and performances and will help them enjoy the process of developing into life-long learners.”

Background

Brent completed his Master of Health Administration (MHA) graduate degree from the University of Southern California (USC) as a School of Policy, Planning, and Development Dean’s Merit Scholar. He studied physiology and financial management at the University of California, Davis, earning the Mary Regan Meyer prize while graduating with Highest Honors for his “commitment to serving others and bettering humanity.” Brent has co-founded an educational services firm, Academic Impact, which provides mentor-based tutorial services to students. From this venture, he also led the founding of a nonprofit program, Game Plan Academy (GPA), which provides professional academic, athletic, and mentorship services to students who normally would not have access to these resources. Currently, Brent is studying medicine at Johns Hopkins University.

Brian Geremia
Jesuit High School ’02

Loyola Marymount University ’06

Subjects:

English (writing, grammar, reading), Pre-Algebra, General Study Assistance

Tutoring Philosophy:

“My goal is to engage students in meaningful dialogue that leads to authentic thinking. Too often classroom instruction is based solely on the static content of a book, and not the dynamic, realistic content of the world around us. I hope to blend these two aspects of a valuable education and help students become reflective learners who are curious about what they are learning, about the world, and about where they fit into it all.”

Background

Brian Geremia graduated from Jesuit High School in 2002 and Loyola Marymount University in 2006, earning a degree in English and a minor in Secondary Education. For his co-curricular involvements at Jesuit High School, Brian attended LMU as a four-year recipient of the LMU Leadership Scholarship.

In the spirit of his Jesuit education, Brian founded Magis, an influential student organization at Loyola Marymount. ‘The magis’, a common Jesuit credo, translates to ‘the more’ and urges individuals to be more, do more, and give more. While serving in various capacities throughout Los Angeles and guiding the vision of Magis, Brian developed his own authentic vision and life-view based on service to others.

For his academic excellence, leadership, and justice work, Brian received many awards at LMU, including the Ignatian Award, the university’s highest honor given each year to one graduating senior.

Brian’s educational training and experience working with students of all ages and backgrounds make him a valuable mentor and tutor. He specializes in writing development, helping students develop confidence in their own opinions and abilities. Brian has also successfully tutored many elementary and middle school students in all subjects.

Daria Eiteneer

M.S., Physics, UC Davis, December 2007

B.S., Physics, UC Davis, September 2006

B.S., Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, UC Davis, September 2006

Subjects:

Mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics), general science, chemistry (including AP chemistry and general college chemistry), physics (including AP physics, general college physics and graduate level physics), Russian (all levels), mechanical engineering classes (including but not limited to statics, fluids, heat transfer, circuits, electromagnetism), general materials science

Tutoring Philosophy:

 “There are no stupid questions or answers when it comes to learning.  The only thing that can be considered stupid is failing to recognize that there are no stupid questions.  I encourage the students to ask as many questions as possible, no matter how “stupid” the questions might be.  I strongly believe that asking questions jump-starts the process of thinking and learning.  I also believe that it is up to the tutor/instructor to recognize exactly where the student’s difficulties lie and address those difficulties on an individual level.”

Background:

Daria came to California from Russia as a junior in high school.  Being new to the country, the culture and the English language, she struggled in school, not academically, but socially more than anything.  She still graduated high school with honors, and went to continue her education in community college in the Bay Area.  While in junior college, she explored quite a few options as far as further education is concerned, until she finally took a modern physics class.  That experience turned Daria’s life around.  She transferred to UC Davis, and three years later, she graduated with a triple major in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Physics, and a minor in Mathematics.  Then Daria continued on to graduate school at UC Davis, and received an M.S. degree in Physics in December 2007.  She is now well on her way into the Ph.D. program in the Physics department.  Along with the Ph.D. in Physics, she is hoping to receive an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering.  Throughout Daria’s academic career, ever since she was 12 years old, she has been tutoring Mathematics and Sciences, first to her classmates and peers, then later to other high school and college students.  While in college, Daria was an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) instructor in Martinez Junior High and Alhambra High School in the Bay Area and a Math Lab instructor and a Learning Lab supervisor in Diablo Valley College.  Later, upon coming to UC Davis, Daria helped out with the tutoring services on campus.  She also taught horseback riding in the UC Davis Equestrian Center.  Now, as a graduate student, Daria is also an instructor in PHY7 series, specifically designed for pre-med and pre-vet students.  Eventually, once her Ph.D. is complete, Daria is hoping to become a professor of physics in a university in Northern California.

David Campos

Stanford University ‘06 – Psychology

California State University, Sacramento ‘09 – Masters, College Counseling

Subjects:

Spanish (all levels), English (writing, grammar, ESL), general study skills, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Economics, and Psychology.

Tutoring Philosophy:

“Instilling the values of commitment to and enjoyment of learning throughout a lifetime is an important component of educating others. I intend to dedicate my future endeavors, both as a counselor and educator, to helping students develop personally, socially, and intellectually. Developing a strong rapport and encouraging interpersonal communication with my students, I share my experiences on how to prepare for life inside and outside the classroom environment, as well as how to become deeply involved in pursuing their passions. I enjoy working in an academic environment and intend to help others become goal-driven, passionate seekers of knowledge, for I believe that education is the foundation upon which all other skills/strengths can be built and developed.”

Background:

David Campos is a Stanford graduate and an energetic educational specialist and mentor who enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. He has tutored students for the past 7+ years in Spanish, English, and various levels of math. He graduated from Jesuit High School in 2002, receiving the Pedro Arrupe award at graduation for his outstanding community service. David graduated from Stanford University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, making the honor roll every quarter. While at Stanford, David received a research grant to conduct social psychology studies in the Graduate School ofBusiness and was awarded the Charles Warren Kendrick Scholarship in Psychology for two years. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Counseling at California State University, Sacramento, where he is specializing in school and career counseling. He has recently been awarded the Vind-Peters-Canessa Scholarship in Counselor Education for his great academic performance and his dedicated efforts to helping students excel in their educational endeavors. Having a passion for learning and helping others, he intends to seek out and take advantage of all educational opportunities that he can and to continue developing great rapport with all of his students.

Charlotte Glennie

Princeton University ‘09

B.A. Classics

Subjects:

Science (Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry), English (writing, grammar, literature), Latin, Math (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry), Social Sciences (history, government, geography), or general study assistance

Tutoring Philosophy:

“Every learner is different.  The common thread is that everyone needs to be motivated and have confidence in his or her abilities.  I focus on helping students find study techniques that work for their strengths and learning styles, and on making the learning experience fun.  In my tutoring, I seek to instill the values of inquiry and hard work, and to highlight the enjoyment that comes from understanding something new and connecting it to other ideas.”

Background

Charlotte is the child of teachers and fosters a lifelong appreciation for learning and educating.  In high school, she volunteered both as a peer tutor and as a rowing coach for her crew team’s novice program.  For her dedication to helping others learn, she was awarded the East Greenbush Teachers’ Association Scholarship upon graduation from high school.  Studying Classics and Biology at Princeton, she participated in the university’s Teacher Preparation Program to prepare for a career in education.  Through the Princeton University Preparatory Program, she volunteered as a tutor and mentor for local high school students before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2009.  She continues to seek opportunities to educate and have a positive impact in the lives of others.

Elizabeth Caravati

Washington University in St. Louis, 2010, B.A. in English

Subjects:

English (close reading, essay-writing, grammar), Spanish (all levels: comprehension, grammar), Social Sciences (government, history, geography), Math (pre-algebra), Sciences (basics of any subject), general study assistance, internship search help.

Tutoring Philosophy:

I believe that each student learns differently, and therefore needs to find their individual "recipe for success" in learning material. As a tutor, my goal is to help the student find his

or her own best way to learn, while instilling a love not only for individual subjects but for learning as a whole. Through asking many questions, learning new approaches, and discovering the fun in learning, each student can find his or her own path to success.

Background:

Elizabeth grew up in Salt Lake City and attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School, graduating as the class salutatorian and receiving the "Outstanding Student-Athlete Award." She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in English and

minors in Spanish and History. She was included on the Dean's Honors List each semester, and published two poems as well as receiving an honorable mention from the "American Academy of Poetry" in a writing contest. As a student government representative, president of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, and All-American member of the

varsity swim team, Elizabeth learned the important skills of leadership, teamwork, organization, and the ability to balance extracurricular activities with the demands of academics. Her semester living abroad in Spain provided her with fluency in Spanish. She tutored students in a Kindergarten class, a middle school, and a high school (preparing students for the AP English Exam) during college, enjoying each separate experience for the differences in students and material. Elizabeth recently moved to Davis and began writing for "Davis Life Magazine" and working as the executive assistant for the Rominger West Winery.

Elise Nelson

University of California, Davis- 2011

B.A. - Communication Studies

Subjects:

English (grammar, reading, literary analysis), Writing (essay development), Pre-Algebra, Social Sciences, Theology, Spanish I (basic grammar and vocabulary), Humanities, or General Study Assistance. 

Tutoring Philosophy:

Being an effective tutor requires more than academic expertise. Fostering a kind, encouraging relationship with the student is imperative for successful learning. My goal as a tutor is to assist each student in developing effective strategies to approach challenging material. I believe it is important to help students realize their academic potential by identifying and utilizing their individual strengths and working to improve any academic weak spots. When students experience the gratification that comes with mastering tricky subject matter, they begin to view learning as a fun, enriching process.

Background:

Born into a family of teachers, Elise has always valued education and enjoyed learning. Elise grew up in Napa Valley and graduated with honors from Justin Siena Catholic High School. In high school, she earned MVP on the varsity swim team and played on the varsity water polo team. Elise has extensive experience working with children as a dedicated nanny, teaching assistant, tutor, and child care provider at her local church nursery. During her time at UC Davis, she completed two education internships as a teacher’s assistant and a volunteer community tutor. During her time as a teacher’s assistant, Elise saw firsthand how crowded classrooms can limit a teacher’s ability to attend to the unique needs of each student. This experience taught her that individualized academic assistance, provided through personal tutoring, is a valuable key to successful learning. In college, Elise has also worked as an assistant to engineers developing renewable energy technology at the California Energy Commission. In her free time, Elise enjoys swimming and playing intramural water polo at the UC Davis recreational swimming center. Elise has learned the valuable time management skills necessary to balance work, school and extra-circular activities. She understands how important balancing a diverse and busy schedule is in reaching academic goals. Elise plans to continue her passion for learning by pursuing a teaching credential next fall at UC Davis.

Andrea Palladino

University of California, San Diego ‘03

University of Wisconsin, Madison‘06

Subjects:

Spanish, English, Writing, Reading, US History, Biology

Philosophy

Andrea believes a strong tutor-student relationship is essential to successful tutoring. It is important that students feel comfortable asking questions.   Andrea endeavors to earn the respect of her students so that she can push them to do their best work. Working together with families, Andrea helps her students to succeed.

Background

Andrea has 5 years experience tutoring students of all ages, from pre-K through college. She tutors Spanish at all levels, beginner through advanced.  In addition to her degree in Spanish, she studied abroad in Spain for a year.  She has given presentations in Spanish and translated for a legal services non-profit.  She also taught two years of Spanish 101 at the University of Wisconsin while earning her Masters.

Andrea tutors English for middle and high school students by emphasizing composition and literary analysis, both skills she developed through her Bachelors degree in Literature. In the sciences, Andrea has tutored both AP and IB Biology students. At UCSD, Andrea took undergraduate classes in not only Biology, but also Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, and Marine Biology/ Oceanography, which give her a strong science background. 

Andrea also tutors US History students at both the introductory and AP levels, helping them understand the forces behind the events as well as memorize the names and dates. With elementary students, Andrea focuses on reading fluency and comprehension. Those skills were the focus of her year doing reading intervention groups at Del Paso Heights Elementary.

Chris Johnson

Jesuit High School ’05

B.S. Astrophysics, Sonoma State University ’09

M.S. Physics, San Francisco State University

Subjects:

Physics (including AP physics, general college physics and graduate level physics), Astronomy, Mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra, differential equations)

Tutoring Philosophy:

“In order to learn something, you have to relate it to the real world and make the topic fun. This makes it more accessible. A physics book can have a hundred problems on how much acceleration occurs when a ball is shot out of a cannon, when the real world applications of a cannon are slim to none. Turn the problem into a simple rocket on its way to the Moon and the problem becomes more interesting, and possibly more useful in thinking about the world around us. Trying to relate concepts to an individual’s personal life makes once difficult concepts much easier. Customizing each lesson to what interests an individual makes all the difference in the world.”

Background:

Chris Johnson graduated from Jesuit High School in 2005. He attended Sonoma State University and graduated with a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy. After Sonoma State he went to San Francisco State University, where he is working on his masters in Physics.  While at Sonoma State, he was the grader and Teaching Assistant for three different Astronomy and Physics courses. In addition, he was a tutor for the school’s tutoring office for 3 years.  His senior year, he taught a supplemental class on Astronomy.  At San Francisco State, he taught astronomy courses and labs, and continued to tutor students in many areas in Science and Math.  Chris has been one of the Astronomy public outreach coordinators for Sonoma State, San Francisco State, and Sac City. This involves putting on programs for hundreds of students and the public to come out to campus and look at the stars, while being taught how the Universe works. Chris’ goal is to spread the education of Physics and Astronomy to students in order to get them interested in the field. His goal is to get rid of the idea that math, physics and astronomy are topics that are “too difficult for me”.  

Ariya Chau

University of California, Berkeley 2011

Subjects

US History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, All levels of high school math including Calculus

Philosophy

Ariya hopes to provide any support she can to students in order for them to achieve their academic goals. She wants to see students become even more confident in their abilities to learn, and will try to reach this goal by providing motivation as well as working with students to hone in on their strengths.

Background

Ariya is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in Public Health. She spent all four years of college with an organization that promotes higher education to underserved and underrepresented students of color. Taking on leadership roles in this organization, she has worked with hundreds of high school students by providing college information as well as being a mentor. Ariya has also worked with an afterschool program where she tutored all subjects to students in Kindergarten to Second Grade.

Currently, Ariya is doing a mentorship program through AmeriCorps at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento. As a mentor to about 20 youths who come from low-income families and have disciplinary issues, she hopes to bond with her students and help them work towards goals that will make positive impacts on their life, academics, and community. She is also involved with the After School Program at Johnson and serves as a tutor to English Language Learners and Calculus students.

Being pre-med, Ariya has had much exposure to the field of math and science. She is

comfortable with any of these classes and would love to share her experiences and talk to students who are curious about pursuing a medical degree. As of now, Ariya plans to attend UC Davis School of Medicine in Fall 2012.

Kelley Heatley

UC Davis 2014

B.S. Chemical Engineering

Subjects:

Math (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, linear algebra, differential equations), Chemistry (AP chemistry and general college chemistry),

Physics (AP physics and general college physics)

Tutoring Philosophy:

My primary goal is to help every student achieve personal excellence. Everyone has a unique style of learning and I aim to assist students in mastering the tools necessary to solve problems in ways that cater to their individual learning styles. I work with students in identifying barriers to solving problems and overcoming those barriers so they may succeed in a fun and positive learning environment.

Background:

Kelley found her passion for learning at a young age. Growing up with a Doctor as a father, she found science and mathematics fascinating. She is currently working on her getting her degree in Chemical Engineering where she will graduate from UC Davis in the fall of 2014.  Last year she received an award for “Chemistry Student of the Year” for her outstanding performance and hard work. Kelley has experience working as a tutor in chemistry and all levels of math, as well as a teaching assistant and tutor for one of her physics professors. In her spare time, Kelley enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and spending her time outdoors.

Paul Friedman

UCLA ’07

Business Economics, Public Policy, Accounting

Subjects:

Math (pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics), Economics, Physics

Tutoring Philosophy:

As a tutor, it is important that a student understands the foundation of why things are done, instead of solely memorizing formulas and definitions, in order to allow the student to expend their critical thinking ability and be able to draw conclusions to complex problems in the future. I believe as a student, it is best to reach conclusions and achievements through your own hard work and I guide the student through understanding the material in order to build a solid foundation. As each student will differ in their learning and academic strengths, it is important to adjust the teaching style to cater the student to get the best results.

Background:

Currently, Paul works for a large commercial bank as a commercial loan underwriter providing financing to companies with revenues in excess of $20 million. In his position, Paul is responsible for the financial, collateral, repayment and industry analysis for a $400 million portfolio. Since 2009, Paul has been attending UC Davis Graduate School of Management and will receive his MBA in June 2012.