Our Team

Art of Problem Solving was founded by Richard Rusczyk in 2003 to create interactive educational opportunities for avid math students. Richard is the author or a co-author of 7 AoPS textbooks and a past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993, and worked as a bond trader for D.E. Shaw & Company for four years. AoPS marks Richard's return to his vocation - educating motivated students.

In 2014, Glen founded a learning center in Morrisville, North Carolina, that two years later became the first AoPS Academy campus. Glen served as the National Director of AoPS Academy until his retirement in 2019. He has experience as a college math professor, statistician, and expert SAS programmer. He has been a professional math tutor for many years, and specializes in training academically-advanced and high-performing math students. Glen is a graduate of Duke University and holds a graduate degree in statistics from Boston University.

Nicole continued her education by completing a BS in biochemistry and MS in chemistry. During this time, Nicole knew she wanted to inspire young students to reach their potential. This is when she started her teaching journey by obtaining a Secondary Montessori credential. She was draw to AoPS because of their mission to inspire and create the next generation of problem solvers. Nicole enjoys working with all levels of students because they have a love of learning. Her teaching style is always fun, engaging and entertaining for her students.

Amber attended Brandeis University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in linguistics and journalism and a Master of Arts in teaching. She now continues her learning at California Institute of Integral Studies as she pursues a second master's degree — this time focusing on expressive arts therapy. Amber's passion for literacy, storytelling, and creative problem solving originally brought her to AoPS as a language arts instructor in 2022, and now, as an Associate Director, she loves teaching math and language arts at the elementary level. She enjoys supporting students as they explore new ideas, pursue creative approaches, and contribute their own unique perspectives.

Anna has a Ph.D in mathematics from UC San Diego and a B.A. in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley. She has taught math at the university and community college levels, and tutored high school students before joining AoPS in 2019. Initially drawn to AoPS by her love of problem solving and math, she is thrilled to be a part of AoPS community. Anna enjoys working with children, including her own four kids. She is inspired by their inquisitiveness and their wonderful and sometimes unexpected inferences.

Tarra moved to the US from Canada in 2021. With over ten years of customer service experience, Tarra is passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences, exceeding expectations, and building lasting relationships with all of the families. Tarra was drawn to AoPS by her love of learning. She believes everyone is a life-long learner, encountering and overcoming new challenges every day. She enjoys interacting with students and tries to make their days brighter through jokes or simply having a conversation with them.

Aleska is a Front Desk Associate for AoPS Academy Pleasanton. She recently moved back to California after living in Washington for a couple of years. She first worked at the Bellevue campus, but now works at the Pleasanton campus. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies with her family and having spontaneous karaoke nights with her sister.

Hennah has been with AoPS for 3 years and recently graduated from San Jose State University where she studied marketing and journalism. She hopes to pursue a career in the media industry. Hennah was drawn to AoPS because of the amazingly supportive team that she get to work with. She loves how creative and smart our students are. Their passion and love of learning is inspiring.

Avreet is in her third year of college, pursuing a bachelor's degree in accounting. She enjoys her position at AoPS, where she finds the enrichment program for students exceptionally rewarding. Her favorite aspect of working with students is the opportunity to learn from them. She believes that each student is unique, and she gains new insights from every interaction!

Alexandra was born and raised in Greece and fell in love with the U.S. when she arrived here as an exchange student in 2013. Before moving to the Bay Area, she lived in Washington state where she held a position as Head of Curriculum Development and English Tutoring at Tacoma Community College where she was also leading a Conversation Group for ESL students. Alexandra’s love for languages is what drew her to AoPS. She speaks Greek and English fluently, is currently polishing her German, and greatly enjoys helping students of every age improve their language skills!

McKenna has her AA and has been working with kids for over 10 years. She was drawn to AoPS because she liked how AoPS is more challenging, but still fun for all ages. McKenna loves to work with students because she loves to learn from them and watch them grow into amazing people.

Sergey is a graduating high school student who will be attending Las Positas College and later transferring to UC, in hopes of achieving a degree in applied mathematics. Sergey joined AoPS as a student at first, and after three years of engaging with curriculum, he decided to start working on campus and engage with the AoPS community even more. Sergey loves to see and encourage students to do their best on solving problems and expanding their knowledge — what is inspiring him to further pursue his own studies and a dream of becoming a teacher one day.

Saima has a Bachelor of Science degree from San Jose State University and over a year of administrative experience at AoPS and Elite Prep. She was drawn to the supportive and intellectual atmosphere at AoPS, where learning and knowledge are encouraged but no one is made to feel "less intelligent." She loves how earnest and smart the kids who attend AoPS are.

Abirami is currently a senior in high school and aspires to pursue bioengineering in the future. From a young age, she has been fond of mathematics and language arts because the former explores problem solving and the latter allows creative thinking. Outside of being a teaching assistant, Abirami helps teach public speaking to high school and middle school students and is often scouring the pages of The New England Journal of Medicine. Furthermore, she is an avid reader, enjoys baking, and loves drinking coffee!

Aakash is currently studying computer science at San Jose State University. At a young age, he started learning through AoPS Online and was fascinated by mathematics and computer science. Aakash worked at West Valley as a tutor for science and mathematics and volunteered through the Evergreen Valley College Citizen Science Initiatives program to tutor underserved K-12 students in mathematics and physics. Aakash currently volunteers through the City of San Jose Animal Care & Services shelter, taking care of dogs in their care. He enjoys watching students develop their skills and become more confident as they learn.

Marisa is a passionate student with a deep love for education and teaching. Her fascination with mathematics was ignited through the STEM program, where she experienced accelerated math opportunities. In 7th grade, Marisa became a member of her school's Circle of Friends program, an initiative designed to provide support to students with special needs. From then on, she continued to help students with their education. Marisa took on the role of a Teaching Assistant for ESL math at her school and founded the ASL Club to share ASL and Deaf culture with fellow students. Additionally, she worked as an intern at Central Park Library, helping elementary students understand and complete their coursework. Marisa currently aspires to become a teacher to provide students with a fun and educational learning environment.

Tejas is currently a senior at Evergreen Valley High School, interested in computer science and data science. He’s been surrounded by math practically his whole life and loves the opportunity AoPS gives him to pass down what he’s learned to eager students. In the classroom, Tejas is often a teacher and a student - learning and participating in lessons while prompting the “lightbulb” to go off when an answer is reached. When he isn’t teaching math, Tejas is probably watching football, basketball, or baseball, with two of his favorite teams being the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants. He enjoys listening to music, volunteering, and biking.

Anatulya is a senior at Cupertino High School who has a profound passion for reading and writing. He enjoys immersing himself in philosophical and historical literature, while also tutoring his peers to write more effectively. Anatulya firmly believes that the development of language skills among the youth is essential for cultivating independent, articulate thinkers and wishes to participate in this process. Outside of academics, Anatulya values an active lifestyle; in his free time, he lifts weights, plays basketball, and trains younger teens in athletics.

Shreyas is a senior at Basis Independent Silicon Valley. Having successfully completed all AP Math courses, he is highly passionate about the field of mathematics. Beyond academics, Shreyas volunteers as a Junior Coach at the First Tee, where he guides and inspires children through the game of golf, fostering their personal growth and character development. In his free time, Shreyas enjoys cultivating his backyard garden and playing table tennis with his friends.

Rishi will be completing high school by the end of May 2024 and attending college in the coming fall as a freshman mechanical engineer. Rishi has math experience beyond just high school mathematics, including Calculus BC, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra and Differential Equations, Number Theory, and Modern Algebra. Rishi has been a part of the AoPS community for nearly a decade, first as a student and now as a Math Teaching Assistant and is excited to share his passion for math with future mathematicians. Rishi loves learning about new perspectives to problem-solving and how mathematics can be used in the everyday lives of AoPS students.

Pranav is a current student at Dougherty Valley High School. He is passionate about the field of mathematics and has constantly participated in math contests and AP courses relating to math. Additionally, Pranav loves language arts, and has found interest in science fiction and historical passages. Pranav was initially a student at AoPS and absolutely loved the friendly atmosphere present there. The teachers helped him with all the questions and concerns he posed. When working with young students, Pranav loves seeing the "aha" moment when they understand a concept. He loves guiding them and seeing their personal growth! Pranav's teaching style is very easy to understand and has a clear "rhythm". Pranav loves to go slowly with his students to ensure that they clearly understand and grasp the concepts.

Rishav is an upcoming Dougherty Valley High School senior who studies education, cognition, and wellness. His passion for mathematics goes back to elementary school. As a former student of the AoPS Pleasanton Campus, he sought to return to the campus as an instructor. His passion for teaching and mathematics prompted him to become a Math Teacher's Assistant at AoPS Pleasanton! He loves the creativity with which students approach problems and aims to motivate students to never give up on solving a problem. Rishav has experience working with students since middle school, and he has worked in multiple nonprofit organizations with visions to support education.

Brandon Tsai is a rising senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (BISV). He joined BISV as a freshman, having been at Challenger Middlefield since preschool. He’s always enjoyed helping classmates in and out of class on a variety of subjects, often spending countless hours working together on challenging problems. Brandon’s most recent experience tutoring students is this past year where he helped AP Calculus AB students best prepare for their exam throughout the year. Apart from just math and its puzzles, Brandon enjoys playing piano and tennis and exploring the local aquarium of any place he visits. Don’t be afraid to approach him in the halls, as he’ll be happy to help you on whatever your educational quest may be (or talk about a particularly interesting shark)!

Nataly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with an option to teach and finished her Master of Science in mathematics at California State University East Bay. Some of her greatest passions in life include problem solving/math and helping others. Her passions and teaching background is what drew her to AoPS. Nataly enjoys working with students because of the energy and curiosity that students bring to the classroom. She enjoys watching the students' minds grow as they grasp concepts throughout the school year. Nataly’s teaching style is collaborative, fun and structured. She encourages multiple approaches, likes to give students the opportunity to work together and likes to stay active in the classroom by walking around and checking in with students.

Sudeshna holds a doctorate degree in human genetics from University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is excited to be a part of AoPS, as teaching comes from her heart! Earlier, she taught math, science, and biology to young minds for seven years at The Quarry Lane School and the Stratford School, California. To her, the best part about teaching at AoPS includes: the fantastic educational programs which AoPS offers; the collaborative environment by every AoPS member; and the wonderful student-parent community — making the learning experience one of the best of its kind. Sudeshna’s teaching pedagogy is based on creating a love-for-learning environment to help every child observe, ask, learn, and solve problems.

Dominic’s interest in math originally led him to pursue an engineering degree at UC Berkeley, where he would often tutor friends in their math and science classes. After four years of school and a year working as an engineer, he came to two conclusions that led to a career change: 1) he enjoyed math on its own more than its applications to engineering, and 2) he loved helping others find delight in discovering the beauty and order in math. Dominic taught high school math in Oakland for 10 years and hosted weekly math clubs to help students build their problem solving skills. He has continued this passion here at AoPS where he has worked for the last 2 years. He loves asking the right questions to help students solidify their conceptual understanding of the material, and making up problems that stretch students’ ability to apply new ideas. Most of all he loves the fun of doing math collaboratively, trading solution paths and building on one another’s ideas.

Neil earned his B.S. in applied mathematics at San Jose State University in May 2022. His first job was as a tutor at 16 years old in high school teaching middle school/elementary school students' mathematics, which has thus blossomed to 8 years of tutoring experience and 2 years of classroom teaching experience at 24 years old. As a former student who excelled in mathematics, receiving a 790/800 on his math portion of the SAT, a perfect 36/36 on his math ACT, 5's on his AP Stats, AP Calc AB, and AP Calc BC, and winning a district wide mathematics competition, he always loved to push himself to the limit in mathematics. AoPS is the most ideal place for students to push the limits of problem solving. His intention of being here is for the benefit of the student to reach that full potential academically. What he loves most about working with students is watching them grow. It is fascinating to watch as the students learn new techniques to approach a problem, find better ways for information to stick with them, or see their maturity level rise as they become young adults. His teaching style is designed to challenge the students, allowing them to find the answers themselves.

Sam is a UC Berkeley graduate with degrees in French and comparative literature. She’s been working with students on English language arts at the K-12 and college levels for five years now. She loves AoPS for its engaging, project-based curriculum and engaging lesson design. In the classroom, Sam likes to encourage students to develop their amazing ideas through inquiry-based learning — and have fun!

Xiao is highly passionate about math, with a PhD in Math from Florida State University. He has achieved remarkable success in both academia and teaching, winning one of the #1 spots in the national undergraduate math modeling contest with his team. He earned the top ranking in his undergraduate GPA as well. With a diverse background in teaching AMC 8/10 classes and college-level courses like precalculus and Calculus I/II/III, Xiao has consistently demonstrated his ability to impart knowledge and help students excel. In addition to his mathematical pursuits, Xiao is actively involved in scientific research on AI and machine learning, exploring a wide range of applications. Beyond his academic pursuits, he enjoys playing table tennis (ping pong) and he earned the #3 spot with his team in the Oakland tournament, as well as spending quality time with his family.

Richard has a Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. He also worked as a software engineer in Silicon Valley for more than 20 years. As a father of two, he started teaching math to his own children and later to middle and high school students in the tri-valley area. Richard likes AoPS because of its in-depth course materials and regular progress assessments through homework and tests. He enjoys working with students because witnessing their growth and progress over time is the most fulfilling aspect of his role as an educator. Richard believes in breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts, using real-life examples to make math more accessible and relatable. Richard now works as a math tutor at Dublin High School's Academic Resource Center.

Yana is a passionate poet and storyteller. They studied writing and literature at UCSB’s College of Creative Studies. Their joy of writing led them to teach literature and creative writing to students from K-12th grade. Their aim is to create safe and inclusive learning environments that inspire students to enjoy reading and writing.

Chelsea received a bachelor’s degree in English education with an emphasis in literature from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in English and comparative literature from San Jose State University, where she currently teaches First-Year Writing. Chelsea joined the AoPS team in 2020 and enjoys teaching classes here and loves the warm and welcoming environment the staff and students create. Chelsea likes student-focused learning, where students work together in groups and work through problems together to learn challenging concepts.

Neo has attained associate's and bachelor's degrees in mathematics. He has been a mathematics instructor at AoPS for over a year now, and he is also an academic tutor at Newport Healthcare. What drew him to working at AoPS was the environment and extra resources it provides to help students find success in subjects taught at AoPS that help them at school. In addition, it provides an opportunity for students to even advance to higher levels of education. The love Neo found working with his students is being able to connect with them about things other than academics to provide a fun, safe classroom environment for my students. He describes his teaching style as patient, collaborative, and fun. He loves to provide opportunities of participation from all his students and always checks in with all of them as they do their work, offering aid whenever he can.

Alina’s journey in education began with a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego, where she honed her passion for learning and teaching. Since then, she has been teaching full time or working in education technology start ups, driven by a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of knowledge. Drawn to AoPS by the palpable joy and learning that radiates from each class, Alina knows that an emphasis on respect and community make a classroom vibrant. She is inspired by the environment fostered here, where students and educators alike are encouraged to explore, question, and grow. Plus, a great rubric makes the world go ‘round!

Jing deeply believes in the power of language. In college, Jing studied computer science and obtained a master's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After she graduated, she went on to work as a software engineer in the tech industry for six years. Over the years, her love and passion for languages has never diminished and she realized that no matter how things have changed externally, she can always find inner peace in literature and writing. She is currently working her way towards a creative writing certificate at UCSD. She loves discussing writing pieces and literature with others, which is what brought her to AoPS as a language arts instructor. Connecting with young minds and supporting their growth is one of the most amazing and rewarding things she discovered in life. She teaches with an open mind and encourages students to share and exchange their thoughts.

Shrabana is an educator, holding a Master of Engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the Birla Institute of Technology in Mesra, India. Her 15 years in a software career provided an opportunity to work and live in India, Canada, and the US. Transitioning her passion into education, Shrabana has been dedicated to nurturing young minds in math since 2017. Embracing the vibrant community at AoPS, she finds fulfillment in both learning and teaching within its enriching environment. Students have amazing ideas and perspectives. Teaching provides a great way to spend productive time with young minds. Shrabana believes learning math should be an enjoyable experience for students. Mathematics is a progressive journey. It is crucial to build a strong foundation. As you progress, applying prior concepts becomes vital; hence, a thorough understanding of concepts, consistent revision, and practice are necessary. It is also essential to explain the practical application so that math is meaningful and gives an insight into long-term career prospects.

Sophie finished her undergraduate degree in mathematics at UC Berkeley. During that time, she was a math mentor at Martin Luther King Middle School. She enjoyed studying math, so in 2020, she started a master's program in mathematics at CSUEB where she also taught math. Currently, Sophie is a math lecturer at Cal State East Bay and College of San Mateo. She is also a private tutor for elementary and high school students. Sophie was drawn to AoPS because of their innovative approach to problem solving. She loves teaching kids because they keep her on her toes with hard questions. She likes to pose open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and give her students extra support when needed. She strives to make a personal connection with each student.

My studied her bachelor's and master's program at CSU East Bay and she has been teaching at community college as an instructor since 2015. She loves teaching math. She also likes problem solving, and that made her join AoPS on 2023. My is passionate in teaching and loves to see her students growing with math problems. She always encourages her students to discover concepts through exploring and questioning. This will give students good problem solving skills and a good math foundation.

Eugene has a M.S. in applied mechanics from the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute and a M.S. in applied math from San Jose State University. He is currently in a M.S. program in physics at San Jose State University. He likes to work with intelligent, motivated, and curious students. Eugene likes to do challenging problems with students. He is part of the classical math education stock and he teaches mathematics with a focus on building a solid foundation in mathematical principles and problem-solving skills. Eugene emphasizes understanding mathematical concepts deeply rather than just memorizing formulas.

Hope has been a seasoned educator for 15+ years and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. Her practice involves assisting children of all ages and adults in language arts, French, test preparation, computer skills, and music. Through her extensive years of one-on-one and classroom teaching, the high standards and professionalism of AoPS seemed to be the perfect place for her to share her expertise. Hope revels in witnessing the spark of knowledge in her students’ eyes as they open up to new ways of thinking, and also enjoys observing the interactions between people as they gain confidence in their abilities. Hope is committed to maximizing individual student performance, inspiring students' interest in core subjects, and instilling a sense of self-worth among all students. She has refined her competencies in teaching and communication and knows how to engage students using highly effective and efficient strategies gained from her vast experience.

At a young age, Young developed a deep interest in problem solving, teaching, and learning how to learn. Before moving to California, Young was a math student at Reed College in Portland, but also studied math around the world, including Hungary and Russia. He loves to emphasize that learning math should be fun, creative, and active. His passion for learning and sharing new ideas and problem solving brought Young to work with middle and high school students, as well as college students.

Judi believes that teaching is a way of giving back and sharing knowledge! Kids are our future and helping them learn is a privilege. She has taught all her life, including writing, English, public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving to all ages (from 6 years old to adults). Judi has learned that teaching is indeed the best way to give back. Learning is her passion; writing is one of her joys. AoPS provides a great environment for her to contribute to as a lifelong student herself and as a licensed teacher, attorney, world traveler, writer, and public speaker.

Oleg has a PhD in physics from the University of Utah. He works in the daytime as a data specialist for the State of California querying pharmacy data. He reads math books by Richard Rusczyk and fancied himself as able to teach that material in class. He learns from students as much as they learn from AoPS books. His teaching style is adaptive. He adapts to how much students can do by themselves.

Prabhakar has a PhD in management science & engineering (Stanford University). He has over 25+ years in the high tech industry leading teams in applying data science, AI, and other advanced methods to business. He loves the opportunity to teach problem solving to curious, young minds who delight in taking on challenges. He appreciates the teaching part-time at AoPS and loves that AoPS has a well-developed curriculum and teaching materials. He feels fulfilled watching students have aha moments when they grasp important concepts. Younger students in particular are uninhibited in expressing their excitement. Prabhakar's likes to give students the opportunity to solve problems by themselves and giving just enough guidance to help them discover solutions themselves. He encourages students to explore different ways of approaching a problem and tackle difficult problems by breaking them down into smaller sub-problems.

William studied electrical engineering at Stanford University and UC Berkeley, receiving a best PhD thesis prize. He has also held senior executive management positions at F500 companies in the Silicon Valley. William loves sharing insights in solving math problems to eager learners, and appreciates that AoPS offers such opportunites. His thrill moments come when a student discovers the beauty of math and shows an interest to learn more. His lessons usually start with a simple example illustrating the interesting aspects and importance of the subject, then cover the main ideas, and wrap up with insights.

Felicia earned her associate's degree in math from Ohlone College and bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley, along with a minor in bioengineering. She tutored math, biology, and chemistry at Ohlone College and worked as an undergraduate student instructor at UC Berkeley. She was intrigued by AoPS' mission to teach students to not just know how to solve specific types of problems, but instead to be able to analyze and solve any type of challenging problem. She loves to see students get excited about being able to solve difficult problems. Felicia's classes are energetic, interactive, and often a touch chaotic.

Yollotl Lopez hails from SoCal where she is a proud alumni of Cal State Northridge and is currently finishing up her doctoral degree from New York University. Yollotl has been teaching for the last ten years and was drawn to AoPS' mission of enrichment for younger students. She loves the way students are all unique and bring their own experience to the classroom. Her teaching style is firm, but student centered. She believes in the classroom as a community for exchanging ideas and expanding perspectives.

Kunal earned his Bachelor’s of Technology in computer science from IIT Delhi and has an MBA in analytical finance & economics from the University of Chicago. In over 25 years of professional experience as a technology consultant, software engineer, structured credit trader and, most recently, as a business leader at tech startups, he has applied mathematical concepts such as time-value, induction, statistics, probability, and Monte Carlo simulations extensively. He has enjoyed math ever since elementary school in India and won several math competitions from grades 5-10. He enjoys engaging with children in and outside the classroom, and has led and taught a middle-school summer camp in Palo Alto focusing on math and cryptography, was a substitute teacher in the Pleasanton school district, enjoys spending time with his two sons, and has coached his son’s team in their baseball, soccer and cricket leagues. The AoPS approach appealed to Kunal as a parent and encouraged him to join as an instructor. The curriculum and tools provided allow him to focus on what he enjoys most - helping students learn and master math skills! He loves seeing his students light up when they understand a difficult-to-grasp math concept. He tries to achieve this by fostering participation and idea generation in the class, as well as getting the students to collaborate with each other, as he believes students understand best from their peers and concepts get solidified when they have to explain them to others.

Jyothsna has a master's degree in computer science with research focus on big data and machine learning. She was awarded a full scholarship to pursue her graduate studies and demonstrated academic excellence in mathematics and computer science throughout her education. She has previously also worked in Deloitte Consulting receiving immense appreciation for her hard work and dedication. Jyothsna has always loved math and enjoyed problem solving. The excellent team at AoPS and their exciting math curriculum for problem solving immensely enticed her to join the institution. Children have curious minds and unfolding their hidden potentials to make them the best version of themselves is something Jyothsna immensely enjoys as an enthusiastic teacher. She is a passionate educator who truly cares about her class and is super excited about training a new generation into the world of logic and math. Her classes are lot of fun and very interactive as she constantly motivates students to think, question, and discover.

Shikha is a passionate language arts instructor with a commitment to fostering a love for learning and creative expression. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in HR management, which have provided a strong academic foundation for her. Shikha works with students of all ages, bringing her her 4+ years of tutoring experience to her classroom. That's when she discovered AoPS and its unique approach to learning, which resonated with her own. Shikha cultivates an engaging teaching style that promotes critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills. She is known for her ability to create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment where students feel empowered to express themselves. What she loves most about working with students is their ability to make teaching a fun and enjoyable experience. Her students put a smile on her face like no other. Laughing while learning together makes moments in the classroom all the more memorable.

John has a master's degree and is currently finishing his PhD in mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, where he is also currently and has been teaching various courses in mathematics. Being also a researcher, he is interested in solving challenging problems and finding different creative ways to attack a problem, which are two skills that students experience in AoPS classes. He enjoys having students share their own problem-solving strategies, as it also adds to his arsenal of strategies. But what he loves the most is when he sees students' faces lighting up when they realize the crucial step in solving a tough problem. As an instructor, John likes to use geometric and visual reasoning to motivate and explain concepts, and also analogies, humor, and technology to keep his classes engaging.

Chris is excited to teach mathematics and physics with AoPS, because these skills have created incredible opportunities in his life and he uses them every day. Chris earned degrees in applied mathematics (BS), physics (BS, MS) and aerospace engineering (MS) and has taught for numerous prestigious programs in the US and internationally. Outside the classroom, he has had the privilege to work on cutting-edge research with the DOE national laboratories. Chris is primarily interested in real-world problems and the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics to solve them — from pen-and-paper calculations in a lab notebook to large-scale simulations on supercomputers.

Dr. Rupnik has a PhD in public health, a MS in psychology from Capella University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin. He also has substantial education in medical anthropology through the University of Oregon. As an accredited ESL instructor, Dok has taught English to beginning and advanced level students in Indonesia, Japan and China. As a Doctor of Public Health, he has conducted social science reseach both in the US and in Asia, written professional publications and formally presented his research to various scientific organizations. Dr. Rupnik was drawn to AoPS because of its emphasis on the development of problem-solving skills through innovation and insight. As an Instructor, Dr. Rupnik truly enjoys using languagre arts materials to help academy attendees grow as problem-solvers and innovators. His teaching style could be described as a ""mentor/collaborator"" because he makes sure he is there for each step, providing feedback, encouragement, and focused guidance for each student. He provides classroom material through presentation and discussion of the concepts in each unit. He then actively guides the students through the material through polls and discussions to ensure they understand what has been presented. Through this procedure, he prepares students for completing AoPS projects and meeting the challenge of sharpening their problem-solving skills.

Adrian's passion for mathematics started in middle school when he was introduced to Euclidean geometry in 6th grade. Since then, he has covered many areas of mathematics from number theory to analytic geometry. As a participant in the Descartes Math Competition organized by Waterloo University, Adrian scored among the top 10 in Canada and won a scholarship that secured his admission to the prestigious computer engineering program. After graduating with a B.S. in computer engineering, he has been working in software engineering for the past 30 years, programming in C++, Java, Php, and Python languages. His second passion is physics, especially the areas of mechanics (solids and fluids), thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and acoustics. Adrian has successfully tutored his two teenage sons and their friends in mathematics and physics for the past 6 years. The culture at AoPS is vibrant and diverse. With instructors hailing from various backgrounds, including mathematics, english, physics, engineering and more, there's a wealth of expertise to draw from. The shared goal of educating and empowering students is what unites everyone at AoPS. Whether it's through in-person, online classes, textbooks, or competitions, the focus remains on providing top-quality education and support to help students succeed in their academic pursuits. It's inspiring to see such dedication and collaboration towards a common purpose. He loves the students' energy and creativity. He watches them grow and develop every day and is happy that he makes a positive difference in their lives. His philosophy can be summed up as follows: "passionate and enthusiastic educator who employs effective teaching strategies to inspire generations of students.

Saeed earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, followed by master's degrees in both electrical engineering and software engineering. Transitioning into a professional role, he served as a systems engineer, contributing his expertise to significant projects for esteemed organizations like the US Army, BAE Systems, NASA's Space Station initiatives, and Aeye. Despite the demands of his career, Saeed has remained committed to education, balancing his professional responsibilities with part-time instruction in mathematics at various colleges since his graduation. Saeed joined AoPS in 1999 due to its renowned reputation for offering rigorous and enriching mathematics education, as well as its innovative teaching approach. Saeed is passionate about inspiring and empowering students to unlock their full potential. He believes in finding unique ways to engage them, nurturing their curiosity, and fostering their confidence. Saeed’s teaching style is dynamic, engaging, and student-centered. He believes in creating an interactive learning environment where students are active participants. Saeed brings in real-world examples and problem-solving exercises to encourage critical thinking and the application of concepts.

Sarah has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in secondary education. She has been a teacher for over 15 years in online, private, and public schools. She recently joined AoPS and is excited to be teaching at there. Sarah believes that when a student learns a new topic, it opens up new possibilities, understanding, and strengthens a student’s confidence. Sarah is always available to help students work through challenging problems.

Joy holds a BA in mathematics from Wheaton College, and an MS in applied mathematics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Early in her career, Joy was an actuary (a mathematical predictor). She later became an avid PTA volunteer, which led to becoming an elementary school music teacher. She finds the curriculum at AoPS to be world class; it uses stories, puzzles, and games to teach students that there are many approaches to solving problems. She loves working with AoPS students, who are highly engaged in learning and excited to come to class. Joy has great respect for each student and believes that listening to their ideas and teaching them to clearly articulate their thoughts will lead to their own love of mathematics. Employing a student-centered, facilitator teaching style, Joy actively listens, while training students to articulate their approach to solving problems. Her aim is to ignite within each student a passion for learning and a love of mathematics.

Jaya earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering from BITS Pilani, India and worked as a software engineer. After moving to the Bay Area, Jaya started volunteering at the Girls Who Code club at a local middle school. She was impressed by the AoPS curriculum and the student-driven teaching methodology, and has been teaching math at AoPS Santa Clara since it opened in 2019 and continues to teach at several Bay Area campuses. She believes in building strong foundations to equip her students to become creative problem solvers and lifelong learners. Jaya adopts a facilitator style of teaching by encouraging students to ask questions and try different approaches to problem solving. Students in her classroom learn by making mistakes, leading to a deeper understanding of the material.

Leander earned an associate's degree in mathematics at Foothill College and a bachelor's degree in pure mathematics from UC Berkeley. He has tutored statistics and calculus and has worked at the San Jose Math Circle, pitting talented students (and himself) against the toughest problems that pre-college math has to offer. Leander is fascinated by problem solving and was drawn to the AoPS curriculum by the problem-based teaching style. He believes doing something as directly as possible is the best way to learn, and this applies to math too! Leander loves the energy and enthusiasm that students can bring to the classroom and enjoys channeling that energy to help students achieve understanding. Leander aims to run classes like a freeform conversation between himself and the students. He hopes to allow students to explore math topics beyond the bounds of the curriculum when they are relevant and interesting.

Andrew has many years of experience teaching, tutoring, and helping students throughout the college admissions process. He is also a professional writer and editor. At present, he is studying law. He was drawn to AoPS by the emphasis placed on crucial, but underutilized skills like critical reading, writing, and debate. Andrew likes to see students become genuinely interested in what they are learning, such that they go on to pursue knowledge for its own sake. He is also pleased when students come up with clever arguments in debate. Andrew's teaching style is very kind and helpful; he also likes to present the material from a number of different intellectual angles.

Pranav has bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics and computer science. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Mathematics. Pranav identifies with AoPS’ ideology and curriculum, and that is what lead him to become a tutor and substitute instructor for them. He loves working with students because he can see their growth and imaginative ideas. Pranav’s teaching style is cultivating an intuitive and fundamental understanding of the concepts so that they may be readily applied to more complex problems.