A Memorable Teaching Experience: I had an ESL student who lacked familiarity with the test and struggled with the reading comprehension and tough reasoning questions. She was very diligent and eager to work, and we worked together closely over the course of several months to help improve her vocabulary, recognize patterns, and increase her confidence with the test. After improving her score, we also worked on her application strategy and process, and I really enjoyed helping her articulate her experiences into her personal statement as well. I’m pleased to say that she received scholarships from several schools, and recently graduated from a school that was a great fit for her.
Personal Rewarding Educational Experience: One of my favorite classes was with a finance professor at Wharton who began each lesson with a real-time summary and commentary of developments in the markets, and students would pack the classroom for these sessions. It was one of the first classes where students got to see economic and financial theory applied to companies and financial developments in a very clear and tangible way. I enjoyed the class so much that I later worked as a research assistant for him and was able to meet with him periodically to discuss developments in the biotechnology industry.
Favorite Quote:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” – Steve Jobs
Fun Facts:
During college, I studied abroad in Hong Kong; my dorm lacked air conditioning, but it helped build character (so I hear).
Prior to moving to Houston, I lived in three cities for almost exactly four years each.
Interests: In my free time, I enjoy the arts (especially film, music, and photography) and board games nights. I also cheer on Houston sports teams and attempt to maintain the appearance of being physically active, by playing ultimate frisbee and the occasional round of golf.
Biography: I was born and raised in Denver, and moved to California during middle school. In high school, I benefited from working with quality tutors, who helped teach me how to apply myself towards my work and my writing. I was initially interested in medicine, then gravitated toward the business and policy aspect of health care, so I decided to major in health care management and finance in college. After college, I worked in investment banking in Northern California, but found that I missed the academic environment. Upon leaving investment banking, I stayed in the Bay Area and went back to get a Master’s in management science and engineering, which essentially looks at certain systems and tries to make them more efficient. During my time at Stanford, I became increasingly interested in theoretical and normative issues related to health care, such as bioethics. So I applied to graduate programs in philosophy, ultimately moving to Houston for graduate school at Rice. In the meantime, I’ve been teaching and tutoring in various capacities for a decade.
Future Goals: Outside of education and tutoring, I have interests in philosophy, business (especially startups), and data science, so I am open to pursuing additional ventures in those areas.
Educational Background:
B.S. Economics, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
M.S. Engineering, Stanford University
M.A. Philosophy, Rice University