What are your qualifications?

For a complete overview of my professional experience, check out my CV.

Education

• Ph.D. in Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz, expected 2023
• M.A. in English Language and Literature, Mills College, 2017
• B.A. in English, University of California, Los Angeles, 2008

Teacher Training and Pedagogy

I’ve completed teaching pedagogy courses at Mills College and UC Santa Cruz. I’ve also studied feminist pedagogy with renowned activist Bettina Aptheker. I take much of my inspiration from Black feminist scholars such as bell hooks, who believe that the classroom should be a space of joy and liberation and that students enter the classroom with authority as sources of situated knowledge. I’m a strong supporter of active learning and consider myself more of a host, coach, or guide as opposed to a lecturer.

Teaching Experience

How much does tutoring cost?

Fees vary depending on the subject, student academic level, and frequency of meetings.

In general, subjects that require preparation or research before the tutoring session, such as literature or critical theory, are charged at a higher rate than composition.

Additionally, longer sessions or those scheduled on a recurring basis are more likely to receive a lower rate.

Do I come to you, or do you come to me?

That depends on you! Many students prefer the convenience of studying at home, while others are motivated by a change of scenery. During our first consultation, we’ll discuss your preferences and pick a meeting place.

I’m happy to come to where you are, or we can split the distance between us and study at a midway coffee shop. I’m based in Oakland and can travel anywhere in the East Bay. Depending on my schedule, I can travel as far as south as Santa Cruz (where I work and study).

What can I expect during the first session?

We’ll start by discussing metacognition (a fancy term for thinking about how you learn). This is important because it will help us understand what kind of learner you are and help me design lessons tailored to your specific needs.

Then we’ll discuss your long term educational goals and work backward to build a series of attainable, concrete benchmarks to help you achieve them.

For example, if you’d like to earn a specific grade in a course, we’ll start by reviewing your syllabus, your instructor’s grading rubrics, and any coursework you’ve already completed to determine your instructor’s expectations and set a baseline for your performance. Based on these factors, we’ll decide which areas you’d like to focus on and I will build a flexible schedule of lessons targeting those areas.

We’ll work together according to the agreed upon schedule to close the gap between where you are and where you’d like to be.