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Professional Staff

Ryan Burt, He/Him

Ryan Burt, He/Him

Director
(206) 685-5347

About me

Hi there! I was born and raised in Eastern Washington before moving to our lovely Emerald City to study at the University of Washington. The UW was big, but I was lucky to have friendly professors and inviting programs that made me feel connected and at home. For me that is a great goal for us in Academic Support Programs: to make every student feel supported and at home.  

I loved my undergraduate experience, where I studied English and the Comparative History of Ideas, and decided to continue my studies. In graduate school, I spent a lot of time thinking about how American universities can better welcome a diverse student population and offer classes that reflect an equally diverse curriculum.  Graduate school was difficult, but truly rewarding. In 2008 I received my PhD in the English Department at the UW.  

Over the years I have studied in Italy and Spain and taught for two years at a large public university in Southern Morocco. As I know how exhilarating, mind-opening and challenging it can be to live and learn in a country and culture that is not your own, I am grateful to be part of a team in Academic Support Programs committed to helping our students from all corners of the world succeed.  

Outside of school I love playing and listening to all kinds of music (I’m a drummer), checking out art, cooking, and getting into the beautiful Washington State out-of-doors. I love hanging with my family and friends.  After seeing some amazing parts of the world, I can say that Seattle is one of my favorite places to be.  

Please come visit me in ASP and let me know how I can help you at the University of Washington!

Alli Botelho, She/Her

Alli Botelho, She/Her

Academic Success Coaching Program Manager
206-543-5755

About me

Growing up I was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawai’i which taught me about the values of community and family. From a young age, I learned so much from the community around me and strive to bring a compassionate heart everywhere I go.

I decided to move to Seattle to pursue higher education and learn from a new community of people. I went to Seattle Pacific University (SPU) where I studied psychology and learned about subject areas that I was passionate about. My college experience taught me that in order to be successful in higher education, I needed the community of people around me. From being involved on campus in many different organizations that sparked my passions in sharing my culture, service, and event planning, I learned about the field of Student Affairs.

From there, I decided to continue my educational pursuit at Seattle University where I graduated with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Student Development Administration. During my time in the program, I had the opportunity to intern with Academic Support Programs. I am thankful to continue working with ASP and support the Academic Success Coaching Program. I continuously learn and am inspired by our peer Academic Success Coaches who work to support students and create intentional spaces for students at UW. 

I value community, collaboration, and compassion where I believe that each person has their own strengths and that working together to achieve our goals truly makes a difference. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends, trying new food places, watching tv shows, and working on new art projects. 

Please feel free to reach out, and let me know what I can do to best support you at the University of Washington! 

Eli, They/Them

Eli, They/Them

CLUE Program Manager

About me

I grew up along the American Southwest, from California to Texas. I have a soft spot for desert landscapes and greatly miss the dry heat each time Seattle summers roll around! After dropping out of the University of Arizona, I moved to Seattle in 2015 and worked for a couple years before completing my associates at Seattle Central and then transferring to the University of Washington. I graduated with my BA in Public Health-Global Health in 2020 and finished my Master in Public Health (Epidemiology) in 2022, both at the UW.

I've been with Undergraduate Academic Affairs in a few different roles throughout my time at UW- first as a FIG Leader focused on supporting transfer students and then as a Reinstatement Coach and Student Assistant with Academic Support Programs. I've been incredibly impressed with the sincere dedication towards students that UAA staff have shown and am delighted to continue to support this work in a more direct professional manner. Greater educational achievement is directly linked to improved health outcomes, so working at the intersection of educational equity and public health is a prospect I'm excited to undertake!

Student Assistants

Mina, She/Her

Mina, She/Her

About me

I'm a first generation Muslim woman in my second year at UW! A lot of my background is in activism, specifically gender-based violence work and intersectionality within that space. I really enjoy learning in and out of the classroom so you can always ask me what I'm researching on my own at the moment. I also grew up around the Seattle area and I love exploring new places to eat all around here. I've recently picked up embroidery! I can only really make plants right now, but that's alright. I also really enjoy hanging out with my cat, reading out loud with my friends, and putting together cool outfits. Like a lot of students, I found myself overworked and exhausted while virtual learning. I was on Zoom for too many hours a day and found it very difficult to separate my school and home life. I was taking on a lot of responsibilities at once. Eventually the stress got to the point where I felt like getting the grades I wanted in my classes was impossible. I had to take a step back and reflect on what wasn't working. I needed to learn how to delegate work to myself and other group project members, figure out how to schedule time for myself, and I had to advocate for myself to my professors. I learned that balance is really important and attaining it often means asking for help.

Cathy, She/Her

Cathy, She/Her

About me

Hi! I’m Cathy, a first-year Masters student in the Genetic Counseling program. I’m always so inspired by CLUE’s nightly productive atmosphere and am here to support our tutors and students. Outside of class and work, I love writing book reviews for diaCRITICS, a diasporic Vietnamese literary magazine, and going to boba cupsleeve events with friends. Come say hi to me and the front desk manager! 

Success Coaches

Gracie, She/They

Gracie, She/They

Second Year, Law

Project areas

599678481

I'm excited about

When I am not studying (which is all the time) I like to bake, play board games, go on bookstore dates with my partner, watch silly TV shows, and journal!

Ask me about

As a first generation college student, I believe that students need to support each other and learn from one another. As a success coach I want to create a space where you can share about your academic experiences honestly and learn more about yourself and what success looks like for you.

Notable academic challenge

My most notable academic challenge was during my first quarter of college when I failed 2 classes. These failures were not due to a lack of academic understanding but rather a result of lack of prioritizing myself and my health. Once I focused on my self care and trying out different academic paths I learned what worked for me and was able to get back on track!

Jocie, Allen School Coach, She/Her

Jocie, Allen School Coach, She/Her

Senior, Double major in Computer Science & Community, Environment and Planning (CEP)

Project areas

792735460

I'm excited about

Bouldering!!!!! and doing a bunch of different arts and crafts

Ask me about

As a student who has dealt (and is currently dealing) with with multiple neurodivergent identities, it has made me explore a variety of different scholastic strategies to see what helps me be the most successful. I hope to be able to share these tools I've learned with students who may be struggling as well, especially those who are wanting to go into the STEM field!

Notable academic challenge

I think overall my academic career has been really challenging just because of my ADHD and I have definitely had a bunch of struggles relating to academia because of that - I was (and still am) really terrible with time management which has caused a lot of challenges (like I have a really hard time showing up to class on time).

Kate, She/Her

Kate, She/Her

Junior, Education, Communities, and Organizations & Psychology

Project areas

792341074

I'm excited about

Reading, baking, embroider, scrolling through Tiktok

Ask me about

As a person and academic success coach, I am all about compassion and helping a student find what their strengths are so we can use those to work on areas that could use improvement. Being a student at the University of Washington is hard, there are a lot of expectations to manage and I know personally how difficult it can be when you are feeling like you aren't meeting and exceeding those expectations. My hope is to help any student who comes in and is feeling like they are struggling to see that they already have the tools for success within them, they just might need my help bringing them out and learning how to use them.

Notable academic challenge

Up until about half way through my sophomore year I was feeling really down because I was getting good grades but felt like I was missing something. In winter quarter I figured out what I was missing: I was good about memorizing information and then taking a test but I was not actually retaining information. Once I came to this discovery, I became really hard on myself but since then I have been striving to actually understand information instead of just memorizing it for the short term. Ways I have been working on this is using my free time to find more information on aspects of what I am learning that confuse and/or interest me, talking with those around me about what I am learning, and working in study groups. Now, I am actually retaining information that will help me in my future profession.

Kaylee, Transfer Student Coach, She/Her

Kaylee, Transfer Student Coach, She/Her

Senior, Business Administration, Information Systems

Project areas

599678735

I'm excited about

Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons, being my cat's least favorite person, and creating visual art with a variety of mediums.

Ask me about

As a transfer student with autism + a limited edition set of learning disabilities, I have tried numerous tips, tactics and resources to succeed academically while also enjoying life in college. These experiences have and continue to provide me with an expansive toolkit to draw from and an in-depth understanding of the challenges that come with transferring to a large university. I have never been a traditional student and know what it is like to work 2 to 4 jobs while caring for family in addition to pursuing my degree. If you want to learn techniques or simply talk to someone who has been there and done that, I would love to help you in any way I can. I enjoy being a resource for others and can't wait to meet you!

Notable academic challenge

I have severe attention and focus issues coupled with chronic fatigue that requires me to constantly evolve the ways I learn. I understand the frustration of trying numerous things and maybe finding something that works.

Lauren, Reinstatement Coach, She/Her

Lauren, Reinstatement Coach, She/Her

4th year PhD, PhD, Education: Teaching, Learning & Curriculum

Project areas

792341169

I'm excited about

Hiking, running, yoga, meditation, reading for fun (sci-fi, poetry, essays), watercolors, spending time with my doggo

Ask me about

As a first-generation college student from a rural area in Washington, transitioning to university was a stressful process of figuring out how to navigate complicated systems and requirements. Even now as a doctoral student who has completed a bachelor's and master's degree, I still experience imposter syndrome and feel intimidated by this huge institution. Finding community and mentors in and beyond the university has been an essential part of my journey, and I'm excited to support students in finding a path toward their own vision of academic success. As a fourth-year doctoral student in the College of Education I have worked as an undergraduate instructor, research assistant, research fellow, and mentor. I bring all of these experiences, my identities, and a firm belief in students' strengths and agency to my work as a coach.

Notable academic challenge

After my first quarter of undergrad I dropped out. I was supposed to choose a major because I had all my first and second year credits completed through running start but I had no idea what I wanted to study. The counselor told me just to choose something b/c I could change it later, but I left instead. Moved all my stuff out of the dorms after just 10 weeks and moved back home. It was difficult but I don't regret the decision to take a year off and try again somewhere new later on.

Michael, Engineering Coach, He/Him

Michael, Engineering Coach, He/Him

Sophomore, Chemical Engineering

Project areas

792329964

I'm excited about

I like to play all sorts of video games, participate in all the sports you can think of (football being my favorite), working out, watching tv shows and movies and listening to music almost 24/7.

Ask me about

I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah and moved up to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. This was a big move for me with many challenges between adapting to my new environment and preparing for the rigorous load of college courses. I’m looking forward to becoming an academic success coach and helping fellow students navigate their way into their new college life. I struggled early on in my college pathway including scoring below my expectations on a few tests, struggling to focus, and finding it difficult to fit in. I eventually found ways to get myself out there by making new friends and focusing on better mental health, which led to an improvement in school. I also found many other ways to help motivate me to keep on going, even through setbacks, and realizing the college journey is a long road and will have many bumps and curves. It might not all go the way you originally thought it would, but everything will work out just fine if you keep working hard and persevere. I can't wait to help you find your way and be that shoulder to lean on for support during the difficult times of college and help you be the best Husky you can be.

Notable academic challenge

Learning how to make new relationships and finding myself, while being far away from home, was challenging my freshman year. The traditional class size in my high school was around 20-30 students, which made it easier to learn the course material, ask for help when needed, and connect with teachers and classmates. At the University of Washington, most of my classes have a few hundred students and I was challenged in opening up to seek help from fellow students and professors. I struggled with my grades early in freshman year and definitely needed help and support from peers and TAs, but I was too afraid to ask for help because I was afraid of being perceived as “dumb”. I overcame my challenges by pushing myself to ask for help, studying with classmates, and developing study tactics to adapt to new academic situations. This helped me get out of my shell, confront my vulnerabilities, and become more resilient. Now, I am able to better understand the material being taught in class, successfully prepare myself for exams, and complete homework with a fuller understanding.

Moska, Engineering Coach, She/Her

Moska, Engineering Coach, She/Her

Senior, Electrical Engineering

Project areas

792340959

I'm excited about

I love to read, its one of my favorite hobbies

Ask me about

I am currently a Senior at UW, but I actually transferred here last summer, so I haven't been able to reach out and build as many friendships as I would have liked to but hoping to make this last year count. I really enjoy reading and I am someone who is great at listening if you ever need someone to just hear you. I am not the best at writing but I can definitely help with any problems that involve numbers. I am very excited to meet new people at UW and build amazing relationships with everyone.

Notable academic challenge

I really struggled when I was taking computer science and I actually ended up not doing as good as I thought and it was one of the first classes and I didn't do well in and I thought that my whole school career was over but instead I realized after talking with other students that I wasn't the only one and actually so many were struggling around me, and I used that experience to tell myself that I am not going to be great in all my classes but to actually try my best even if I struggle to find different pathways to still make my own little successes because not everyone can measure their success the same.

Natalia, She/Her

Natalia, She/Her

Sophomore, Community, Environment, and Planning

Project areas

795751032

I'm excited about

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing board games, journaling, watercolor painting, playing the uke, and watching sunsets.

Ask me about

I’m an immigrant, an artist, a first-generation college student, and the oldest sister in my family. Throughout my life, I’ve had experiences that taught me how to adapt to succeed. I became an academic success coach because I believe in the importance of education and collaboration. I strive to empower other students like me to make the most of their time in college.

Notable academic challenge

During my first quarter at UW, I started dealing with imposter syndrome. I doubted my abilities because of how intimidated and overwhelmed I felt. I found myself procrastinating and not knowing how to manage my time effectively. I've grown a lot since, as I found ways to cope with how I was feeling, and now I know I'm worthy of being here (and so are you!).

Sarah, She/Her

Sarah, She/Her

1st Year Graduate Student, Master of Public Health - Epidemiology

Project areas

792341380

I'm excited about

I really enjoy spending time outside, such as hiking, going for walks, or reading a book in the park. I also like to craft items (sewing/knitting/crochet) and play board games or video games with friends.

Ask me about

While UW’s large campus offers numerous resources and opportunities, it can also feel intimidating to navigate at times. My goal as an academic success coach is to understand each student’s goals and develop strategies together to help them overcome any potential obstacles. As a former UW undergraduate and current graduate student, I hope to share knowledge I have gained about resources at the university. I look forward to meeting with students and helping them succeed at UW!

Notable academic challenge

When I started the organic chemistry series, I knew the classes would be difficult. However, some personal issues I was facing at the time made it very difficult to focus on my course work and I started to see my grade fall. I felt overwhelmed and decided that it was time to change my strategy. Instead of studying alone, some classmates and I met in Odegaard, grabbed a white board, and taught each other reactions until we could go through them with ease. It was reassuring to know that I wasn’t the only one struggling with the material and instead of figuring out problems alone, I could go through them with others. During the final, I felt more confident about answering the questions and earned a higher grade in the class than I had initially aimed for.

T. Ronalei, Graduate Student Coach, She/Her

T. Ronalei, Graduate Student Coach, She/Her

First Year Graduate Student, M.Ed Culturally Sustaining Education. and Ph.D Sociocultural Anthropology

Project areas

792739367

I'm excited about

Playing volleyball, hanging out with family & friends. Watching tv & movies!

Ask me about

I am Samoan woman and a first generation graduate student. Navigating higher education has been a journey but I wouldn't have been able to without the support from colleagues, faculty, and resources on campus! I am looking forward to being in community with students and helping them find their inner strengths to navigate their own unique journey in academia. From my experience, juggling classes, work and research work while also maintaining a healthy relationship with myself beyond the classrooms is what I struggled with. With this struggle and quarters of practice, I've been able to find a routine that I am able to adjust to and hoping to share this with you. As an academic success coach, my goal is to ensure your success by finding the resilience within you already to give you the best experience the UW has to offer!

Notable academic challenge

Time management and trying my best not to feel overwhelmed by overbooking myself!

Yonas, He/Him

Yonas, He/Him

Sophomore, Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO) and Law, Societies, & Justice (LSJ)

Project areas

792397445

I'm excited about

I love to play soccer, basketball and cross country. I enjoy reading historic/ factual books.

Ask me about

I am a first generation student, born and raised in Eritrea. I am passionate about learning deconstructing historic racism towards minorities, In the future I hope with my work ethic, passion, and wanting to build a better world I can help lead a change.

Notable academic challenge

I failed two classes my second quarter at uw, I had a hard time pin-pointing which major I wanted to go for, I had a hard time meeting new people( still do) and being socially out there, I suck at communicating so I almost failed a class because of a presentation.

CLUE Front Desk Managers

Ingrid, she/her

Ingrid, she/her

About me

I believe that each student has the ability to succeed, and that a productive learning environment will help as many students as possible realize this ability. I can facilitate student learning by supporting tutors to ensure each session runs smoothly, whether this means resolving tech issues, relaying communication from students to tutors, or helping tutors find solutions to other problems. I will also strive to maintain an environment conducive to student growth by making CLUE a welcoming place for all students.

Lauryn, she/hers

Lauryn, she/hers

About me

I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, watching movies/tv, eating, shopping, and travel!

Last year I took ART 190 for to fulfill some VPLA credits. I honestly underestimated the difficulty level of the class (for someone like me who has never taken a formal drawing class but enjoys art recreationally. I started out finishing all the assignments during class, never spending too much time on them. Then, when my grades began to reflect that, I started taking the class more seriously and would spend hours on each project, and at times my grades still didn't reflect that. I got really frustrated and down on myself, but what I learned is that you should put your best foot forward in every class, no matter how easy or difficult you perceive it to be, and if you're doing your best that's all you can do! I shouldn't have underestimated the class at first, but I also should not have gotten down on myself for receiving certain grades when I was doing all that I could. Have grace with yourself and try hard things!

CLUE Tutors: Chemistry

Maya (Lead), they/them

Maya (Lead), they/them

Senior, Chemistry

I'm excited about

Resonance structures, stoichiometry and organic reaction mechanisms!

I've taken

CHEM 142-162 237-239, 241

Ask me about

Knitting, video games, and reading

Notable academic challenge

I took CHEM 241, a lab course during one of the online quarters. Since we weren't able to conduct the labs ourselves, I had a really hard time remembering and understanding the techniques we were supposed to use. I managed to pull through with my knowledge of the theory but swore off taking another lab course until I could do it in person!

Ryan, he/him

Ryan, he/him

Grad Student, Medicinal Chemistry

I've taken

Equivalent of CHEM 162, 237, 312, 530, 531, 532

Ask me about

Trail running and playing classical piano!

Notable academic challenge

The weekly problem sets in CHEM 530 (Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry) required both creativity and a deep knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms. By working on them with my peers, however, I gained an appreciation for collaborative problem solving that I hope to share with fellow students while at CLUE.

Amelie, she/her

Amelie, she/her

Junior, Chemistry, minor: Leadership

I've taken

CHEM 321, currently in CHEM 238

Ask me about

Hiking, rock climbing, camping, kayaking, thrifting, and going to coffee shops.

Notable academic challenge

The first chemistry course I took at the UW was Chem 152. I entered the class feeling confident because I did well in the Chem 142 equivalent course I took in Running Start. For our first quiz, I got a score of 3/10. I was so ashamed of myself and was considering dropping the course after I received this grade, thinking that maybe STEM courses weren't for me. But I stuck to the course and I changed most of my study strategies after that. I attended CLUE drop-in and exam reviews, went to office hours, and did as many practice problems as I could. It wasn't easy to finish this class, but I ended up feeling very confident in my academic abilities in chemistry by the end of the quarter. In fact, by the end of this class, I began considering majoring in chemistry because I enjoyed the course so much.

Ian, he/him

Ian, he/him

PhD Student, Bioengineering

I've taken

Courses in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry

Notable academic challenge

Entering college as a first-gen student, I wanted to pursue the sciences, but I had no idea which one to choose as my major. Although I initially started out on the physics track, I struggled with the abstractness of the concepts and the lack of community for me. I eventually decided to major in biochemistry, which was as difficult; however, I found applications that fascinated me and a group of close, supportive friends. Spending long nights studying the various molecules and pathways, we challenged each other to succeed in our classes and grew closer in the process.

Shreya, she/her

Shreya, she/her

Senior, Neuroscience

Nikki, she/her

Nikki, she/her

Junior, Biology

I've taken

CHEM 142, 152, 162, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242

Ask me about

I love hanging out with my dog, friends, and family. I also like bodyboarding and tap dancing in my free time! I enjoy playing video game on my switch!

Notable academic challenge

CHEM 238 was probably the most difficult class I have taken so far. It was a combination of taking my first chemistry lab (CHEM 241) and the challenging material. I have never done consistently poor on most of the exams even after evaluating my study strategies and talking to TAs and tutors for help (after every exam). I found myself putting a lot of my time and effort in this class. Although I ultimately didn't get the grade I wanted, it helped me to pivot my learning tactics to best fit my schedule. In the next quarter, I took CHEM 239 and it was the best I have ever done in any chemistry class. My experience in CHEM 238 just came to show me that sometimes you have to struggle in order to see the results you want in the future.

Mira, she/her

Mira, she/her

Junior, Biology (Physiology)

I've taken

CHEM 145, 152-162, 237; currently in 238

Ask me about

Cello, guitar, paddle boarding, arts & crafts, and programming :)

Notable academic challenge

About halfway through spring quarter of my freshman year of college, I was given a concussion in a car accident, and I received doctor's orders to stay on brain rest for 2-4 weeks. Communicating with professors was challenging, both because I was still disoriented and because I was determined to finish out the quarter. By finding the time to talk one-on-one with them, we were able to make a plan that we both felt comfortable implementing. Though it was a scary quarter academically and physically, I was able to finish strong :)

Naveen, he/him

Naveen, he/him

Senior, Biology (Physiology)

I've taken

OCHEM (237,238,239), BIOCHEM (405, 406)

Ask me about

Enjoy lifting weights, catching up on TV shows and being outdoors in nature

Notable academic challenge

I struggled in the first half of my CHEM 152 course when I was first learning titrations and stoichiometry but after reaching out for help and getting the tutoring I needed I was able to learn the concepts and do well in the course.

Aletta, she/her

Aletta, she/her

Senior, Biochemistry

I've taken

CHEM 237, 238, 239, 452, 453, 241, 242, and I will be taking BIOC 440 this quarter.

Ask me about

I like listening to music, singing, playing the piano, watching movies, and learning fun facts about animals!

Notable academic challenge

I encountered a lot of trouble with doing the experiments in CHEM241 and 242. I’m an international student. The the curriculum setup in high schools back in my country was a lot different from the ones here. It was more intensive in solving problems and the written materials. So I didn’t have any time doing lab work in high school. I also did the general CHEM series entirely online, so I didn’t get any experience in lab work then either. In both of the classes, I struggled with getting things done in time since I was unfamiliar with the tools and was constantly being not confident in myself. However, I did manage to get the grades I wanted through trying my best to understand the materials and the logistics of the lab procedures, and reaching out to my TA for help.

CLUE Tutors: Fab Four

Anya, Biology, she/they

Anya, Biology, she/they

Senior, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology / Interdisciplinary Honors

I'm excited about

Pathology, human physiology, and cellular mechanisms

I've taken

BIOL 355, 356, 406, 418, 486, and 492, GENOME 371

Ask me about

I love reading while cuddling with my cats. I also enjoy thrifting, repurposing, and salvaging anything destined for the trash. I am a member of Huskies for Neurodiversity and the secretary of Huskies for Reproductive Freedom.

Notable academic challenge

I struggle with procrastination and perfectionism. In college, you cannot get 100% all the time, especially when you wait until the last minute.

Mohil, CSE, he/him

Mohil, CSE, he/him

Graduate Student (Masters), Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

I love hiking, composing music and reading novels.

Heather, Statistics, she/her

Heather, Statistics, she/her

Graduate Student (PharmD), Pharmacy

I'm excited about

Attempting to summit Mt Rainier next year!

I've taken

STATS 311, PHRMCY 514 (biomedical stats), CHEM E 436/437 (Stats for chemical engineers) I can also help with: All things chemistry!

Ask me about

Mountaineering and rock climbing

Notable academic challenge

An event that I considered an academic failure was when I first transferred from community college to undergrad. I was not doing so well in my classes like I was before due to the major changes in environment and classroom teaching styles. My grades plummeted, but I studied even harder. After I got into the groove of things and into my major of choice, Chem E, I started to become a better student academically and socially.

Tutoring philosophy

My teaching method is to guide students to the right path to understand the concepts needed to form their own conclusions and facilitate their understanding. My attitude towards the student is to be patient and empathetic to maintain a professional and friendly relationship with the student. I will constantly strive to improve my teaching and look for ways to improve as a teacher. There is always room for growth as a person and as a tutor.

Makayla, Biology, she/her

Makayla, Biology, she/her

Sophomore, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, minor: Bioethics

I've taken

BIOL 355, currently taking BIOC 405 and GENOME 361

Ask me about

I love baking, playing video games, reading, listening to music, and exploring new cafes and restaurants! You'll probably find me eating somewhere new every weekend.

Notable academic challenge

I found BIOL 200 to be the most challenging of the intro series and that affected my confidence in pursuing my major and career. Although I did better in the following quarter, I continued to question my decision until taking BIOL 355, Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology. The class reminded me why I wanted to specialize in MCD biology and why I love what I study. The intro series can be difficult in many ways, but I think the best solution for me was to just stick it out and find that passion again. There are also tons of resources (like CLUE!) that I wish I had utilized, so definitely don't be afraid to reach out!

Salina, Biology, she/her

Salina, Biology, she/her

Senior, Public Health-Global Health

Ask me about

Writing, drawing, and doing little arts and crafts projects!

Notable academic challenge

I had some learning challenges after an injury that affected how well I could read and process information. It definitely forced me to think about what worked for me as a learner; as a result, I refocus my priorities and how I was using my energy in my coursework in order to adapt to my new normal. It's still tough sometimes, but it's definitely helped to stay positive and flexible!

CLUE Tutors: Math

Hannah (Lead), she/her

Hannah (Lead), she/her

PhD Candidate, Bioengineering

Ask me about

Rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, skiing

Notable academic challenge

I am in the fifth year of my PhD!

Hisham, he/him

Hisham, he/him

Senior, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

I've taken

MATH 207/208, 33X

Ask me about

I enjoy reading all sorts, but especially historical fiction! I'm also really into the Triathlon Sports (running/biking/swimming), but I don't know if I could do them all together...

Notable academic challenge

During my Spring quarter of freshman year, I over scheduled myself. I was taking 6 classes on top of trying to apply to internships/research/etc, and maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle. Somehow I managed to stay on pace with the assignments, but I could see my mental health start to crumble as the weeks went on. I spent less time with friends/family, and more days studying from afternoon through the night. From that experience, I learned that a large part of performing well is taking care of yourself. I shouldn't take on another challenge if it prevents me from eating healthy, sleeping well, spending time with others, or really just enjoying life.

John, he/him

John, he/him

Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

Math 207, 208, 224 (currently enrolled)

Ask me about

Soccer, traveling, food

Notable academic challenge

packed schedules, difficulty grasping course material

Aaron, he/him

Aaron, he/him

Sophomore, Electrical & Computer Engineering

I've taken

MATH 207, MATH, 208, MATH 224, AMATH 301

Ask me about

Physical Activities: Sports, Weightlifting, etc.

Notable academic challenge

My first midterm in MATH 208 was not ideal. I had to study and utilize my resources, including CLUE, to improve on the second midterm and the final.

Raylynn, she/her

Raylynn, she/her

Grad Student, Biostatistics

I've taken

MATH 207 & 208

Ask me about

Having a walk when weather is good, traveling with friends, reading, movies

Notable academic challenge

Double majored as an undergraduate student, took three summer courses while having a full time internship.

Leah, she/her

Leah, she/her

Junior, Informatics & Statistics

I've taken

Math 207, 208, 224, 300

Notable academic challenge

I took several time-consuming courses during one quarter and struggled a bit in the beginning to keep up with all of them. Fortunately, I was able to adjust my daily schedule quickly to allocate sufficient time for each course. I've found it most helpful to start early in every class to avoid burnout at the end of the quarter.

Stephanie, she/her

Stephanie, she/her

Senior, Mechanical Engineering

I'm excited about

I like linear algebra, differential equations, and simply anything calculus. Broadly I also enjoy general derivation and trigonometry because I love the puzzle of it!

I've taken

I have taken Math 124, 125, 126, 307, 308, AMATH 301, and I'm currently taking Math 224. I can also help with some early engineering classes, like AA 210, ME 230, ME 123, etc.!

Ask me about

I love learning about astronomy and aerospace technologies. Outside of school I also enjoy hiking, camping, and exploring the city.

Notable academic challenge

At the beginning of quarantine, I didn't focus enough on my math class at the time and failed the first midterm. I had to reevaluate my schedule and priorities and was able to eventually pass the next midterm and get a good grade in the class overall. This taught me to better budget my time and how to deal with difficult classes.

David, he/him

David, he/him

Junior, ACMS: Data Science and Statistics, Minor: Informatics

I've taken

MATH 126, 207, 208, 394, 395 & AMATH 301, 352, 383

Ask me about

I love my video games, music, and shows.

Tutoring philosophy

I was rejected by my first choice of major during Spring quarter of my freshman year. I couldn't see myself settling for any other major. So, I took more relevant courses in the following Autumn and Winter quarters and made sure to excel in them to make my next application stand out. I also had my personal statements thoroughly peer-reviewed. I applied to that same major in Spring quarter of my sophomore year and was accepted. What a happy ending.

Charlie, he/him

Charlie, he/him

Junior, Biochemistry

I've taken

MATH 207/208

Ask me about

Watching anime, playing the piano, gaming

Notable academic challenge

The honors organic chemistry course was a really great experience for me, since the passion and depth of knowledge that the professors brought into the courses presented many opportunities to reconsider my entire understanding of chemistry. However, the pace that we covered new material and the unique quirks of each professors' teaching styles kept the entire class on its toes - which created an incredible environment of mutual support and studying and really helped me learn how to make the most of my peers as a learning resource.

Evana, she/her

Evana, she/her

Junior, Statistics

I've taken

Math 207, 208, 224, 300, 318

Ask me about

Cooking, baking and crocheting, and reading!

Notable academic challenge

For the first quarter of my freshman year I, like a lot of international students, was in my home country, Malaysia, because of covid. The 15 hour time difference really impacted the way I had to plan and study for my classes. And as a freshman, that was really stressful for me. I was not able to make it to live lectures because they happened to be at 3 or 4 am, and I missed deadlines because I miscalculated when they where due. This situation really taught me the importance of time management in college and I think I have become better at it because of that!

Matt, he/him

Matt, he/him

Alumni, Math

I'm excited about

Abstract Algebra, but I enjoy going full nerd on anything from unit conversion to Laplace transforms.

I've taken

MATH 207/8/9, 402/3/4, 427/8, 404/5/6, 424/5/6

Ask me about

Hiking, Biking, Backpacking

Notable academic challenge

I consider my greatest failure as not going to graduate school. I would like to have learned more computer science; that gap in understanding pursues me in my professional career.

Meryl, she/her

Meryl, she/her

Sophomore, Math & Drama Design

Ask me about

Reading, working out, playing volleyball, card games, and theater!

Notable academic challenge

I really struggled keeping up with my math course work while also working as a stage manager for UTS last year. After my first midterm for MATH 126 went poorly, I reevaluated my study strategies and learned that I benefit from visually modeling problems and working in study groups. I learned that planning a study schedule helps me stay on track and balance all my hobbies.

Tyler, he/him

Tyler, he/him

Senior, Electrical Engineering, minor: Math

I've taken

STAT 220, MATH 324, MATH 308, MATH 407, STAT 390, MATH 209, MATH 394

Ask me about

Cooking, video & card games, skiing

Notable academic challenge

I struggle with presentations and public speaking.

Nina, she/her

Nina, she/her

Graduate/Professional Student, Medical student, BS and MS in biomedical engineering

Ask me about

Backpacking, skiing, watching basketball

Notable academic challenge

I struggled at the beginning of AP physics back in high school and almost dropped the course. My professor convinced me to stay and eventually became my reason for loving physics and pursuing engineering.

CLUE Tutors: Physics

Trina (Lead), she/her

Trina (Lead), she/her

Senior, Electrical Engineering

Ask me about

journaling, listening to music

Notable academic challenge

Time management

Andrew, he/him

Andrew, he/him

Sophomore, Electrical Engineering

Ask me about

Rock Climbing, Cooking, Piano

Notable academic challenge

During my first year at UW, I struggled with managing schoolwork while adapting to a rapidly changing lifestyle. I found it very helpful to dedicate time towards being non-productive and doing an activity that I enjoyed, such as going on a walk or reading a book.

Benjamin, he/him

Benjamin, he/him

Senior, Computer Engineering & Applied Physics

I've taken

PHYS 224, 225, 227, & 228

Ask me about

Mechanical keyboards, Bouldering, Listening to music, Hanging out with friends

Notable academic challenge

Managing my time between my classes, friends, and hobbies my Freshman year. I soon realized I had to be more organized so I started keeping a planner of what I was going to do everyday and it helped me greatly to succeed!

Lauren, she/her

Lauren, she/her

Sophomore, Physics & Data Science

I've taken

PHYS 224 (currently enrolled)

Ask me about

Baking, hiking, pottery, knitting

Notable academic challenge

When I took the introductory physics series, I had already taken ap physics so phys 121 and 122 were mostly review for me. Phys 123 was the first real college class where I was learning brand new material. When I got to the first midterm, I realized that I hadn't learned any of the material very well and had to relearn everything in a few days. After that, I spent time adjusting my note taking and studying habits, and made sure to find out about all the resources available to me.

Juno, they/them

Juno, they/them

Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering

Ask me about

Hiking, rock climbing, skiing, D&D, and reading

Notable academic challenge

Working on undergraduate research at UW studying tau leptons with CERN partners.

Joseph, he/him

Joseph, he/him

Junior, Astronomy and Informatics

I've taken

PHYS 228, PHYS 334, PHYS 224

Ask me about

Working out, cooking, hiking

Notable academic challenge

There was a point when I was juggling a part time job, a full course load, and issues in my personal life that all seemed like an unbearable weight on my shoulders. My grades began to suffer as a result until I was reminded that failure is a part of the process and that there are plenty of resources around me that are there to help me get through challenging times.

Henry, he/him

Henry, he/him

Graduate Student, Materials Science and Engineering

Notable academic challenge

In my senior year of undergrad I had several challenges outside of school and made it very difficult to work on the senior research project needed to graduate. With the help and understanding of my advisor, however, I was able to turn it around and have my report submitted in time to allow me to continue on into my graduate studies.

Selena, she/her

Selena, she/her

Junior, Electrical Engineering

Ask me about

Cooking, drawing, bouldering, snowboarding

Notable academic challenge

I really struggled with staying motivated when all classes were remote during the pandemic, and I felt that the new virtual classrooms stunted my ability to learn. After I got used to those, in person classes returned and I had to adjust again. Having experienced both silent breakout rooms and noisy lecture halls, I now can say that each academic setting has its pros and cons.

Jonathan, he/him

Jonathan, he/him

Junior, Applied Mathematics & Biochemistry

Ask me about

Reading, running, hiking, biking.

Notable academic challenge

As a freshman, I was utterly overwhelmed in the lead-up to my first set of finals. My progress on essays slowed, and I was often too stressed to do practice problems. Eventually I found that breaking down each of my assignments into many smaller goals really helped me improve my time management and productivity. Completing four or five of these smaller goals in a day felt like a much bigger accomplishment than making moderate progress toward one large goal, and this change in mindset was just what I needed to get over the finish line of my first quarter.

Ted, he/him

Ted, he/him

Senior, Aeronautics & Astronautics

Ask me about

Sing and play games

Notable academic challenge

Working on LEMS lab internship was very challenging and rewarding at the same time.

CLUE Tutors: Writing Center

Fleur (Lead), she/her

Fleur (Lead), she/her

Senior, Neuroscience

I'm excited about

Something that excites me the most about writing is how interdisciplinary it is. This is something that I really learned through the Honors Program, and is what I love the most about writing- it truly applies to almost every academic discipline there is. More specifically, I am really interested in research papers, especially science papers, as well as philosophy/ethics.

Tutoring philosophy

I believe that the first step to fostering talented writers is to develop their confidence with their own abilities while helping them to maintain a growth mindset. I strive to create a positive, open environment for my students to be vulnerable and critically reflect upon their writing and their writing skills. By asking lots of open-ended questions, emphasizing what I consider to be the highlights of their piece, and giving constructive criticisms, I hope to make my students comfortable enough to work on their writing skills and their writing in general, in a positive and supportive way.

Yina, she/her

Yina, she/her

Graduate Student, Religion (B.A.)

I'm excited about

My degree is in Religion, so I'm excited to tutor in any subject related to most fields of the humanities! My specific focuses were on the intersection of differing religions with race and gender; the relations between religion, violence, art, and war; and how race affects scholarly models in the study of Buddhism in America.

I've taken

I am well-oriented with most Humanities courses

Ask me about

I love art and reading! During my sliver of free time I like doing art projects and drawing. I may not be good at either, but I think it's important to have a hobby that can help you relax!

Notable academic challenge

In a writing class I took during my first quarter at UW, the grade I received on my final paper was much lower than I was hoping it to be. What I had to remind myself is different fields may require very different writing styles than what you're used to, and sometimes not following that style properly can affect your grade. It’s important to talk to someone that is familiar with the style you're writing in before submitting your work because some professors can be strict about style!

Jada, she/her

Jada, she/her

Junior, English and ECO

I'm excited about

I really enjoy reading and writing in their simplest form- for fun! The subject of English is exciting to me in that it encapsulates what is genuinely cool about these activities, in part this is words and linguistics. Words are beautiful, so much fun to use, and can be used to express so many different things. I am excited by the idea that they shape our cultures and realities. I like to treat their usage like art and I am so excited to help others have fun with this too!

I've taken

ENGL 202 ENGL 258 ENGL 302 ENGL 346

Ask me about

I like to run and also lately trying almost any type of new sport, collecting books and clothes, music, all types of foods, watching movies and spending time with my friends. Hiking, biking, reading, writing poetry, baking

Notable academic challenge

I actually feel like my one technical failure was that I did not get a A in drawing class last year, but that this was not really a failure because I really learned so much!

Sophie, she/her

Sophie, she/her

Sophomore, History

I've taken

ENGL 198, HSTEU 234, HSTAFM 151, HSTCMP 284

Ask me about

I love backpacking & hiking, skiing, knitting, reading, thrifting, listening to music & going to all the great concerts in Seattle!

Notable academic challenge

I have a difficult time staying organized and focused in many areas of my life, and with the increased responsibilities and independence of college academics learning different techniques to stay on top of school, work, and social commitments has been both challenging and valuable.

Stephanie, she/her

Stephanie, she/her

Senior, Psychology

I'm excited about

I'm excited about helping other students solidify writing skills that apply to all majors!

Tutoring philosophy

My goal is to help students develop the skills they need to thrive and succeed in any writing situation. As a tutor, I want to cultivate critical thinking and metacognition so students can access and implement strategies to strengthen their writing. I value conversation-based learning, so during sessions, I will ask questions to facilitate reflection and deeper thinking, and encourage students to voice their own ideas and concerns in addition to mine. Writing is a way to express oneself and should be enjoyable, so ultimately, I want every student to be confident in their skills and have fun during the writing process.

Lane, she/her

Lane, she/her

Junior, Public Health- Global Health

I'm excited about

Writing can be immensely personal, no matter the genre or purpose. An author's voice is what makes or breaks a piece, their view of a topic what drives it. I look forward to helping students best infuse their voice into their work and getting to learn about each of their unique perspective through the process.

I've taken

English 131, English 111, English 284 & 285

Ask me about

I love playing rugby, trying new food, reading, and going on hike/nature walks

Notable academic challenge

When I first enter the university I was convinced I was going to be pre-med; I had basically mapped out all of my required courses and electives to graduate on time and fully prepared. However, taking the chemistry series and starting biology really changed my perspective. I found that the I didn't so much enjoy learning about the basic building blocks of life or chemical processes as I did discovering how the healthcare system works and the social aspect of medicine. This left me with a great academic challenge: do I stick out my current major of biology even though I have no passion for it or do I step outside of my comfort zone and try a new path that allows me to explore my new curiosities? I went with the latter and applied for the Public Health major, taking the statistics and epidemiology classes that go with it. In doing so, I have found a major I love and began to feel more in place here at UW.

Fernanda, she/her

Fernanda, she/her

Graduate Student, Secondary Teacher Prep

I'm excited about

Within writing and English in general the part that interests me the most is the learning of the language as well as the strengthening of that language. Learning new ways to strengthen one's own command over a language whether it be learning new ways to write, widening one's own vocabulary, or even developing new writing styles is really fascinating to me. Language acquisition to me in general is pretty exciting and interesting as I love learning new languages!

I've taken

C LIT 200, C LIT 250, ENGL 202, ENGL 131, ENGL 345, ENGL 370, ENGL 471, ENGL 302, ENGL 320, ENGL 386, ENGL 372, ENGL 282, ENGL 330, ENGL 352, 336, ENGL 444, EDUC 251, EDUC 473, EDUC 170, ECO Capstone Series, EDUC 340, EDUC 472, EDUC 310, EDUC 370, EDUC 280, EDC&I 359, EDC&I 453, EDPSY 404, ECFS 330, ECFS 315,

Ask me about

Watching scary movies, finding new boba places, and cooking!

Notable academic challenge

My first quarter as a graduate student was really rough as I had to find a way to balance work, field work, and a really heavy course load. Building in routines for myself and being transparent with both my classmates and professors really helped me out in this!

Tutoring philosophy

I aim to engage with students in a way that will enrich their understanding and enable them to transfer the skills that they have learned into other areas. I also aim to incorporate the culture and background of the students I work with into the work that we do. Apart from this I also wish to learn from the students that I work with so that there is learning happening on both sides. Overall my goal is also to constantly keep checking the privileges that I hold as well as keeping in mind how the positionalities as well as my identities, play a role in the interactions I have with students.

Amber, she/her

Amber, she/her

Sophomore, English, minor: Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies

I've taken

ENGL 202, ENGL 283, ENGL 302, ENGL 368, ENGL 210, ENGL 131

Ask me about

I love writing feminist poetry, reading, trying new coffee shops, traveling, and eating.

Notable academic challenge

I have a tendency to put a lot of unhealthy pressure on myself to expect a certain grade in my courses so that if I don't get the desired grade I view myself badly and become harsh on myself. I find that I have to step back and recognize that university is different from High School and grades hold different value, also that what I learned holds more value over who I am than a grade does.