Meet Our Amazing Instructors
Dilip Barman
Education:
B.A. Mathematical Sciences, Johns Hopkins University;
M.Sc. Computer Science, Marist College;
Sc. M. Computer Science, Brown University;
Professional Experience:
Has taught math for decades and currently teaches at a school he helped to found in NC, Mathematics Institute of the Triangle, NC School of Science and Math, and math circle for early elementary students at Stanford University and UNC.
He homeschooled his daughter grades 1-8. Tutors math for students of all ages.
Instructor Approach:
I love to teach. I have taught courses in computer literacy and programming to film studies, photography, cooking and nutrition, and artificial intelligence.
Zoya Dimitrova
Education:
Master of Science, Informatics and Mathematical Modeling, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Professional Experience:
Biostatistician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Math Kangaroo Instructor since 2006, Math Kangaroo State Director
Instructor Approach:
I enjoy the Math Kangaroo problems and have led several math circles for students of different ages.
Diana Holan
Education:
Master in Education
Professional Experience:
Elementary and middle school teacher for 30 years in both private and public schools instructing in an in-person and online format. Math Kangaroo Manager and Math Kangaroo Coach
Instructor Approach:
Math is my favorite subject to teach. I like to offer students various methods of approaching a given problem, then help them apply those concepts to real-life situations through detailed, logical, and organized explanations.
I strive to help students achieve their utmost potential because I believe all students have the capability to be successful if they put their minds to it.
Sumit Kohli
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering
Master of Business Administration in Project Management
Professional Experience:
Principle architect at T-Mobile, Math tutor for elementary and middle-school students with MATHCOUNTS, Math Olympiad, Code Buster, Fermi, Math League, and Math Kangaroo
Instructor Approach:
I love to raise math awareness in kids, share creative and interactive strategies, and inspire kids to be their best in STEM.
Dr. Van Koroleva
Education:
PhD, Applied Mathematics
Professional Experience:
Industrial research. Taught applied mathematics and introductory physics courses to hundreds of college students in small group sessions. Developing new courses and teaching grade school students.
Instructor Approach:
I let students discover mathematics by guiding them through the problem solving process. Not only does this approach help them remember mathematical concepts better, but it also helps them become independent learners. I also found that incorporating stories about the history of mathematics and its many applications greatly enhances students’ interest in the subject.
Lucia Liu
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
Master of Business Administration
Professional Experience:
Math teacher, Vice President, Director of Administration, Office Director, Executive Assistant to CEO, Program Manager, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager
Instructor Approach:
I firmly believe that mathematics is the foundation of all subjects. So, for over ten years, I have devoted myself to mathematics education. I am a passionate, hard-working, determined, and highly motivated person who is supportive of others when they need my help or assistance.
Dr. Sarah Sagi
Education:
PhD, Biomedical Sciences, UC San Diego
Professional Experience:
Teacher/Head Coach of the Deer Canyon Elementary School Math Club
Instructor Approach:
As a teacher I try to help students understand new material through the activities they already enjoy. My teaching philosophy is to listen to my students and respect their mind’s thinking patterns. We learn based on our unique experiences.
Samvel Sahakyan
Education:
Master of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics from the State University of Armenia
Master of Science in Data Science from Cornell University
Professional Experience:
Mathematician and inventor in the IT sector. Designs programs for math competitions and Olympiads, such as AMC-8, AMC-10, and more. Math Kangaroo state director.
Instructor Approach:
My passion for math came early in life when I won several math Olympiads and competitions, including a national Olympiad. Many of the students I tutor are winners of national and state competitions.
Dr. Ying Yang
Education:
Master of Engineering
Ph.D. Business
Professional Experience:
University professor, founder of the iGrow Club, math club volunteer
Instructor Approach:
I enjoy exploring the world of math with curious minds and I am passionate about motivating children to love math.
Justin Li
Education:
Pursuing Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Physics at Harvard
Professional Experience:
Tutored in many subjects, especially math, for 4 years. Math Kangaroo Competitor Experience: 6x national winner (all with perfect scores), 12x participant
Instructor Approach:
As a recent competitor in Math Kangaroo as well as other math competitions, I can highly relate to both the triumphs and struggles of competitive math. I see my role as a catalyst in achieving your student’s full potential through challenging and supporting them. I place a high emphasis on developing your student’s mathematical skills, but ultimately, I hope to inspire my students to love the process of problem solving.
Alex Korchev
Education:
Undergraduate at Brown University, studying Applied Math and Economics. Coursework includes AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC self-studied, dual enrollment classes from UMass Lowell include Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations. Also participated in an intensive summer program, where course material included linear algebra, graph theory, and elementary algebraic topology.
Professional Experience:
Math Kangaroo online teaching assistant (2 years), RSM Math tutor (3 years), School math team captain, 4x AIME Qualifier, National winner of Math Kangaroo and AMC8
Instructor Approach:
I focus on ensuring that students are not only using formulas to find the answer but that they truly understand the reasoning behind why we can use them, and can appreciate the beauty of the mathematical concepts we discuss. I try to ask guiding questions and give hints that enable the student to figure out the problem on their own, and build a sense of logic that will allow them to solve trickier competition problems in the future.
Ananya Mahadevan
Education:
Student at Harvey Mudd College (graduating in 2028).
Professional Experience:
Math Kangaroo teaching assistant, peer tutor (for grade 6 math through geometry), 4-time AIME qualifier, president of school math club.
Instructor Approach:
Having enjoyed competitive math, including Math Kangaroo, from a young age, I want to show students how they can use their creativity to approach competitive math problems. By understanding a student’s thought process, I also hope to encourage them to have fun and explore different strategies when solving problems. My goal is to guide students through various problem-solving techniques, providing them with the skills and confidence to tackle challenging problems independently.
Yelisey Romanov
Education:
Pembroke Hill School Senior (graduating in 2025), took AP Calculus BC in sophomore year (earned 5); additional math training includes Honors Level classes at RSM (7 years).
Professional Experience:
Math Kangaroo Online Teacher Assistant, Math Kangaroo Student Helper, Math Kangaroo Homework Problem Creator, state and nationally ranked winner of Math Kangaroo, Math League, and MathCounts, captain of the school math team.
Instructor Approach:
A strong foundation in math is key to solving any mathematical problem. Therefore, I focus on helping students understand the basic strategy, and then mastering it. Because each student is unique, I also like to explore new ways of problem-solving. Mathematics is an important subject because of its numerous applications, and I always try to demonstrate that aspect through my teaching.
Maya Viswanathan
Education:
College student at Yale. Took Math classes at UIUC: Fundamentals of Mathematics, Combinatorics, Graph Theory, Number Theory, Set Theory and Topology
Professional Experience:
Math Kangaroo online class teaching assistant, creator of MK video solutions, 4x national winner (all with perfect scores), 10x participant, leader of math club
Instructor Approach:
I want to share my love of math with other students. I help them arrive at solutions themselves, by giving hints and encouraging them to try different approaches. Although math is a rigorous subject, I never forget to have fun.
