Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Mission Gorge

Alan Ouniquian

I am a nature-loving philosopher with an affinity for math! In that light, I am an explorer; I enjoy discovering the inner workings of nature. The daily routine consists of resistance training, research, gardening, and mathematics… with boxing and electronics a couple of times per week. Favorite Number and why? 1. One is All. All is One. Favorite Math Joke: Why do teenagers travel in groups of threes or fives? -Because they can’t even! In 5 years, I will be... Teaching the world about number qualities through a new branch of mathematics that stems off of some of the most fundamental aspects of mathematics, quantization and quantity itself. I will be in the best shape of my life, physically, physiologically, and psychologically.
I love Mathnasium because ... It offers a systematic method for the instruction of mathematics that is highly efficient in improving the student’s cognizance of even the most fundamental aspects involved. I believe in Mathnasium.

James Walrath

I am a student at USD studying electrical engineering. I've lived in San Diego my whole life and hopefully will continue to. In my free time, I love to play volleyball, MTB, and hanging out with my friends and family. Favorite Number: My favorite number has to be e¹ because of how often it pops up everywhere! Sine, cosine, your money's interest, and imaginary numbers all rely on this crazy number Favorite Math Joke: What do you call a mathematician who spent all summer at the beach? A tan gent. In 5 years, I will be: Hopefully still pursuing a career in electrical engineering I love Mathnasium because ... watching a student slowly become confident in a topic from day to day reminds me of how much of an impact we are having.

Kellie Formanek

I am Junior as San Diego State University studying music education. I've been living in San Diego my whole life. I enjoy playing the cello and cross-stitching in my free time. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 28 because it's my birthday number. Favorite Math Joke: Why was algebra so easy for the Romans? Because X always equals 10! In five years, I will be: Graduated from SDSU and teaching kids about music. I love Mathnasium because: I can teach effectively to students and make a difference in their lives.

Miranda Halverson

Although I am a San Diego native, I have studied Neuroscience in New York, worked in a laboratory in London, toured the country in a two-person production of A Christmas Carol, taught theater for Disney in Beijing, trained exotic animals in Seattle, even worked in a Mathnasium in Honolulu! Currently I am obtaining a Master's in Conservation at the San Diego Zoo. And guess what all these things have in common? Math! But feel free to ask me about almost anything. Favorite Number: Pi, because it has the best holiday. Favorite Math Joke: i says to pi: Be rational! pi says to i: Get real! In five years, I will be: Operating an outreach program to educate children about the awesomeness of opossums. I love Mathnasium because: The curriculum opens kids' eyes to how cool and useful their least favorite (often) subject can be. Math and opossums have a lot in common.

Naia Gonzalez Alanis

I’m from Mexico but I grew up in San Diego; something that has helped me greatly appreciate the beauty of it. I’m currently on my last year of high school, and throughout the years I’ve found that my strengths lie in math. Outside of work and school, I like to be outside roller skating, hiking, or going to the beach. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 4. I’ve stuck with it since I was a kid, especially since its my birth month, plus I like the look of it. Favorite Math Joke: Did you hear about the mathematician who is afraid of negative numbers? He’ll stop at nothing to avoid them! In 5 years, I will be: Hopefully graduated from college, going into an environmental science or engineering career. But most importantly, doing some good for the world! I love Mathnasium because: It is such a welcoming environment where so many students are excited to learn. And the way we teach really allows them to understand the reasoning behind the math so they can gain independence.

Pearce Moffat

Born and raised in San Diego. In my free time I enjoy badminton, video gaming, and building exquisite sand castles at the beach. Favorite Number: 11 because it is the only 2 digit prime palindrome. Favorite Math Joke: Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated? Because it's never right! In five years, I will be: Still learning new things about math. I love Mathnasium because: The team is dedicated to helping children boost their confidence in their own mathematical abilities.

Sam Wright

I'm an undergraduate student at UCSD studying Math and Economics. When I'm not working or in class, I love to play board games, spend time with friends, reading, and going on runs in different parts of San Diego. Favorite Number: 3. It's just a great number. Favorite Math Joke: You should never start a conversation with Pi. It'll just go on forever. In 5 years, I will be: Graduated from UCSD and hopefully working in data science. Hopefully I'll still be in San Diego, too! I love Mathnasium because: I love to see students master the skills so fundamental to success in so many fields later in their lives.

Isaac Aguayo

Born and raised in San Diego and I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering at SDSU with a minor in Anthropology. Physics and math have always been my favorite subjects because they help explain the randomness around us. I also am big on weightlifting, video games, and recently bowling. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 5 because even tho it's an odd number it feels like and even if that makes sense. Also what I always used for sports as a kid. Favorite Math Joke: "What is the integral of 1/(Cabin)? A log cabin you say? NO! A houseboat, you forgot the C." In 5 years, I will be: working and designing different engines in cars or planes. I love Mathnasium because: it shows students that there is more to math than just equations and can help with problem-solving skills while also being fun. It also allows me to learn more as there is always more than one way to solve a math problem so it is really cool to see how others approach each problem.

Jamie Glass

I was born and raised here in San Diego. I'm currently a senior in high school and plan on staying in San Diego for college to study psychology. I love spending time with friends and family. I also enjoy pilates, going on walks with my dog, and baking. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 9. My birthday is on the 9th, it was my soccer number growing up, and it has always been my lucky number. Favorite Math Joke: Why did the obtuse angle go to the beach? Because it was over 90 degrees. 5 years, I will be: Graduating from college and beginning graduate school to further my education. I love Mathnasium because: I get to work with so many different students and help them to further develop a passion for math. Additionally, it's great to see students reach their goals and gain confidence in both themselves and math.

Kayla Arlantico

I am a third-year biochemistry student attending SDSU. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 4 because it has always been my favorite number growing up, it’s perfect, and it’s my lucky number. Favorite Math Joke: What do you call friends who love math? Algebros! In 5 years, I will be: getting a PhD in chemistry and working on my own research project. I love Mathnasium because: I can help kids who are dedicated to learning math and expand their knowledge daily.

Kenton Guarian

I'm a huge Hozier fan. Favorite Number: √(-1) because it lets us solve every algebraic equation. Favorite Math Joke: If aliens come to Earth and ask us to find the Ramsay number R(5,5) otherwise they destroy Earth, then we immediately devote all computer power on Earth to solve the problem. If those same aliens come to Earth and ask us to find the Ramsey number R(6,6), we launch a pre-emptive war. In 5 years, I will be running code reviews at some software company, hopefully. I love Mathnasium because it requires me to change my way of thinking for each student--not necessarily "how would I do the problem" and more "how can we bridge the final step and reward the learning?"

Mason Raymond

I'm currently a high school student at Steele Canyon! I love baking, thrifting, and learning languages in my free time. Favorite Number: 42: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (my dad forced me to read it at the age of 9) Favorite Math Joke: What tool is the best at math? The multi-pliers! In 5 years, I will be... studying biomedical engineering in college! I love Mathnasium because ... I get the opportunity to share my love of math with students!

Ray Ruhman

I grew up here in San Diego so naturally I'm a huge Padres fan and I have to admit that I'm still a fan of the Chargers even though it still hurts that they left! I also love chess and the occasional tennis match. It's really a beautiful thing when playing a tennis game feels like playing a chess game and vice-versa. The two games are so different yet have so much in common it always amazes me. I became interested in math when I was introduced to the concept of imaginary numbers and my fascination grew from there. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 8 because it's always been my lucky number and I can remember as a very young child learning to write numbers and thinking that it was the coolest one. Favorite Math Joke: A statistician almost drowned while attempting to cross a river. By his calculations it was three feet deep on average. In five years, I will be: A better chess player! I love Mathnasium because: It's a great environment that illustrates how fascinating (and useful) mathematics is. Helping others uncover some of the mysteries of math is extremely rewarding.

Ryan Roque

I grew up in San Diego, but I moved to Salem, Oregon for my 4 years of high school. I have always loved math since I was young and I also have always enjoyed helping my friends whenever they were struggling in their math classes. Since those days I would help tutor my friends I've wanted to be a math teacher, and now I have the perfect job to help me achieve my dream of being a great math teacher. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 7 because it looks cool and its multiples are pretty weird. Favorite Math Joke: Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9. In 5 years, I will be: A high school math teacher. I love Mathnasium because: I get to work with fun students and get good practice for my future career.

Steffon Vance

I was born and raised here in San Diego. I'm currently studying electrical engineering at San Diego City College and planning to transfer to a UC once I've got my Associate's Degree. When I've got free time I like to read and play video games. Favorite Number: My favorite number is 47, for the mashup of 4, a nice even number to divide things by, and lucky number 7 (also coincidentally half of my sister's favorite, 94). Favorite Math Joke: There are 3 kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't. In 5 years, I will be: Graduated from a UC and pursuing a career in electrical engineering. I love Mathnasium because: It's a cool place where I can help teach kids to get past the negative stigma around math and enjoy it for the incredibly engaging and useful tool it is.

Tiffany Tran

I grew up in San Diego my entire life. I am currently a junior in high school. To stay active, I enjoy playing flag football, swimming, and, most importantly, lifting. I adore traveling and hope to explore every corner of the world at some point. I am interested in medicine and aim to become a nurse in the future so that I may help others. Favorite Number and why?: My favorite number is 18, which is my birthday number as well as the number that alters your life. Favorite Math Joke: Why don't calculus majors throw house parties? Because you should never drink and derive! In 5 years, I will be: getting my Bachelor of Science in Nursing :) I love Mathnasium because it allows me to help kids reach their full mathematical potential and talents.

Travis Nielsen

I love math and music. Jazz and math rock are my favorite genres of music. Topology and Optimization were especially interesting while I earned my math degree. Favorite Number: 5/4. It’s a really special music signature that many jazz standards are based off of. Favorite Math Joke: Negative. In five years, I will be: Helping math become understandable to a new generation in my classroom and at Mathnasium. I love Mathnasium because: Mathnasium brings students to central location to focus on math. This gets them out of their comfort zone and helps them build motivation both in success, but also in during their rough times.

Tsion-Aduesa Smart

On the day to day I’m studying for university and in my spare time I enjoy drawing and designing outfits and characters, listening to music, reading books, and playing volleyball. I’ve always loved math, it allows me to be creative in finding different solutions for the answer! Favorite Number: My favourite number is 2 because it is simply the most perfect and equal number. Halves are a necessity for everything. It's also kind of responsible for the concept of whether things are even or odd. Favorite Math Joke: There are 10 kinds of people - those who understand binary, those who don't, and those who weren't expecting ternary In 5 years, I will be: In five years I will be finishing a Masters in Statistics and Probability, and maybe continuing to teach math as well. I love Mathnasium because: I love Mathnasium because it allows me to bring back the joy of math in people's lives