Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Park City

Dena

Dena became actively interested in the education of children while supporting her two elementary aged kids in instruction during the pandemic. Even with high marks in school, she felt her kids were often missing math concepts. After watching an inspiring TED Talk by Sal Kahn about how math builds upon itself over the course of a student’s education and how important it is to teach to mastery, it became clear that her kids needed supplementary math help beyond what she could provide at home. She found the solution after researching various programs and then hearing from Kouy about her daughter’s success at Mathnasium. Ironically it wasn’t just what her kids needed; she simultaneously found the small business opportunity she had been looking for. Everything fell into place given Dena’s background. She has a degree in economics and has spent the most recent part of her career consulting in the adult learning space. This new adventure is fitting, not only for Dena, but also, she believes, for the future of Park City. FAVORITE NUMBER: 13. FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why does algebra improve your dancing skills? Because you can use algo-rhythm.

Kouy

Kouy has always had a passion for education and teaching our youth. After graduating from USC with a B.A. in Psychology and Masters in Education, she found herself teaching in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. After 5 years in the field, while she left teaching in the classroom, she always missed instructing the students and the gratification that came from watching the sense of self-accomplishment a young individual would feel when a concept “just clicked”. Now, as a mother, she has experienced first hand how challenging it can be to “explain concepts” to your own child, despite your own knowledge or instructional skill on the subject matter. While living in Dallas a few years back, reviewing math homework and explaining the concepts to her daughter became a struggle at home and Kouy looked for supplemental support… that is when she found Mathnasium. Within months, Kouy and her daughter went from tears at the kitchen table to having math conversations and exchanging fun strategies. Her daughter’s success in the program was not only evident in her grades, but her self-esteem in general. When the family decided to come to Park City, one of the first things on Kouy’s agenda was to find a Mathnasium and get her daughter enrolled. After realizing that Park City did not have a local Mathnasium location, she approached Dena about partnering and the rest is her-story! Opening a Mathnasium franchise has not only fulfilled Kouy’s passion for instructing the future leaders of our world, but also her own dreams of being a successful female entrepreneur while maintaining a balanced work-family lifestyle. Kouy’s ultimate goal is that Mathnasium of Park City will provide for other families the same positive experience, supportive learning environment and passion for math, as it has done for her family.

Favorite Math Joke:  I ask my German friend if he knew the square root of 81...he said "no".

Liam

Liam has lived in Utah his whole life and is a Park City High School alumni. He just graduated from the University of Utah with a major in applied mathematics. Math is his passion and he loves any opportunity to help others with the subject. Liam also enjoys baking, skiing, and backpacking. His favorite color is purple and his favorite animal is a polar bear. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 17. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: How do you solve any equation? Multiply both sides by zero!

Matt

Matt moved to Salt Lake City in 2021. Previously, he lived in Wyoming after getting his degree in Computer Science and working as a website engineer. Matt loves problem solving, especially when math is used in that process. He enjoys cooking and baking, and plays the guitar quite often. Matt is a long-time fan of hockey and coached youth hockey while in Wyoming. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 22. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why do plants hate math? Because it gives them square roots.

Meena

Meena has lived in Utah since 2012 and majoring in Data Science at the University of Utah. Math has been her favorite subject in school. She also loves puzzles, hiking, and hanging out with her pets. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: What do you call a number that can’t sit still? A roamin’ numeral!

Josh

Josh was born in Taiwan, but grew up in San Antonio, TX. He moved to Salt Lake City in 2024. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics. He served in the Air Force, Active Duty, for 5 years and is now in the Air Force Reserves. And he loves working out! 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 32 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long?...Because then it would be a foot!

Greta

Greta moved to Park City when she was 3 from Sandy, Utah, and is currently a sophomore at Park City High School. She enjoys cross-country mountain bike racing, skiing, and playing in the high school band/orchestra. She has always enjoyed school, really loves working with kids, and likes math. She will graduate from high school in 2026 and is excited to figure out how to make a difference in the world. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 13. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why was the equal sign so humble? It knew it wasn’t less than or greater than anyone else.

Aunika

Aunika recently graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s of Economics and Econometrics. She is currently working towards taking the actuarial exams. She loves spending time hiking, cooking, and reading. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 3

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why don’t calculus students throw parties? Because they know how to limit their functions.

Raven

Raven was born in Kansas, but moved to Utah when she was 6. She grew up competing in freeride skiing and now she coaches during the winter! She is a freshman at the University of Utah and is studying applied math. When she’s not at school, she likes spending quality time with her 8 dogs. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 13

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why is 69 so scared of 70? Because once they fought, and 71.

Mia

Mia moved to Park City in 2021 from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a passionate, hardworking student and one in a family of four. Along with her family, Mia has traveled all around the world, from Africa to Italy and this coming year she plans to go to Switzerland and Japan. She enjoys skiing, playing competitive volleyball, baking, and most of all, Christmas. Mia is currently a junior at Park City High School and plans to graduate in the summer of 2026. Mia is very passionate when it comes to leadership and solving complex problems, which applies to the Mathnasium environment often. She hopes to provide a fun experience for all Mathnasium students as many amazing teachers did for her. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 4. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why did the obtuse angle jump into the pool? Because it was over 90 degrees.

Sonja

Sonja has lived in Park City her entire life and loves to ski, run, and generally be outside. She is a junior at Park City High School; her favorite subject, besides math of course, is chemistry! Sonja has an adorable, very fat cat named Vinny, and also enjoys cooking and baking. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9!

Sam

Porter

Porter has lived in Park City his whole life. He is a junior at Park City High School and will graduate in 2025. Among his many talents, Porter is a swimmer and has over 100 digits of pi memorized! His favorite subjects range from Computer Science, Photography, and, of course, Math. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 8. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: You know what seems odd to me? Numbers that can’t be divided by two.

Luke

Luke moved to Park City from New York when he was 2 years old. He enjoys many things, including mountain biking, baking, and music. Luke has always loved music, and it has inspired him to learn multiple musical instruments, including the Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass, the last of which he plays in the Park City High School chamber orchestra and jazz band. His favorite subjects in school are music, science, and of course, math. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 54. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: How did the circle get so round? Because it had too much Pi(e)!

Tessa

Tessa moved to Utah in 2015, and she is currently a senior at Park City High School. She enjoys swimming, skiing, and cooking. She has always loved math and has competed in math competitions since she was little. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 2. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: What did the calculator say to the student? You can always count on me!

Henry

Henry moved to Park City in 2020. He goes to Park City High School and plays tennis and the drumset. When he’s not an academic weapon, he likes backpacking and playing games with friends. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 5 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: A physicist, biologist, and mathematician see 2 people enter a house. Time passes, and 3 people leave from the other side of the house. The physicist says, “The measurement wasn’t accurate.” The biologist says, “They must have reproduced.” The mathematician says, “If one more person enters the house, it’ll be empty again!”

Danielle

Danielle is currently a senior at Park City High School with plans to graduate in January of 2025 and spend a semester in Costa Rica teaching English. Danielle’s favorite subject has always been math and she loves to help others to enjoy it as much as she does. She wants to help every Mathnasium student exceed expectations and learn to love math. 

FAVORITE NUMBER? 1. 

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: Why couldn’t 4 talk to its crush? Because it was 2 squared.

Luc B

Luc was born in the Bay Area in California and moved to Park City, Utah, in 2013. He is currently a senior at the Winter Sports School and has a passion for mathematics. Luc always takes the opportunity to learn and teach those who are willing to learn. Besides math, Luc also enjoys: backcountry skiing, hiking, and climbing. 

FAVORITE NUMBER: 17

FAVORITE MATH JOKE: If I were a triangle, I’d be acute one.