Our Team at Mathnasium of University Irvine

Annie Xu

Annie graduated from USC with a master degree of education and she also held a bachelor degree double major in psychology and educational science from UC, Irvine. She've gained her passion working with students from her hands-on experience of being an ESL instructor in public school elementary settings and doing intern as a multi-subject teacher in a private trilingual immersion school. She loves seeing her students grow more confident in their academic abilities, and she understands that every learner brings unique strengths to the classroom. Outside of working, she enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and travelling around. Annie is excited to share her passion for math and empower learners of all ages to excel at Mathnasium.

Emma Larson

Emma Larson is a graduate of CSU Monterey Bay with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. Since she was young, she has always enjoyed helping others and educating children, taking on summer work in high school as a Camp Counselor In Leadership Training at Camp James and working as a Teacher's Aide teaching Robotics to K-2 in college. These early experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for the moment a young student grasps a new concept, and that same drive continues to shape how she thinks about her career today. Using her strong background in technology, she hopes to learn more now about the business side of company operations while still helping the next generation through mathematics, aiming to build a career that blends her technical skills with her passion for mentorship.

Emma enjoys playing video games, drawing, and writing in her free time, and will occasionally go bowling, a sport she has played since she was very young. Fun fact: her highest bowling score is an impressive 275, a testament to the years she's spent honing the sport. Whether she's sketching a new drawing, immersed in a video game, or working on improving her bowling form, Emma brings the same curiosity and dedication to her hobbies that she does to her professional pursuits.

Jacob E.

Jacob is a fourth-year college student with a strong passion for teaching and math education. After spending two years in the Computer Science program at Arizona State University, he realized his true interests lay elsewhere and returned to California to explore new academic paths. He is currently studying at OCC and plans to transfer into a Mathematics program, with the goal of earning his teaching credential and becoming a math educator.

Jacob has been helping others learn for many years—beginning in high school when he supported classmates and tutored his younger sister. Since then, he has gained over four years of tutoring experience, including working as an AVID tutor at Ralston Middle School for the last two years, as well as providing private tutoring to students of various ages. His natural patience, ability to break down concepts, and genuine enjoyment of seeing students succeed make him a strong mentor for learners who need confidence and clarity in math.

Outside of academics, Jacob enjoys basketball, football, comics, manga, novels, and just about anything “nerdy.” His easygoing personality and broad interests help him build great rapport with students while keeping learning engaging and enjoyable.

Rajit S.

Rajit is a Computer Science major with aspirations of becoming a Cyber Security professional. He has been part of our Mathnasium family since 2015 — first as a dedicated mathlete, and now as an experienced instructor and Core Team member.

With over four years of math tutoring experience, Rajit brings a blend of strong mathematical understanding, patience, and humor that students truly enjoy. He has a special talent for making math feel easier and more fun, helping students break through challenges with confidence. Rajit believes that many students dislike math simply because it hasn’t been explained in a way that makes sense to them. His goal is to guide them toward understanding problems deeply, learning from mistakes, and discovering that math can be enjoyable.

Outside the center, Rajit played water polo throughout high school and has taught children how to swim. In his free time, he enjoys drawing both in his sketchbook and on his digital tablet.

Ethan A.

Ethan is a second-year student at IVC pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His long-standing interest in designing and building—from middle school projects to advanced engineering coursework—naturally led him to develop strong problem-solving skills and a deep appreciation for mathematics.

Ethan brings valuable STEM experience to Mathnasium, including two years of FIRST Robotics and four years of Computer-Aided Design (CAD). These experiences strengthened his analytical thinking, spatial reasoning, and ability to break down complex problems, skills he now uses to help students understand math more intuitively. His engineering background allows him to connect mathematical concepts to real-world applications, making learning more engaging and meaningful for students.

Ethan is passionate about helping students build confidence, especially those who benefit from clear, step-by-step explanations and hands-on approaches. In his free time, he enjoys playing Minecraft and exploring creative projects that combine math, design, and engineering.

Irena M.

Irena is a senior at University High School. One of her fondest memories of early math is of practicing the multiplication table in the car with her dad on the way to school, and that solid foundation has enabled her to now take math classes at IVC. Her passion for STEM and outreach has led her to coach local middle school Science Olympiad teams and organize STEM events for younger children as part of a high school club. Through these experiences, she has discovered a genuine love for mentorship, finding it especially rewarding to watch a student's confidence grow once a difficult concept finally clicks. Irena intends to pursue neuroscience at university, drawn to the way the brain bridges the analytical rigor she loves in math with the deeper questions of human behavior and cognition.

Besides academics, she loves to go for hikes, read, and travel, activities that she credits with keeping her curious and grounded outside the classroom. Fun fact: she's attended 10 different schools, counting kindergarten, an experience that has made her especially adaptable and quick to feel at home in new environments. Whether she's tackling a new trail, getting lost in a novel, or exploring a new city, Irena approaches each experience with the same enthusiasm and open-mindedness she brings to her schoolwork and outreach efforts. As she looks ahead to college, she hopes to continue combining her scientific curiosity with her commitment to community, carrying forward the lessons in patience and encouragement she's learned from coaching younger students.

Ryan H.

Ryan is a second-year student at UCI currently studying to earn a degree in mathematics. From a young age, Ryan knew he wanted to do math and stood out early. Many of Ryan's friends growing up had strengths that lied outside of math, and Ryan became accustomed to helping his friends and peers with understanding difficult math concepts. He began working with younger students too and found intrinsic reward in helping those who were younger and discouraged to become interested and excited by math. He has 3 years of tutoring experience and 2 years experience working with kids outside of tutoring, which has taught him how to meet each student where they are and adapt his explanations until concepts truly click. He also has experience in programming and agentic modeling, skills he's excited to continue developing as he moves further into his math degree.

Outside of math, Ryan enjoys working out and playing cards, activities that give him a chance to recharge and connect with friends. Fun fact: he creates music online for fun and personal use! Whether he's solving a challenging problem, lifting at the gym, or laying down a new track, Ryan approaches each pursuit with the same drive and curiosity that has defined his math journey so far.

Shalin R.

Shalin is a Junior at University High School who hopes to pursue physics in college. Shalin has always loved math and logic-based activities where one can get the thrill of solving something correctly, and it's this same love of problem-solving that draws him to physics, where he can apply mathematical thinking to understand how the world actually works. He loves to help other students obtain this thrill and helped students with math at his school, finding that breaking down a tricky problem for someone else often deepens his own understanding of the material.

Outside of mathematics, Shalin enjoys playing soccer and video games, activities that let him unwind while still tapping into the same strategic thinking he applies to math. Fun fact: he's a devoted Miami Dolphins fan, cheering the team on every season. Whether he's on the soccer field, working through a tough equation, or watching a game, Shalin brings the same enthusiasm and competitive spirit to everything he does.

Jenushya A.

Jenushya is a junior at Irvine High school with deep passion for STEM subjects and a love for working with kids. As an aspiring engineer, Jenushya has a strong math background and has completed AP Calculus BC. She also has extensive experience working with kids through hundreds of service hours at the kids science museum the Discovery Cube and volunteering at the Irvine Public Schools Foundation summer program. These experiences have helped her develop patience, empathy, and communication skills allowing her to effectively assist students in their math endeavors at Mathnasium. She hopes to one day combine her engineering ambitions with her love of teaching, perhaps by developing STEM programs that make technical subjects more accessible to young learners.

Jenushya finds tutoring math very rewarding as she loves helping students grow in their math skills while becoming more confident individuals in the process. She believes every student has the ability to succeed in math and hopes to guide students at Mathnasium so they can overcome challenges and learn to enjoy math. Outside of work and school, Jenushya enjoys playing the flute and dancing in her free time, and she also likes to make her own jewelry, a hobby that lets her channel her creativity in a hands-on way. Whether she's mastering a new piece of music, learning a dance routine, or designing a new piece of jewelry, she brings the same dedication to her hobbies that she does to her academics and mentorship work.

Favorite math joke:
π: Get real!
√-1: Be rational!