Get to Know Our Tutors
| Our tutors are hand selected and screened meticulously for their teaching experience, professionalism, and enthusiasm for helping our students. We are privileged to have tutors that have graduated from some of the nation’s top universities, like UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, and New York University. Here’s a brief introduction from some of our tutors: |
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Name: Janellen I graduated from New York University with a degree in Theater Arts and Dramatic Literature. My career as an actress expanded into education, as I became the Co-Director of Arts Education Outreach for The Antaeus Company, designing and implementing programs in Los Angeles schools. I also worked with the Literacy Now program of the Los Angeles Children’s Museum. I further broadened the scope of my work to include academic tutoring in classes, small groups, and one-on-one in all Language Arts areas: SAT/Verbal, PSAT/Verbal, ACT, SATII/Literature, AP English Language and Composition, ISEE, TOEFL, ESL, and homework help in English, Reading, Grammar, Writing, Literature, Humanities, Handwriting and German. Part of my tutoring practice includes working with students with particular learning, attention and emotional needs. I tell my students that I am a “word-geek”; I love words and language. I also speak German and translate German to English for theater, opera and film. And I perform narration in German and English for audio books, films, and interactive video games. I find tutoring challenging and extremely rewarding. I feel that I have something to give back. And I see that my job as a tutor includes being a mentor and education advocate. I'm passionate about education, about enjoyment in discovery, and about helping students build their self-confidence and reach their goals. Tutoring keeps me sharp. It’s fun, and I get a lot out of it, too. |
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Name: Peter About Me: I majored in English with a specialization in writing and a minor in Psychology. I have over 10 years of experience tutoring with prominent educational companies on various subjects such as English reading and writing, Mathematics, SAT prep, and Spanish. I started tutoring and mentoring when I volunteered in a latchkey program over at Grand Street Settlement in the Lower East Side in my junior year. After graduation I went on to work for the Princeton Review tutoring the SAT and SAT related tests. When I moved to California I worked for Kaplan and then for a Sylvan Learning Center teaching various subjects: reading, writing, math, homework support, test prep, and Spanish to students from kindergarten to college age. My interests include but are not limited to: rooting for the Yankees, reading the New York Times, barbecues, and hanging out in air conditioned spaces. I tutor at Fortune because I am good communicating concepts or ideas, and I enjoy helping students "get it." From a purely selfish angle tutoring also helps keep me on my toes, and let's be honest Fortune Tutoring is the place to be. |
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Name: Sameer I am a graduate from USC in Film and Classics. I've been tutoring ever since I was in high school. There is no greater satisfaction than empowering students and making them realize their potential. I currently work as a freelance writer. In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, reading, writing, eating at food carts (best food ever), and checking out standup comedy shows. What can I say? I love teaching, and being able to help students understand that learning doesn't have to be repetitive and boring. It's what you make of it. |
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Name: Brenda About Me: I graduated from USC with a B.A in Health and Humanities. I have over six years of teaching experience and I enjoyed every minute of it! Helping students excel in their classes reassures me that I’m helping them build a great future for themselves, which is a very rewarding feeling. I strongly feel that everyone has the capacity to be a great student and I will find a way to make this a reality. In my spare time, I enjoy salsa dancing, eating, going to recreational parks and just spending time with the people I love, like my friends and family! Why I Teach at Fortune Tutoring Group: I enjoy making a difference in people’s lives and I find tutoring to be the most rewarding way for me to do so. My experience with teaching children of all ages for the past six years has allowed me to address the needs of each student on an individual basis. I strongly believe that everyone learns differently and I will find the most effective way to teach each student that comes across me. I'm very creative with this!! |
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Name: Antonio About Me: I'm a former university instructor and have been tutoring almost a decade. I graduated in 2005 from the Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University. I then graduated Summa Cum Laude from the California State University at Los Angeles with a Master's in Rhetoric and Media. I am also a lifelong student and coach of competitive forensics at all levels (speech and debate). I am rather full service, as my training has given me equal skill and comfort with both quantitative and qualitative studies. I specialize in tutoring Mathematics from Algebra I to AP Calculus, general Chemistry, and English (literary analysis and Language Arts). I am also a part-time debate coach. Why I Teach at Fortune Tutoring Group: Originally, I was pursuing a career in college instruction but the enthusiasm of high school students and their parents has proved a more rewarding environment. Pre-college students learn faster and with greater purpose and are more exciting to help and foster. My students over the years have matriculated to Penn, Harvard, Princeton, U Chicago, Stanford, Carnegie-Mellon, Yale, Swarthmore, NYU, Columbia, Brown, Georgetown, George Washington, Berkeley, Juilliard, and received scholarships to dozens more fine institutions. Sending clear-sighted and honest young people on their way is one of the greater sources of pride in my life. |
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Name: Andrea I graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychobiology. Though I majored in science, I have a passion for both learning and teaching a wide variety of subjects. I have been formally tutoring math since I was in the tenth grade and have excelled in mathematics courses up to multivariable calculus. I also have experience tutoring students in English and test preparation such as the SATs. In my spare time, my favorite activity is playing basketball, though I also love to bowl, play games, try new foods, travel, and go to Disneyland. I understand that each student learns differently and the best way to teach is to find the specific methods that work for each student. Tutoring for Fortune Tutoring Group has allowed me to focus on the needs of the individual rather than the group. It is such a rewarding experience to see students progress academically and personally and I hope to be a part of it. |
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Name: Karney About Me: I grew up in Idaho and graduated from the University of Idaho with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy. I went on to film school at the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon, where my screenwriting professor encouraged me to go to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter. I took his advice and made the move here. I've since had two of my screenplays optioned, produced, written and directed theater and short films, and directed a feature-length documentary film. I've also found time to spend almost a year in Latin America and teach English and Video Production for a year on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The SAT for me is exciting to tutor because there are strategies that can make dramatic differences in students' scores. Teaching these strategies and seeing the results that they bring has always been very satisfying for me. When it comes to academic tutoring, from essays to humanities or geometry, it again comes down to helping students expand their understanding. Ultimately, there is satisfaction for everyone when we see the results in their grades. |
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Name: Jeff D. I recently graduated from USC with my PhD in Neuroscience. Currently, I’m interested in pursuing a career in film making and visual effects. I have a few years of tutoring experience, both in home and in an educational center. I specialize in all types of Math, Science, and standardized test Math. Huge movie buff – obviously – but I also like to find new bands and music. I love the philosophy at Fortune Tutoring and I love to teach and tutor – always have, I’m just a natural. And of course – the students – their success makes it all worth it. |
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Name: Samantha
I recently graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont, and I moved to Los Angeles from New York this summer. I majored in English and Creative Writing, and worked as a Peer Writing Tutor. My tutoring job was one of my favorite parts of my Middlebury experience, because it allowed me to meet so many new people and really get to know the students and professors that I worked with. I’m also really interested in mentoring, and I was the president of a mentoring and college readiness program for high school students from upstate New York. I’ve also worked in the summer as a teacher, tutor, dorm supervisor, SAT instructor, and coach. I currently teach at a K-8 school in Culver City – I love working with students! I am very passionate about education. I’m also excited to be in LA! I love the farmer’s markets, free concerts on the beach, and spending time exploring the city.
I believe strongly that every student can succeed academically, and that the key to each student’s success is the one-on-one or small group tutoring session that complements his or her unique learning style. I also love everything related to English, reading and writing (especially grammar and spelling!), so I am excited to tutor students in the SAT and English. Tutoring is so rewarding for me because I love helping students to find confidence in their own abilities. I am also creative, friendly, very organized, and sensitive to students’ individual needs. Tutoring is not just about helping students achieve good grades – it’s about helping them succeed in many aspects of their busy lives! |
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Name: Anil About Me: After completing high school in New York, I earned B.Sc. degrees in Physics and in Mathematics from University of Illinois, followed by graduate studies in Physics at Texas A&M University. During this last decade filled with academics, I have tutored dozens of students and formally taught classes, to help students enthusiastically achieve comfort, appreciation, and high scores in math and the sciences. Outside tutoring students from high school standardized tests to undergraduate-level courses, I have an interest in condensed-matter physics as a career, and in guitar and dancing as hobbies. I have only recently moved to Los Angeles, and find this place super-friendly! The most important and exciting aspect of my teaching is the following, and this is much of my motivation while I teach as a Fortune tutor of math & sciences: I believe that nothing is too hard for any student to learn. It is only a matter of whether something is boring or interesting! Therefore, as soon as I establish good rapport with my student, I use various methods to make the subject at hand both interesting and meaningful for the student. The student and I can thus maintain an open and enthusiastic mindset as we then complete the main task of mastering the challenging material, and go over exam-taking or quick-problem-solving strategies. Thus I help the student make effective gains in three areas: (1) the subject itself, (2) comfort with tests/assignments/real-life-applications of the subject, and (3) growth of self-esteem as the subject is learned. |
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Name: Jen About Me: I matriculated to Swarthmore College as a National Merit Scholar, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology. I then completed my master's degree in education at USC. I've worked as a teacher and tutor for over 9 years in SAT prep, SAT Math and English, ESL, and middle and high school mathematics subjects. I was a middle school teacher for several years, teaching all four major academic subjects. I also taught prospective vocational college students the material needed to pass the entrance exam, which resulted in a significant increase in passing rates. I'm proud of the fact that the college ended up buying the teaching material I created. In my spare time, I love to explore SoCal's numerous hiking paths and battle the waves at Zuma trying to ocean swim. I've completed 2 sprint triathlons and want to complete a half-marathon. I love teaching and mentoring children and teens because of their inquisitive minds and desire to learn. Even those that think they are not interested in learning can find themselves really fascinated by a topic. I think the key to engaging students is connecting the subjects to their personal interests, and raising their self-confidence by helping them gain feelings of competency and accomplishment when they master a new skill or learn a new knowledge set. I love the challenge of thinking of different approaches to teaching a topic depending on the needs of the student. I've always loved the English language and literature field; I pursued my interest when I majored in English literature in college. I'd love to tutor your child in grammar, composition, and literature topics up to the level of AP English Literature. I discovered how much I enjoy teaching math when I taught middle school. Since then, I've tutored in high school mathematics subjects, and tutor up to AP Calculus BC. Whether it be discussing the nuances of various vocabulary words, or giving a bigger picture to derivatives and integrals, I'd love the opportunity to ignite your child's enthusiasm and hone their skills in learning. |
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Name: Karl About Me: I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science. I am currently in my final year at UCLA School of Law. When I’m not deconstructing the finer points of the latest Supreme Court decision, I enjoy traveling, music, and learning new languages: I’m fluent in Spanish and Bengali, and have a working knowledge of Italian, French, German, and Hindi. |
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Name: Kathleen About Me: I graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology in preparation for Dental School. I am applying for Dental School next year and aiming to be a very successful Dentist in the near future. I have experience tutoring middle school up to college level students in Mathematics and Sciences. I love inspiring my students, and I like to encourage them to DREAM BIG because I believe that with dedication and discipline, every student can excel and become the best that they can be. In my spare time, I like to read books, hike, hang out with friends and family, and play with my niece and nephew. Though I have a passion for Dentistry, I also have a heart for teaching. I find it fulfilling to be part in students learning. Tutoring gives me the opportunity to not only showcase what I've learned before and more, but it also helped me transform challenging concepts to a more teachable and more understanding way to students. |
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Name: Patrick About Me: I grew up in North Carolina, and after graduating with my B.S. in math from NC State, I ventured to Berkeley to get my Ph.D. Currently, I am finishing my thesis here in LA, where I plan to make my permanent home. Even though I'm out here on the west coast, I'm still a die hard ACC college basketball fan, just like pretty much everyone else from North Carolina. In fact, sports statistics was how I first got in to math: my family jokes that I knew my batting average before I could read! I'm also an avid musician, and I think that I appreciate the same beauties in music as I do in complex mathematics. |
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Name: Daniel About Me: I am a graduate from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics. My culminating research papers included Government bond yields before and after the introduction of the single currency, as well as whether or not mutual funds with higher fees outperform those wih lower fees. Outside of the classroom I tutored calculus, economics, played on the Men's Varsity Tennis team, and coached PE tennis. As a student-athlete, I learned the value of proper organization and attention to detail, as well as the ability to properly communicate with my teachers. Through my day-to-day interactions with my peers on the tennis team (where I played #1 singles and doubles, was voted MVP, and named All-Ivy), I have gained a strong understanding of teamwork, as well as the ability to establish long-term, trusting relationships (both of which are essential when working with students). I really like Fortune's philosophy of 1-on-1 tutoring and it is unbelievably rewarding when students experience noticable improvement because it carries over into other facets of their lives. |
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Name: Jennifer About Me: I studied Business Administration and French at USC. I spent a semester in Paris, where I fully realized my love for French language and culture, and travel. After graduating from USC, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in French literature from the University of Chicago. It was in Chicago, working as a French teacher and test prep tutor that I discovered my love for teaching. When I’m not working with students, I love to travel and learn new languages and skills. I’ve been to Europe, South America and China, and I hope the list will continue to grow! Fortune allows me to work with a wide array of students in many different subjects. I get to be creative and supportive. Working with students one-on-one is beneficial both for the student and for me: the student gets the extra help they need to succeed, and I learn more about myself as a teacher and a mentor. It’s exciting to see a student improve over the weeks, whether it’s getting a higher grade in a class, or a higher score on the SAT or ACT. |
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Name: Kevin About Me: I graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Media Arts & Studies and a minor in English and Film. I’m a published essayist and although film is my first love, I also have a zeal for English and teaching.
That is what led me to become a tutor last summer at The Writing Center at LA Valley College, where I was trained by expert tutors. Since then I have tutored English to everyone from fifth graders to grad
students to immigrants from across the world.
In my spare time, I pursue my film endeavors and gorge on my interests, which include everything under the sun - fiction, poetry, psychology, sociology, history, art, religion, topography, classical music, oil
painting, writing, dry humor and good conversation with friends. When I’m outdoors, I enjoy swimming, jogging, hiking and observing life in all its beauty and complexity.
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Name: Matt About Me: I earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics from Haverford College. Fear the Squirrel! Haverford is a small quaker school near Philadelphia, ten best Liberal Arts College in the country. I started tutoring as soon as I left school, two years in all. SAT Writing is my favorite subject to teach, and in general I think grammar is the subject most neglected by other major tutoring companies. I enjoy tutoring SAT Math as well. In the summer, I’m returning to school for science requirements, and have given some thought to a career as a Registered Nurse. I enjoy reading, watching/playing sports, and Scrabble clubs in the city.
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Name: Hunter About Me: I graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a minor in Philosophy. I began tutoring at the outset of college, teaching students of all ages coming from all walks of life. In my spare time I write, record and perform music. The parallels between math and music are undeniable. Many see math only as a rigid, one-way science for left-brain thinkers. However, I have found that it takes an artistic, right-brain creativity to embrace the beauty of mathematics. What it boils down to is that math was not meant for only half of the population to enjoy, but rather the whole. This is what has lead me to Fortune Tutoring Group.
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Name: Chelsea About Me: I studied at Stanford University, where I received by Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with a minor in Creative Writing. I have had experience in college working as an academic advisor, and have tutored kids from 11-18, to college students. I enjoy tutoring in English, Creative Writing, Literature, U.S. History, European History, Spanish, SAT Verbal, SAT Writing, and the SAT II's for the above mentioned subjects. I also have a lot of experience with the college application process, and I find it very rewarding to help students find the perfect college for themselves. I'm a freelance writer, and in my spare time I love going to the movies, hanging out with friends, and skating roller derby.
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Name: Raymond About Me: I've loved tutoring hundreds of high school, college, and junior high students since 2006 in Silicon Valley, Stanford, Boston, and the South Bay (Palos Verdes, Torrance, and Redondo Beach.) I also taught the MCAT for the Princeton Review and have edited college application essays to Ivy League schools. I graduated from UC Berkeley in chemical engineering, focusing on applied physics. I worked as an engineer and consultant in the semiconductor and software industries before taking all the premed classes and entering medicine. I worked at 5 hospitals connected to Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools before moving to Los Angeles, where I worked at LAC+USC Hospital. In my day job, I works on back, neck, facial, and vascular surgeries as a neurophysiologist. I'm equally passionate about the humanities and English, as well as science and math. For fun, I'm learning to write screenplays. I also do Zumba dancing, swimming, running, and cycling.
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Name: John About Me: I graduated from UCI with a B.Sc in Biology. Currently I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Biochemistry at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) where I plan on researching on a cure for Alzheimer’s through enzyme inhibition. Apart from my academic and research interests, I also enjoy tutoring students in the K-12 as well as the community college level. With over 5 years of tutoring experience, I feel teaching is definitely a career path I wish to pursue in the future. Currently I work as a teaching associate for Chemistry at CSULB.
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Name: Chris About Me: I grew up in Iowa and received my B.A from the University of Northern Iowa in Secondary Education/History with a minor in English Language and Literature. I continued my education at Northern Iowa, receiving an M.A. in United States History, with an emphasis in Early America. I continued my graduate work at the University of Tennessee specializing in the South in Early America, specifically the slave-holding Quakers of North and South Carolina. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, reading, hiking, as well as spending time with my nieces and nephews.
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Name: Susan About Me: After living in Ohio and Maryland, I now call Los Angeles my home, as of 2009. I am excited to live near my family... and the beach, too!! I discovered I love teaching while in high school when I did volunteer work as a tutor, so I followed that career path in college. From Ohio University, I earned a B.S. in communication and English and an M.A. in interdisciplinary studies. My first job was teaching middle school English and drama. The majority of my career was as a college professor. I taught public speaking, interpersonal communication, business communication, and more. I loved being a mentor! I think that's what brought me full circle to tutoring again for the past five years. I have been teaching English, reading, study skills, critical thinking, and SAT. Outside of academia, I enjoy travel the most! I have been to many fascinating places in the U.S. and abroad. I enjoy camping, reading, sewing, crafts, and word games. I am also a fan of the arts, so I go to movies, plays, concerts, and art museums whenever my pocketbook allows.
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Name: Jeff B. About Me: I graduated in 2008 with honors from Southern Methodist University, and received a BA in Public Affairs and International Studies. Following the completion of my undergraduate studies, I earned a joint MSc/MA in Media & Globalization from the the London School of Economics and USC. While conducting my post-graduate studies, I also cofounded the film production company, Gatling Pictures, and produced my first feature-length documentary, “Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story”. As projects develop, I'm fortunately allowed the time to continue to teach and tutor - real passions of mine. I specialize in language arts (English, French and Spanish), social sciences, and math.
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Name: Hayley About Me: I am a native Los Angeleno who returned back to LA after spending almost a decade away completing my Bachelors, Masters, and MD degrees! Though I loved living in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, I am happy to be back in sunny California! I have an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Political Science and pre-medical studies, though my true passion is my medical career and dedication to children’s health. I have a Masters Degree in Biological Sciences and an MD from George Washington University Medical School. As I await entering residency in Pediatrics, I have been tutoring and teaching in liberal arts and sciences. I am an excellent communicator, very patient, and knowledgeable in my areas of study, and have had personal experience with the challenges of upper level academics and test taking. I enjoy helping students synthesize ideas and formulate study plans for all phases of learning.
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