SMART employs a large number of undergraduates as well as a few graduate students as Peer Learning Consultants in our centers. Their widely varying interests, backgrounds, and expertise create a diverse and dedicated corps of academic assistance paraprofessionals.
Hi! My name is Alexandra, and I am a junior in the College of Biological Sciences. I am majoring in Biology, with a minor in French. I hope to go to medical school after graduation. When I am not in school, I love to travel! I have been to France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends.
I am 27, and I am majoring in Math. I've been to the University of Maine, and now UMN for two years.
In 2008 I spent eleven months teaching Math and Physics at a high school in Uganda, East Africa. I was a full-time
teacher at Baptist Secondary, and the legal guardian for 17 orphaned children sponsored there by a local monastery.
On Saturdays I tutored them in their subjects, and they taught me soccer.
At SMART I tutor German, Math, and Writing. In the 2005-2006 academic year I was employed by the Writing Center as a
tutor at the University of Maine in Presque Isle. I have worked with non-native speakers, and I also have a good deal
of experience with very technical papers, such as Science lab reports.
My name is Chris. I am currently a Kinesiology major with emphasis on premedical studies. That being said, I will be earning a chemistry and biology minor to encompass extra science courses. I have interests in weight lifting, running, volleyball, basketball, and football. My favorite sports star is Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts. I really enjoy helping students with problems they have in certain subjects. I have a background in physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, and Spanish. I will be applying to medical school next summer. In medicine, my interest is in healthcare and helping out the financial problems that are occurring through healthcare issues. I plan on becoming a primary care general physician in rural areas. I am happy to answer any questions about anything, including advisement for medical school applicants. I hope to see you soon!
Hey! My name is Eric and I’m a sophomore going for a mechanical engineering degree. I have taken many physics, math, and chemistry classes, so if this is where you need help, I can be of assistance. Outside of school I thoroughly enjoy football- watching it, playing it, talking about it, everything. I also firmly believe the two greatest achievements society has had are quite possibly the making of the two newest Batman movies, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
Hannah [graduate TA]
Hi! My name is Hannah. I have been working in the SMART Learning Commons as a graduate assistant for 1 year. Writing is my main content area, but I can also help with Spanish. I am a graduate student in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. See you around the SMART!
Hello, my name is Hyunghoyou can call me “Hoya.” I am an undergraduate student minoring in economics. I was born in Korea, and came to the U.S. back in 2002, but I had to do my military duty in my country for two years. So I finally came back. I luckily served in the U.S. Army, so I am more than happy to share my experience of army life with anybody who is thinking about joining the army. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Hiya! My name is Jennifer, and I am a third year student in the College of Biological Sciences, studying for a degree in Biology; I am also pursuing minors in Social Justice and Global Studies. Right now, I am really interested in sustainable development, particularly urban agriculture in places like the Twin Cities. I hope to attend graduate school in bio-ethics or some related subject area, eventually becoming a college professor. Outside of school, I spend time with my family (who all live nearby), relaxing with friends, and going on adventures out and about the Twin Cities - because Minneapolis is so super awesome!
John received his bachelor degrees in Neuroscience and Physiology from the University of Minnesota where he now studies Ethnopharmacology under the direction of Dr. Dennis McKenna. In addition, John holds dual appointments as a learning consultant for both the SMART Learning Commons and the McNamara Academic Center. Outside of the University, he is an active member of many community organizations including serving as a board member of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's society for young professionals. A patron of the arts in the Twin Cities, John delights in all forms of creative expression from opera to oenology.
I am a junior studying Food Science at the U of M. I plan to major in Food Science and minor in Chemistry. When I graduate, I would like to work at a large food company in the research and development center. I tutor mainly chemistry, biology and introductory food science classes. My interests include reading, running, watching movies, and interacting with people.
Hey! I am a junior working towards a Biology, Society, & Environment major at the U. I have ambitions of medical school, though I am also interested in perusing a graduate degree in either genetics or organic chemistry. I have studied French for 10 years, and love the language! I also enjoy spending time outdoors (fishing, gardening, etc), playing sports (my favorites are soccer and basketball), and any sort of artistic activity (I especially love working with clay). I volunteer weekly at Fairview Hospital, which is a great experience for anyone interested in the medical field!
Hi! This is my second year as a neuroscience and psychology major at the University of Minnesota. I also work as a lab assistant in the Stem Cell Institute. My hope is to attend medical school and eventually become a pediatric neurosurgeon. If possible, I would like to incorporate teaching into my future occupation as I love working with others and guiding a team to solve problems. Outside of academics I love spending time with my family and friends, going for long car rides with great music, and watching the MN Wild hockey games whenever the opportunity arises!
Hey! I'm a senior biochemistry major in CBS. I'm planning on attending Medical School next fall to study orthopedics. I'm originally from Milwaukee, WI and as such, love the Packers and the Brewers! I also enjoy coaching and the arts. Feel free to stop by with any question you have!
Hi! My name is Michael. I am from Woodbury, Minnesota and have lived in this great state all of my life. I am a currently an undecided sophomore in the Carlson School of Management with a minor in Spanish. I enjoy playing (and actively watching) several sports such as baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Not surprisingly, my favorite teams are all from Minnesota: the Twins, the Timberwolves, the Vikings, and the Wild. My favorite show is SportsCenter and my favorite movie is Remember the Titans.
I'm a Biology, Society & Environment major, pre-physical therapy student and am also in the University Honors Program. Lots of people think I'm majoring in three different things, but it's actually all in one major and I love it because I get to learn all of the science while still relating it to the real world by taking classes on public policy, ethics and a wide variety of other topics. My hobbies include playing tennis, running 5Ks, and volunteering in the PT rehabilitation department at Fairview Medical Center on campus. I would love for more people to stop by for tutoring or advice on life here at the U!
My name is Nardine Abadeer and I am a currently a junior pursuing a BA in Mathematics through CLA and a BS in Chemistry through IT. When I graduate from the U I plan to continue on in the academic field and get my PhD in Chemistry. I love helping other students and I hope to one day teach Chemistry at the university level!
My name is Omni, and I am a senior attending the Carlson School of Management. I am pursuing a degree in Actuarial Science, Risk Management, and International Business, and I hope to work with an insurance agency in the upcoming year. I began tutoring with SMART in fall of 2007, and tutored math. In my spare time, I like to play volleyball, go for a run, go out to eat, and spend time with my family and friends.
My name is Salah James. I am a Biochemistry and Human Physiology here at the U. I have completed the core courses for these majors, and can help with physics, biology, chemistry, and Calc I-II. My favorite quote is, “It is sometimes the duty of intelligent men to point out the obvious.” –George Orwell. "
My name is Thee. I am a sophomore here at the University of Minnesota. My major is Electrical Engineering. I am in the University Honors Program, so I have completed Honors Physics I and II, and Honors Cal I and II. I am also an International Student Ambassador, so I really like working with international students. However, I also enjoy teaching and working with people, so everyone is welcomed to come and see me!
Hello! My name is Tori and I'm a fifth year Japanese major. I took last year off so I could study in Japan, so I'm going to be graduating in the spring. I hope to either continue on to grad school or teach English in Japan for a few years, but I haven't really decided for sure yet. If I ever have any spare time, I'm usually spending it with my friends or reading a book. I also like to knit, bake, and make stuff out of clay. I will be helping out with Japanese, Spanish, writing, and basic algebra, so don't hesitate to stop by and meet me! I'm here to help!
I began my undergrad at UCLA, and transferred to the U of M in 2005. Over the years, my majors have been math, French, English, and architecture. I finally settled on the math major with minors in design and architecture. I would eventually like to go for my PhD in math, specializing in mathematical neuroscience. Some other nuggets: I’m a political junkie and avid watcher of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”; US Weekly is my favorite tabloid.
My name is Qinhan. As you can tell from the name, I’m originally from China. Chinese is my first language. Now I’m working on math and economic dual degree program from the U. I studied abroad in Singapore for a year, learning business management. Technically, I’m a sophomore at the U, and the courses I’ve learned related to my major are Math 1271, 1272, and 2245, and Econ 1101 and 1102.
Hi! My name is Viviane. I am currently a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I am from Cameroon and came to the US about four years ago. Other than English, I speak French and a tiny bit of Italian. I have been volunteering at HCMC and enjoy pencil (portrait) drawing as well as reading. Like Samuel Beckett says "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better."
I am a fourth year econ student. I love economics and math. I would like to help people with my experience and knowledge. I can speak Japanese and Chinese, I am from China, and I lived in Japan for six years before I came to college.
Yeonsoo [graduate TA]
Hello. My name is Yeonsoo from Korea. I love Economics and very interested in teaching Economics, too. I still remember how I was frustrated when I was taking Introductory Micro/Macro. I'd be very happy if I can assist you when you need some help for those introductory economics/applied economics classes. On top of that, I can be help of any advanced undergraduate course too, I hope.