MEET US!

XINRU LI

Founder & Co-Director

Xinru is a rising junior at Brown University concentrating in music and originally from Chicago. In the past, Xinru has taught 3rd graders at D'Abate Elementary School, as well as tutored violin and viola with her local elementary and middle schools. Fun fact: Xinru went to 5 different schools in 5 years!

AIKO CASTREJON

Co-Director

Aiko is a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is majoring in accounting. She was born and raised in Chicago and has experience tutoring elementary school students at Chicago Public Schools reading and writing. A fun fact is that she has two dogs, Cookie and Pebbles.

SUSAN HASEGAWA

Operations Director

Susan is a rising junior at Brown University concentrating in cognitive neuroscience and is from Honolulu, Hawaii. Her favorite subjects are music and science. Although she does not have much experience with formal teaching, she wants to reach as many students as possible and help them learn and have fun while doing so!

SHANZEH SAYIED

Education Director

Shanzeh Sayied is a junior at Brown University and is majoring in neuroscience. She has been teaching other students since high school because she believes mentoring and encouragement can go a long way in helping students develop a love of learning. Shanzeh has previously taught elementary and middle school students in subjects such as science, math, reading, and writing.

KAITLYN MI

 Research Director

Kaitlyn is a rising junior at Brown University studying Cognitive Neuroscience, but she is originally from Tennessee. She taught chess to elementary schoolers in the Nashville community for four summers, is an active tutor for GoPeer, and was an after-school mentor at William D'bate Elementary School. In her free time, Kaitlyn plays with her two cats, Yolk and Flower.

LISA YU LI

Web & Design Director

Lisa is a rising junior at Brown concentrating in Visual Arts and Behavioral Decision Sciences. She was born and raised in Mexico City, and is interested in nonprofit and social service fields. She was a summer camp counselor in Mexico, and has taught elementary school students in Providence. A fun fact is that she loves hot cheetos and takis (both the snacks and the song).

SUNGYI CHO

Operations Director

Sungyi (pronounced "sung - ee") is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Psychology and Economics. She grew up in the suburb Niles and loves Chicago favorites like Do-rite Donuts and the Tamale Guy! Her tutoring experience includes teaching North Korean refugees English, and being a Teaching Buddy.

AMBER SEONG

Internal Community Director

Amber is a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign majoring in molecular and cellular biology with a minor in psychology. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and has experience teaching children and teenagers how to play tennis and tutoring children for Teaching Buddies! Some of her hobbies include playing tennis, piano, cooking, and crocheting.

MEGAN MANNE

Finance Director

Megan is a freshman at the University of Michigan majoring in Economics and minoring in Sustainability. She is originally from Chicago and has been working with children for over four years. Some of her hobbies include baking, calligraphy, playing lacrosse, and traveling.

VANESSA VAZQUEZ

Outreach & Marketing Director

COMING SOON!

OLIVIA NOWAK

Head Tutor Grades K-2

Olivia is a rising junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying Kinesiology. In the past, Olivia taught children and adults how to swim so she was ready to dive right into Teaching Buddies. Fun fact: Olivia has performed in both Europe and South America with her polish folklore dance group, Wici Song and Dance Co.

LAUREN MELTON

Head Tutor Grades 3-5

Lauren is a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is majoring in nursing. She has experience tutoring middle school and high school students in math. Fun fact: She had been doing archery for 10 years!

JACKELYNE CARRERA

Head Tutor Grades 6-9

Jacky is a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in Business. She joined teaching buddies because she wants to give the opportunity to children to further enhance their learning. A fun fact about her is that she loves learning so she has picked up many hobbies such as swimming, video games, cooking, dancing and more.

KASIA KLIMEK

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

STEPHANIE CHEE

Northwestern University

ELLEN GILBERT

Illinois Wesleyan University

SHANZEH SAYIED

Brown University

ISABEL CARMONA

University of Illinois at Chicago

BRYLIE NOE

Washington University in St. Louis

ASHA MAHAJAN

University of Louisville

ANNIE HUANG

Brown University

JESSICA WANG

Washington University in St. Louis

SARA MORADI

Bates College

ABBY DOYLE

Loyola University Chicago

GRACE HAMBOURGER

University of Denver

MOLLIE SOLOMON

University of South Carolina

AMBER SEONG

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

AIKO CASTREJON

University of Illinois at Chicago

SARA TOLVA

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

HOORIYA RATHUER

University of Illinois at Chicago

VIDYA BABU

University of Illinois at Chicago

ELIZABETH GONZALEZ

University of Illinois at Chicago

RACHAEL SALDANHA

Loyola University Chicago

FATIMA GHULAM

Loyola University Chicago

SARAH PHELPS

University of Illinois at Chicago

MEGAN WINES

Loyola University Chicago

CARLY UHLIG

University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

ARLETTE OSAGIE

University of Illinois at Chicago

ANNALISE BORDENET

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

JESSICA YOON

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

NATALIE PEREZ

Loyola Marymount University

MIKAYLA BRECHON

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

TARA ENTEZAR

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

MARY COLEMAN

University of Illinois at Chicago

VANESSA VAZQUEZ

Oakton Community College

SABINE VERA

University of Illinois at Chicago

KARINA CASAS

University of Illinois at Chicago

ARIANA PESTANO-HOLT

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

NATHAN LA MANTIA

University of Illinois at Chicago

ASHWINI DESHPANDE

University of Illinois at Chicago

OLIVIA NOWAK

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

LYNZIE HOREJS

Loyola University Chicago

DAVID ZHOU

University of Illinois at Chicago

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ

Loyola University Chicago

DANBI LIM

Emory University

RUBY WOLETZ

Loyola University Chicago

MEGAN MANNE

University of Michigan

JESSA SHORTRIDGE

Northwestern University

LAUREN MELTON

University of Illinois at Chicago

KARA SILVERGLAT

Teacher at National Teachers Academy