Ben

Certified Tutor

I am a 2014 graduate of Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, NY, where I majored in Cognitive Science and minored in Spanish/Hispanic Studies. In college, I played two years of DIII lacrosse, sang in an a cappella group, studied abroad for a semester in Madrid, and was the co-chair of my major committee. With a faculty member in the physics department, I worked on a project analyzing the intersection of physics education, cognitive science, and contemplative practice (e.g., meditation). My senior thesis was a critical evaluation of the goals and results of neuroimaging studies purportedly studying "the self."

Ever since I was a child, I have had a passion for the learning process. I enjoy learning new things, getting better at them, and helping others to learn as well. My work as a swim instructor for recalcitrant kiddos, behavioral specialist with young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and adult men in psycho-educational groups have taught me that people learn best when they are intrinsically motivated and feel that they are in the driver's seat of their learning process. As such, my job as a tutor is to support, ask questions, and be a sounding board for learners to coach them through their own process of discovery and integration.

My high school and college education gave me a broad, interdisciplinary background, which makes me feel comfortable moving between quantitative and qualitative subjects and a great tutor for standardized tests. I particularly enjoy helping learners achieve success in reading and writing skills.