Tutors and Staff

John Paul Cleveland, Director, came to NYU-Poly in September 2012. Prior to coming to Poly, John Paul was the Director of the Tutoring Center at Pace University at the lower Manhattan campus. He obtained a bachelors degree in Religion from Florida Southern College, a masters degree in Theology from Duke University, and a second masters degree in Philosophy from the University of South Florida. In addition to directing the activities of the PTC, John Paul spends a lot of time thinking about best practices in tutorial delivery, and in the classroom, he teaches philosophy and ethics courses. In his free time, John Paul is an avid runner and has run the NYC Marathon seven years now and counting.

Dina Cruz-Cadiz, Program Coordinator for Undergraduate Academics, serves four different departments: General Engineering, General Studies, PTC, and Undergraduate Academics in providing assistance with payroll, HR, business office, and other administrative functions. She came from the beautiful islands of the Philippines. She loves interacting with people and enjoys learning about their different cultures. During her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, Broadway shows, and has a passion for cooking and baking. She is a candidate for Graduation this 2013 in the Master’s of Science Program in Organizational Behavior.

Tutors

Aman Ali, Computer Science Tutor, is a BS/MS student studying Computer Engineering as undergraduate and Computer Science as a graduate student. He's always willing to help explain and feels he does this best at the PTC. He enjoys drawing and watching television in his free time.

King Au, Chemistry Tutor, is a junior studying Electrical Engineering. He likes to help other students and enjoys sharing his knowledge.  Working at the PTC has expanded King's social network.  In addition, he is a big fan of soccer.

Farihah Begum, Computer Science Tutor, is an undergraduate studying Mechanical Engineering at NYU Poly. She loves dance,food and robots. She also loves to teach others especially at the PTC when she helps people understand how to use MATLAB.

Daniel Berkowitz, Physics Tutor, is a sophomore Physics major and hopes to one day get his Ph.D. in physics. Besides physics, Daniel, likes to play videos games like Rome Total War, and he is an avid snowboarder. One of his favorite places to go to snowboarding is Hunter Mountain.

Bingxin Fan, Computer Science Tutor, is a sophomore studying Mathematics.  She has a passion for helping peers in achieving academic excellence. Bingxin learns from the tutoring experience as much as tutees do. Problem-solving is one of her favorite things to do, especially when solving the problem with others. Bingxin is also a bookworm. She love readings of all kinds. Her dream is to open a castle-like coffee palace with books everywhere, since she is also a coffee addict!

Elvin Feng, Computer Science Tutor, is a junior currently doing a BS/MS major in Chemical Engineering. During his free time, he likes to watch television or go to the gym. Other than that, he is pretty laid back and relaxed, trying to keep a stress-free life.

Vincent Fong, Computer Science Tutor, is an undergraduate studying Computer Science.  He has an addiction to watching television shows, and he's not afraid to admit it. If you name a television show on TV right now, it’s more than likely that he has seen it. Not only is Vincent addicted to television shows but also food. He is a big eater, always venturing out to the city and finding new food places.  Vincent dreams of one day traveling the world and eating all sorts of foods from different cultures.

James Forbes, Computer Science Tutor, is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering and planning on minoring in both Computer Science and Aerospace.  His hobbies include (but are not limited to) video games, snowboarding, and archery.  He's always willing to help out (even if it isn't about MATLAB) and loves working as a tutor.  His goals for the future include starting his own business and eventually world domination.

Abe Gellis, Computer Science Tutor, is a sophomore studying Computer Science, planning to specialize in Game Design and Development.  He prefers working through examples for both tutoring and his own studies.  Outside of the PTC, he can usually be found online gaming.

Sasha Haran, Chemistry Tutor, is a sophomore studying biomolecular sciences.  She loves to help out wherever and whoever she can, especially if it's for chemistry.  When she graduates, she hopes to go to medical school and eventually become a pediatrician.

Kaung Oo (Kevin) Han, a Computer Science Tutor, is an undergraduate studying Computer Science. At the PTC, he likes to help other students and shares his knowledge. He also believes that tutoring helps him retain CS knowledge. During his free time, he loves to watch movies, and he is also a big fan of soccer.

Radu Gabriel Iliescu, Chemistry and Biology Tutor, is in his last semester of studying Biomolecular Science (B.S.) and Chemistry (M.S.)  He enjoys tutoring at the PTC because it allows him to help students and show them that science - especially chemistry - can be very easy and fun when approached the right way.  When Radu is not tutoring, he likes to spend time volunteering at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. He enjoys talking to patients and making them feel safe and well cared for. Radu spends the rest of his free time exploring the wide cultural diversity of New York City and capturing it on film. When the weather keeps him indoors, he practices cooking some of the Romanian dishes which shaped his childhood and which remind him of back home. 

Fahd Iqbal, Physics Tutor,is a senior studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. Originally from Pakistan, he was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. Some of Fahd's many interests are running, skiing, chess, and physics. He also runs for the NYU-Poly cross country team.

Niloufar Khavari, Physics Tutor, is a physics major in her junior year. She transferred from Iran in the spring 2012. Niloufar loves physics and art. Her hobby is photography, especially astrophotography.

Stephen Luk, Computer Science Tutor, is currently a sophomore, majoring in Computer Science. Helping others is one of his passions; if anyone asks for his help, he will try his best to provide assistance. When he's not studying or completing an assignment for a class, Stephen enjoys playing video games and spending time with family.

Jesse Manor, Physics Tutor, is a sophomore majoring in physics and mathematics as well as minoring in finance. Jesse grew up on Long Island with his two bothers, Jeremy and  Jordan, and his two dogs, Jolie and Nutella.

Eddie Melcer, Computer Science Tutor, is an undergraduate studying Computer Science here at NYU-Poly. He is a big fan of video games and has even coded a few himself. One thing Eddie likes about the PTC is how the friendly environment helps him help others through his tutoring.

Allen Rohr, Physics Tutor, is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Business and Technology Management. Allen is the captain for the soccer team at Poly and loves to play soccer in his free time.

Boris Ryabtsev, Biology and Chemistry Tutor, studies chemistry as an undergraduate here at NYU-Poly. At the PTC, Boris likes that he has the opportunity to share his knowledge and give tips to students who need assistance. He plans to apply to medical school when he graduates.

Alexander Scott, Computer Science Tutor, is an Honors BS/MS student studying Computer Science. He is always eager to explain concepts to students new to programming, and takes pride in helping them get through difficult problems. Originally from England, he likes to spend his limited free time exploring New York City and the East Coast. Alex is an avid soccer fan, and enjoys cracking jokes. 

Nima Simon, Chemistry Tutor, is an undergraduate studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She plans on minoring in Nuclear Science and hopes to work in the nuclear energy field after graduating. Besides tutoring students in chemistry, she enjoys choreographing and performing Indian dances, travelling, and learning new languages.

Lev Shpits, Chemisrty Tutor, is a sophomore  studying Biomolecular Sciences. Lev enjoys playing chess and swimming in his free time. After completing undergraduate studies he hopes to further his education and eventually work in the medical field.

Eugene Stolberg, Computer Science Tutor, is a MatLab tutor and a junior in Civil Engineering. He's willing to help those who are willing to learn and enjoys three dimensional projects and concepts.

Ripon Talukder, Physics Tutor, is a junior majoring in  Electrical Engineering and minoring in Mathematics. Ripon likes to read books and newspapers.

Anthony Walls, Computer Science Tutor, is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering at Poly. He loves being busy: He is taking an extra class, playing volleyball, and tutoring MATLAB on top of his normal class schedule. Anthony loves music, sports, but most of all, designing and building stuff. Working in prototyping and product design is truly his calling.

Dustin Watson, Chemistry Tutor, hails from upstate New York and is majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering.  Upon graduation, Dustin looks forward to getting into green energy or starting his own brewery. 

Writing Consultants

Mara Goodman has a background in speech and language pathology, and literacy as well as theater. For the past 5 years she has been teaching ESOL here in New York. She enjoys learning new languages. Mara is also a singer of classical and folk music and songs of peace and justice, both on her own and with her a cappella group, Harmonic Insurgence. Her choice to join us at NYU-Poly reflects her desire to work closely with students to help them express their own opinions and feelings.

Aimee Herman is a performance artist and poet with an MFA in Creative Writing from Long Island University in Brooklyn. She has been published in various journals and anthologies including THRUSH journal, Lavender Review and Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics. She is deeply excited by semi-colons, complex sentences and homonyms.

Christopher Iverson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from Hunter College and his Master’s studying German History and Judaic Studies at NYU. He studies the teaching of Writing and Rhetoric at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus and tutors in their Writing Center as well. Christopher lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son, and he is grateful that they let him do so.

Fatima Sarah Khalid is our bubbly undergraduate writing consultant. A sophomore majoring in Computer Science and pining for a minor in Mathematics, she's an enthusiastic social butterfly. Working as a writing consultant is a great experience as it allows her to see the different ways in which people think and express themselves. When she's not correcting grammar at the PTC or rushing to class, she's involved in several on-campus activities. Along with sessions as Forum TA, prototyping her entry for the Innovention competition with her team, video-gaming away in the lounge, practicing for Poly's Womens Tennis team, and being silly with her best friends, Fatima likes to balance her work, study, and life, making extra time to connect with people, learn and grow into an even better person.

Brandon Linton graduated majoring in  Integrated Digital Media.  He has been able to see various people improve in their writing with his assistance. Brandon enjoys analyzing and dissecting various conventions and tropes used in TV shows, comics, and movies. Few people know that Brandon plays the piano; fewer know that he loves to cook. He hopes to get a career in game development.

Elliot Markson was born in the Bronx and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, where he majored in biology and loved physics. Elliot got his B.A. from the City College of New York. He then wrote advertising copy for Prentice-Hall Publishers, Paterson & Lawrence, and other agencies, winning awards for his print ads and TV commercials. Elliot went on to earn his M.S. at Brooklyn College and taught science in New York City public schools for 14 years. At the Writing Center, Elliot specializes in EG Lab Reports as well as Humanities assignments. He rides his bicycle daily to and from NYU-Poly and does the 5-Boro Bike Tour, the NY Century, the Tour de Bronx, and Tour de Brooklyn.

Fischer Sherin is from a very rural area in Maine, and attended a college in Arizona where he studied history and queer theory.  He now lives in Brooklyn where he works both at a cafe in Clinton Hill, and at the Writing Center of the PTC.  He very much appreciates the opportunity to be working with people in any kind of educational environment.  In Fischer's spare time he tries his hardest to be a part of all the art and political work that happens in this incredible city.

Timothy Sullivan has worked at the Writing Center intermittently over the course the past 6 years. He is a big fan of compound sentences, and enjoys using them whenever possible. When he is not using compound sentences, he can be found out on the town with his best friend, Semicolon; they enjoy watching squirrels in Prospect Park, feeding rats by the Gowanus Canal, and throwing gerunds off the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition to his duties at the Writing Center and his exploits with Semicolon, Tim spends a great deal of time driving a large white van from here to there; occasionally, he will stop at a night-club to play some songs.

Sam Schreiber is an adjunct instructor of creative writing at NYU-Poly and teaches at other institutions in the New York area. His fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, Pendragon Literary Magazine, PodCastle, Journey Into..., Cavalier Literary Couture and the anthology "Persephone's Kiss." His short story "Linger" was a finalist for the Dunesteef's Broken Mirrors Prize. He is a graduate of New York University's MFA program in fiction and a featured member of the Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers.

Office Staff

Lewis Allen III is an undergraduate senior studying Electrical Engineering. He's a big fan of Korean culture and listens to a lot of K-Pop, as well as watching dramas. Upon graduating Lewis looks forward to pursuing a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Brian Park is an undergraduate studying Chemical Biological Engineering at NYU-Poly. He likes the great atmosphere at the PTC. Before coming to NYU-Poly, Brian served in the U.S. Marine Corps and looks forward to planning for a Master’s program after graduation.

Videsh Ragoonanan, Graduate Assistant, hails all the way from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago, Videsh (pronounced 'vee-day-sh') is currently pursuing a MS. in Management of Technology, and aims to graduate at the end of the Spring 2013 semester. His undergraduate degree is in Industrial Engineering from the University of the West Indies. Prior to coming to New York, Videsh worked within the supply chain one of the largest Ammonia plants in the Western hemisphere. One of Videsh's greatest successes was his acceptance and eventual graduation from such a world renowned institution as NYU Poly. Upon graduating he hopes to start a career in consulting and one day start his own company.

Keil Thomas is a first-year student in Biomolecular Science.  When he's not busy with school work, Keil enjoys going out and exploring the city. After he finishes his undergraduate degree he hopes to go to medical school and be a doctor.

Jiwei Zhang is a graduate student studying Computer Science at NYU-Poly. He likes that people of different nationalities can talk together at the PTC. After graduation Jiwei plans to travel the world with his family.