We're almost through the week and what better way to celebrate than with a Get to Know a Tutor post! This week, we're highlighting another one of our Math and Science tutors, Gabby Khan!

Now that you know how to get Math and Science help if you want it, let's get to know Gabby!

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a sophomore, computer science major with a game development pathway. I work in the MASTC and I tutor CMSC 201-203, MATH 151-152, and PHYS 121

Tell us what else you do on campus.

I work for the honors college council and I’m the public relations chair. I advertise events for the honors college.

Why did you get involved with the Academic Success Center?

I would go there a lot for tutoring when I first started here and I realized it’s really helpful. Since I hung out there all the time, someone assumed I was a tutor. I helped them out and then I realized “hey! I can do this!”

Why do you love your job?

I love when students come back to me and tell me that they now understand something and they’ve succeeded in their class. I had a student message me and thank me for helping them in Physics! I like the feeling that I’m actually helping people achieve what they want.

Ideal pizza and why?

I have two. I love Magherita because it has those rich flavors and textures! I also like everything veggie pizza! I don’t hate meat, but I feel like it’s got that crunch factor and that taste on everything.

Thanks, Gabby! If you need help with Math and Science, now's a great time to get tutoring and prepare for finals. Remember to seek out help if you need it and finish this semester strong!

#UMBCtogether

Welcome to another edition of Get to Know a Tutor! Today, we're going to spotlight one of our amazing Math and Science Tutoring Center tutors: Nathan Janus!

Oh and as a reminder: all Math and Science Tutoring Center services are ONLINE! You can still get help with Math if you want to. Check out this quick tutorial if you have any questions: Academic Success Center Online Tutoring

Now that you know how to get Math help, let's get to know Nathan!

There you have it! If you need help in Math, make sure you check out online tutoring through the Academic Success Center!

#UMBCtogether

I hope we're all still doing well and staying safe! The Academic Success Center is still working hard to bring you all of the resources you need to be successful this semester, such as the Writing Center. 

To better support you (while still social distancing) the Writing Center has moved completely online. It's hard to stay connected during this time, but maybe Getting to Know one of our Writing Center tutors will help!

Tell us about yourself!

I’m an English major, I’m a sophomore, and I’m a writing tutor—we do it all!

Tell us what else you do on campus

I am a TA for science of water, I am a writing fellow for English 100, VP of ChewMBC, and VP of Spanish conversation!

Why did you get involved with the Academic Success Center?

I’m really into education and I wanted to explore how it is to actually teach people—it was an opportunity that I couldn’t let pass by. (can’t block your blessings)

Why do you love your job?

I’m a very shy person, so having this job allows me to come in contact with a lot of people who I usually would not meet. It allows me to come out of my shell. My tutees help me learn as much as I help them learn.

Ideal pizza and why?

Supreme pizza with no olives because olives are disgusting and I like every other topping on there. Really, all I need is a mushroom pizza, but if it doesn’t have mushrooms, I’ll eat it, but do I want it?

That's all it takes! So be sure to take advantage of your resources and take care of your papers and yourself!

#UMBCtogether

The Academic Success Center would like to recognize our amazing writing tutors and staff who presented at the 2020 Mid Atlantic Writing Center Association Conference!

Here are some highlights:

Partnering for student success: Centering student agency in the writing and research process. 

The library and writing center staff have developed a strong collaborative relationship to center student agency in the research and writing process at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

This roundtable will engage participants to think critically about diversity and social justice in writing centers. We will analyze the past, present, and future pedagogies of writing centers in the context of social justice.

Creating Trauma-Informed Writing Workshops: Reflection and Intervention in the Narratives of Our Lives. 

Trauma-Informed writing workshops allow space for reflection and intervention in our own thought processes. Writers can reflect on their own sense of a “dominant cultural narrative” and work to transform that narrative if necessary, giving voice to silence when imposed on individuals in our communities, including writing center spaces.

This Data Dash presentation features the early findings of research on strategies to increase comfort for multilingual writers in our Writing Center.

To our presenters, we thank you for your work to make our Writing Center more inclusive and supportive to all learners. 

Would you like help with your writing? Make an appointment with the Writing Center for your next paper!

Hello Retrievers!

Tutoring is up and running for Spring 2020! You know about our services, but let's learn a bit about the people who make it happen with our Get to Know series!

Today's tutor is Ryan Mbagna-Nanko! Ryan is a Mechanical Engineering major at UMBC. In addition to working at the Math and Science Tutoring Center, Ryan also is available to tutor by appointment for PHYS 122.

I’m a teaching fellow for Dynamics as well as a member of the NSBE. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer so I’m also a member of the intramural soccer team.

I was recommended by the professor to be a resource. I felt that I was social and relatable since I struggled a little bit in the beginning of the course. Because I sought out that help from my professor, I was able to do better.

I enjoy that high of working with people and collaboration, improving their confidence in their subject. I enjoy that interaction and seeing people progress and understand the material. Seeing that before and after is motivating!

It’s gotta be spicy, for sure! It can be breakfast pizza, with eggs and cheese. It has to have hot sauce on it and it has to have extra jalapenos. You can even swap out the marinara sauce with hot sauce, and I will eat it!

Find Ryan in the Math and Science Tutoring Center or book an appointment with him today!

I hope you're enjoying National Tutor Appreciation Week as much as we are! We are in the middle of our Get to Know series (because what better way to appreciate our tutors, SI PASS leaders, and peer mentors than by getting to know them?) and we've got a special highlight for you! Today, we're getting to know Jack Wheaton, an SI PASS leader for SPAN 102!

SPAN 102? There's SI PASS for SPAN 102? Absolutely! It's brand new for this semester, so please take advantage of it!

Now, let's get to know Jack!

You can find Jack leading his SPAN 102 SI PASS Sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. in Sherman Hall A wing Room 121. 

Greetings Retrievers!

You all know that the Learning Resources Center offers free tutoring for UMBC students. You know that we have weekly appointment tutoring available to you for pretty much every 100-level and 200-level course at UMBC. You know about our awesome Writing Center and our amazing Math Lab, now in its new location on the first floor of the library. But do you know about our tutors? The exemplary UMBC students who devote their time and use their skills to help students just like you? Well, now’s your chance to get better acquainted!

Welcome to our new monthly feature called “Get to Know a Tutor!”

Our first profiled tutor hails from Ocean City, MD! Meet Maura Smith!

So, Maura, tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re studying.

I’m a Health Administration & Public Policy and Political Science double major, with an Information Systems minor. I’m also on track for the Accelerated Master of Public Policy.

That’s amazing! Are you involved with any other projects on campus?

I’m currently an IT and Research intern for Real Food UMBC, I’m on the finance board for The Garden, and I participate in Global Brigades.

I’ve been tutoring since the second semester of my freshman year, so that’s five semesters total.

I’m primarily a tutor for STAT 121, but I also tutor a variety of HAPP related courses and anything with a statistics component.

I became a tutor following a recommendation from my Statistics instructor, Bonnie Kegan.

My favorite thing about tutoring is having really productive sessions that both further the student’s understanding of the material and frame it in terms of the student’s major.

What do you recommend students bring with them when they attend your sessions?

In order to have good sessions, students need to come with specific questions and topics. We can go over homework or past quizzes, whatever the student wants. If a lot of students come, then we have mini-lectures. 

If you need help with Statistics, you can find Maura in the Math Lab every Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.