Meet the Team

Abrahim earned his B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University, and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from UC San Diego. He was born in the Bay Area and has enjoyed teaching since he first began volunteer tutoring his peers in high school. Since then he has volunteered at 826 Valencia and assisted in teaching college chemistry and biology courses. He has been with Aspire since August 2024 during which time he has worked with K-college students in STEM subjects, Spanish, and English. Outside of work, Abrahim enjoys swimming, hiking, live music, and writing creatively.

Aditi is a passionate educator and technologist dedicated to democratizing access to high-quality education, with a particular focus on underserved communities. A graduate of UC Berkeley, she holds a dual degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. With experience working with students aged 8-17, Aditi has honed her skills in tailoring educational approaches to diverse age groups and learning styles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she demonstrated her adaptability by serving as an early education computer science tutor with iDTech. Aditi has taught SAT preparation courses for students from underfunded schools and non-native english speaking countries. She hopes her ongoing efforts continue to inspire and uplift the next generation of learners, paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible educational landscape.

Anthony is currently a 9-12 Engineering teacher and has been teaching science and math in the East Bay for over 10 years. He has taught in the classroom the following subjects: Biology, Physiology/Anatomy, Health, Algebra 2, Trig/PreCal, and Engineering design. He has also taught math privately and in brick-and-mortar facilities such as Mathnasium to students ranging in age from 5 to 15. His educational background includes a B.S. in Biology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master’s in Education from UC Davis.

Bianca Magsaysay’s passion for education began while teaching third graders in a low-income community in San Bruno. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Teaching Preparation from San Francisco State University in 2015 and is currently on track to obtain her Multiple Subject Credential. Since 2013, she has worked as an educator, teaching students from kindergarten through high school in both general and special education settings. She has also tutored students in grades K–8 after school, supporting a wide range of academic needs. In her free time, she enjoys visiting art galleries, exploring museums, and writing poetry.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Israel is a first-generation American, born and raised in San Francisco. With over six years of experience working in San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), he brings a deep commitment to education and student success. Israel is passionate about supporting students in reaching their goals while making learning engaging and enjoyable. He believes that all subjects and experiences can be connected through perspective, and he strives to help students find those connections in their own learning journeys. Israel looks forward to continuing his work in education and making a lasting impact on the students he serves.

Jen (she/they) is an experienced and patient tutor that has worked in the Bay Area since 2017. Collaborating with students with different socioeconomic backgrounds has been a passion of hers since she began tutoring as a student at the UC Riverside, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Pure Chemistry. She draws from her experiences as a student and offers different pedagogical approaches, mainly in math and science, to increase student confidence and motivation. She especially enjoys teaching test-prep courses with Aspire’s non-profit partners, including Girls Inc and First Graduate. She is motivated by helping students set and achieve their goals, within and beyond academics.

Junhee Kim was raised in South California, where her passion for education was ignited by the rich diversity of her community and a desire to foster equitable learning opportunities for all students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University, and is completing a Master’s in Educational Leadership at the University of California, East Bay. With over a decade of teaching experience, Junhee has taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades at Richmond College Prep, and has extensive experience developing differentiated instruction and homework for diverse learners, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners.

Originally from Guatemala, Karla J. Galvez-Lima grew up in South Central Los Angeles attending public schools in LAUSD alongside her four siblings. Although she is the third of five children, she is the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. Karla recognizes that there are too many barriers in successfully accessing and graduating from college as a child of immigrants. Being fluent in both Spanish and English allows her to help others in being the first in their families to pursue a college degree while working and have these conversations with their families. Karla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Central American Immigration to the US from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from San Francisco State University. Karla has well over 10 years of experience tutoring K-12th grade students in both afterschool and nonprofit programs in both Southern and Northern California. Karla currently advocates for improved literacy standards and dual language programs in WCCUSD as the Chair of the Literacy Community Led Committee, a school delegate for the Dual Language Immersion Parent Advisory Committee, and as the Executive Vice President at her local PTA chapter at West County Mandarin School.

Kate is a 53 year old graduating senior in Astrophysics at UC Berkeley. She will be working on a Masters Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics at SFSU starting in the Fall of 2024. She loves math, science, poetry and diversity! She is a crossword puzzle fan, a marvel movies fan, and a rubiks cube fan. In her free time, she likes to play boardgames and take her two telescopes out to look at the night sky with her college aged children and friends of all ages and backgrounds.

Krystal Interiano holds a B.A. in Communicology (the study of communication and psychology) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is currently pursing her M.S. in Communicative Disorders. She has 5 years of experience tutoring elementary school students in English and Math in Hawaii and California. Krystal is passionate about helping people and making a difference in the lives around her. In her free time, Krystal loves to spend time with her family, friends, and dogs!

Originally from Rhode Island, Madeline received a BA in biological sciences from the University of Chicago in 2016 and a PhD in neuroscience from UC Berkeley in 2024. Over the course of her career, Madeline has worked with elementary through undergraduate students in small group and one-on-one formats in both academic and professional settings. She takes a holistic approach to tutoring, believing student success depends on personal wellbeing. She strives to help students develop a love of learning and is passionate about making higher education, particularly in STEM fields, inclusive and accessible to all students.

Growing up in Santa Ana, California, I’m currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley, on track to graduate in May 2028. Over the past two years I’ve tutored K-5 students in Math and English in San Francisco, crafting lessons that meet diverse learning needs and welcoming students of all abilities. Fun fact: I still shoot film on my vintage Olympus OM-1N and have completed a dozen 5Ks!

Bio coming soon!

Mario graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Chemical Engineering with an emphasis in Biotechnology. He has over 25 years of experience empowering his students to oustanding growth in STEM and Spanish. Mario enjoys spending time with friends and family, seeing the spark of understanding in student’s eyes after comprehending a challenging concept, and contemplating the laws of physics while skiing.

Mary (she/her) graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and Interdisciplinary Studies. She first discovered her passion for supporting students while working in the writing lab at her community college, Diablo Valley College. Since then, she’s supported students from kindergarten through the college-level in East Bay learning centers, tutoring programs, and classrooms. Mary has spent the last three years at Aspire, where she is dedicated to helping students build their academic skills and confidence. With a background in how the brain learns and specialized training in speech therapy and literacy support for students with learning disabilities, Mary is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where students can grow towards all their goals and dreams.

Michael is currently a sustainability program manager at JLL with Google during the day. However in the evenings, he keeps busy tutoring students in Math and SAT prep. Michael was a Math Teacher for 3 years in Lampang Thailand and has been with Aspire since 2021. He inspires to support population of students who don’t have support readily available and help students reach their fullest potential. Michael likes to run, bike, and try new food in his free time.

Rachel Cheung graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A in Linguistics in 2024. She has worked as a tutor for four years, teaching students ranging from elementary school children to adults throughout the Bay Area. In Rachel’s free time, Rachel loves to try out new cafes and restaurants.

Rosalie is a digital librarian currently working as a strategy and engagement consultant. She previously worked for the University of California, managing international cultural heritage projects and collaborating with institutions across California. She has over five years of experience tutoring, primarily with elementary-aged students. Having spent most of her career in higher education, Rosalie is passionate about the role of education—not only as a driver of personal and professional growth, but also as a means to promote equity and expand opportunity. She holds a Master’s in Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley and a Master of Studies in Law from UC Hastings College of the Law.

Stella Joshi is a current undergraduate nursing student at the University of San Francisco. She has 3 years of experience tutoring elementary, middle, and high school students at St. James, St. Peters, Willie Brown MS, and Lowell HS in math, ELA, science, and SAT prep. She believes every student should have the opportunity to grow academically and personally with personalized support throughout their journey. Stella enjoys zip lining and has experienced it in both Nepal and Las Vegas!

Bio coming soon!

You-Gyung (You-You) graduated UC Berkeley with a BA in Cognitive Science in 2025. Her interest in working with children and understanding the human mind has led her to tutor, teach, and mentor over 1,000 students grades K-12 as well as fellow college peers over the course of 9 years in subjects including but not limited to: reading, writing, sociology, and traditional Korean art. In her free time You-Gyung enjoys making art, playing soccer, and learning new languages.