Meet the Staff
Faculty
Elizabeth Burton (Precalculus)
Elizabeth earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Washington in 1998, and has taught a wide range of mathematics courses at the University of Washington and at Highline Community College. She spent three years training teaching assistants at U.W., helping them to become more effective mathematics teachers. She currently runs her own math tutoring business (www.mindfulmathtutoring.com), helping high school and college students, and adults, improve their math skills.
Royce Christensen (Integrated III Math)
Royce Christensen is currently a Mathematics and English teacher at Roosevelt High School. Royce earned his B.A in English, with a Mathematics minor, at the University of Montana, and his M.A. in Mathematics Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Michael Famulare (The Science of Sensory Perception)
Mike Famulare is a Ph.D. student in the Physics Department at the University of Washington. His research is in Computational Neuroscience, focusing on adaptive phenomena in single neurons. He earned his B.S. in Physics Education from New York University and holds New York State teacher certification. He taught Physics at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and has served as an individual tutor for over seventy students in science, math, writing, and test prep. He is currently a teaching assistant for the UW Physics Department.
Dan Finkel (Innovative Math: Turtles All the Way Down)
Daniel Finkel is a PhD. Candidate in algebraic geometry at the University of Washington. He has taught mathematics in New York and Seattle to students of all ages. In addition to this graduate work, Daniel tutors math in Seattle (http://finkelitis.googlepages.com/home) and hopes to help mend our fraught national relationship with mathematics through his writing and lectures (www.mathforlove.tumblr.com). Dan was a GK-12 Teaching Fellow September 2005-June 2007 here at the UW, participating as “math expert” in 2nd and 4th grade classrooms at Emerson School in Seattle and assisting teachers in the creation of an inquiry-based curriculum; for this work, he received a departmental excellence in teaching award.
Nick Grossenbacher (Essay Writing)
Nick Grossenbacher is a Ph.D. student in the History Department at the University of Washington, where he specializes in the cultural and intellectual history of Byzantium and the medieval Middle East. He received his B.A. from the University of Southern California’s honors college and has studied archaeology at the University of Edinburgh and Arabic language and literature at the University of Damascus. He has been a teaching assistant in the History Department for more than two years and has taught classes for a private tutoring company on essay composition, writing for history, and writing for standardized tests. In his free time he travels the world, studies languages, and reads stacks of literary essays on a panoply of incredibly fascinating subjects.
Judith Jones Hall (Algebra 1 & 2)
Judith Jones Hall has a B.A. in Education from the University of Washington, a Masters of Education from Seattle Pacific University, Mathematics Endorsement from Seattle Pacific University, and a Doctor of Education (Mathematics) from SPU. She is currently a mathematics teacher at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, WA and is the current Mathematics Department Chair.
Kathy Hall (Biology)
Katherine Hall has a Bachelor’s in Bilogy from UCLA and a Masters in Biology for Teachers from the University of Washington. She is a former science teacher at Bellevue High School and is currently a full time graduate student conducting research in the fields of Biology and Education.
Curtis Hisayasu (American Literature)
Curtis Hisayasu is a Graduate Instructor in the English Department at the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a PhD in 19th and 20th Century American Literature. He has also taught several classes for the English Department and is currently serving as a liaison between the UW Extension “UW in the High Schools” Program and the Expository Writing Program, training teachers and coordinating college level composition curriculum in local area schools. In his third year of graduate school, Curtis is working towards his qualifying exams. His current research interests include theories of citizenship and national belonging, American urbanism, and critical race theory.
Grace Kim (Biology)
Grace Kim earned a B.S in Biology and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington. She is currently teaching science at Daniel Webster Middle School in Los Angeles, CA through Teach for America. At Webster MS she is an advisor for the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) team and a mentor for Los Angeles Team Works. She has also been a part of the Summer Stretch Biology teaching team for four years.
Jean Lutgen (Integrated 1)
Jean Lutgen has a B.A. in Mathematics from Seattle Pacific University. She is currently a mathematics teacher at Roosevelt High School.
Dr Therese Mar (Geometry)
Therese Mar has been the Math instructor at the Robinson Center’s Transition School since 2004. Dr Mar earned her Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Dr Mar also has a Masters in Science in Applied Mathematics. In addition to teaching at the Transition School, Dr Mar also teaches math and statistics at the University of Washington’s Office of Minority Affairs Instructional Center.
Mark Morrow (Chemistry)
Mark Morrow has a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University and a M.S. in Secondary Science Education from Long Island University. He has been teaching Chemistry & Advanced Placement Chemistry for more than 13 years, and is currently on the faculty at Bellevue High School.
Gary Pounder (Integrated 2)
Gary Pounder has been teaching mathematics in Washington Middle School’s APP program for 25 years and is the school’s Math Team coach. He has taught Integrated 2 for the Summer Stretch Program several times. Gary lives in Bothell with his wife and son.
Jeannine Sieler (Chemistry)
Jeannine Sieler has a B.S. and M.A. in Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound. She earned her National Board Certification in November, 2006, and has been teaching Chemistry & Advanced Placement Chemistry for 25 years. Jeannine is currently on the faculty at Bellevue High School.
Christi Siver (Debate)
Christi Siver is a PhD Candidate in Political Science and the debate coach at the University of Washington. She competed in debate in high school and as an undergraduate at Lewis and Clark College. She is committed to debate as an educational method to increase critical thinking and student involvement in the democratic process.
Bob Steele (Physics of Robotics)
Robert Steele has a B.A in Biology and Telecommunications, a B.S. in Microbiology, and an M.S in Environmental Science (Engineering) from Indiana University. Prior to his teaching career he worked as an engineer for 15 years. He has taught Physics and Advanced Placement Physics in high school for over 9 years and is currently on the faculty of Aviation High School in the Highline School District teaching Robotics Engineering, AP Physics and Aerospace engineering. He is also the Head Coach for the Aviation High School “Skunkworks” FIRST Robotics Team.
Teaching Assistants
TA’s are typically undergraduate students at the University of Washington.
Staff
Dr. Maren Halvorsen is the Associate Director and Principal of Summer Programs as well as the Principal of the Transition School. Dr. Halvorsen received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington in 2002 with a focus on Early Modern Europe, with special interest in medieval and early modern spirituality. She has taught numerous courses for the UW Department of History, ranging from freshmen general education classes to advanced senior seminars. She joined the Robinson Center in 1990.
Carol Hayes is the Program Coordinator for Transition School and Summer Programs. She joined the Robinson Center in May 2007, coming from the Registrar’s Office here at UW, and having previously worked for 15 years in the K-12 system and at Oregon State University.