The Staff of IDEA MATH

Academic Director

Dr. Zuming Feng
  • Suzanne and Patrick McGee Family Master Teaching Chair, St. Marks School of Texas
  • Academic Director, Jane Street Academy of Math and Programming (2022 summer)
  • Mathematics Instructor, Phillips Exeter Academy (1995 - 2021) (Stephen G. Kurtz Teaching Chair from 2008 to 2021)
  • US IMO Team Leader (2003- 2013)
  • US IMO Team Deputy Leader (2000 - 2003)
  • Academic Director of Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) (2003 - 2013)
  • US IMO Team Coach (1997- 2013)
  • Member of the USAMO Committee and AMC10/12, AIME contest editorial board (1999 - present)
  • Academic Supervisor, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mathematics Olympiad Training Program, MAWHIBA (2011 - 2014)
  • Course designer and Lecturer for Math 199, Putnam Seminar, Department of Mathematics, Yale University (2013 and 2014)
  • MAA Sliffe Award winner for Distinguished Teaching in 1996 and 2002
  • Academic Director of the Awesome Math Summer Program (2006 - 2009)

Senior Instructors

Mr. Ivan Brosenco
  • TIM Group (Global)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Class of 2012)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2009)
  • IMO Gold Medalist (2006)
  • IMO Bronze Medalist (2003, 2004, 2005)
  • Balkan Math Olympiad Silver Medalist (2004, 2005)
  • Editor at Mathematical Reflections Online Journal (2006-2009)
Dr. Jean Cao
A professional statistician trained at Beijing University and University of Waterloo, has a long history with math coaching and math competition. Her first TA assignment while pursuing her PH.D in Statistics was tutoring undergraduate students for Putnam competition. Later, she rediscovered her love for teaching mathematics and solving math problems when her own kids showed great interests in math and problem solving. She has been coaching math students since 2009 for Mathcounts, AMC, AIME and USA(J)MO competitions. She was the founding coach of the IL/IN Area team for 2013 HMMT(Feb). The team achieved overall 14th in their first year and then 8th place overall the year after. When she was in high school, she also participated actively in math competitions in China. She earned first class award in National High School Math Competition of China (1985) and first place in AHSME(1984).
Dr. Barbara Currier
  • Chair of AMC 8 Subcommittee 2018-2019
  • Member of AMC 8 and AMC 10/12 Editorial Boards 2020 - present
  • Mathematics Teacher and Upper School Math Team coach at Greenhill School, Addison, TX, 1984-2015
  • MATHCOUNTS National Judge, 2014 - present
  • Chair of MATHCOUNTS Question Writing Team, 2011 - 2013
  • MATHCOUNTS Question Writing Team, 2008 - 2011
  • Chair of AMC 8 Subcommittee, 2018 - present
  • Assistant coach of Texas ARML team, 1989 -- 1996
Mr. Michael Curry
Michael Curry was a high school teacher in the Boston area for 20+ years. He obtained his PhD. in Applied Mathematics from SUNY Stony Brook in 2004. He has been a key organizer for the New York State Mathematics League (NYSML) and the American Regions Mathematics League (ARML) since 2006. He is a past author of several mathematics contests and leagues including the Suffolk County Interscholastic Mathematics League (NY), the New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League, and the Massachusetts Association of Mathematics League (MAML).
Ms. Junhua Duan
  • Senior Staff Engineer, Qualcomm Datacenter Technologies, Inc
  • Coach for BISV 5th-grade Math League Team (2016-2017)
  • Founder and Coach, Miller Middle School Science Bowl Team (2009)
  • ME in CS, Texas A&M University
  • Lecturer, Xian JiaoTong University
  • MS In EE, Xian JiaoTong University
Mr. Chengde Feng
  • Instructor, IdeaMath, Lexington, MA and Feng Math, Plano, TX (2007 Present)
  • Mathematics Instructor, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM)(1991-2007)
  • Member, MATHCOUNTS Question Writing Committee (2005-2008)
  • AP Calculus Reader, Educational Testing Service (ETS) (2000-2002)
  • Instructor, Awesome Math Summer Program (2008, 2009)
  • Ann Simmons Alspaugh Faculty Award, OSSM (2005)
  • Faculty, Mathematics Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) (2002)
  • Mathematics Mentor, Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) at Center for Talented Youth (CTY), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (1994-1998)
  • Curriculum Writer, CTY Young Student Summer Math Program (1995)
  • Instructor, CTY Summer Program (1993)
  • MAA Sliffe Award winner for Distinguished Teaching in 1992
  • Visiting Scholar, Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (June 1990 - July 1991)
  • Senior Coach, China Mathematics Association Olympiad Committee (1988-1990)
  • Senior Lecturer, Hong Qiao Institute of Teacher's Advanced Studies, Tianjin, China (1985-1990)
  • Chief Instructor, Tianjin Math Spare Time School (1980-1990)
  • B. S. Mathematics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China 1959-1964)
Mrs. Yunhua Xu Feng
  • Instructor, IdeaMath, Lexington, MA and Feng's Math, Plano, TX (2007-present)
  • Mathematics Instructor, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) (1994-2007)
  • Coach of MATHCOUNTS, American Math Contests 8, 10, and 12 tests (AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12), Math League Contests, American Invitational Math Exam (AIME), and American Regional Math League (ARML) (1990-present)
  • Instructor, Awesome Math Summer Program (2008, 2009)
  • Outstanding High School Teacher Award given by University of Chicago (1999)
  • Teacher, Especially Influential in Student Development, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1998)
  • Teacher, Most Influential in Development of Student Scientific Career, Westinghouse Science Talent Search (1998)
  • Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 1998, 2002, 2005
  • Chief Instructor, Tianjin Math Spare- Time School (1980-1990)
  • Research Fellow/Coordinate(math), Center for Teaching and Research, Hong Qiao, Tianjin, China (1980-1990)
  • B. S. Mathematics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China (1959-1964)
Dr. Zachary Franco
Zachary Franco, MD PhD MPH is a retired circus performer and number theorist with Erdos #2. Currently a board-certified physician, in his spare time Dr. Franco teaches math at the Houston Math Circle and HOOT (Houston Olympiad Training) programs. He is also on the NYCIML Board of Directors and a Collaborating Editor for the American Mathematical Monthly Problem Section. He was on staff at summer programs such as HCSSiM, MOP, CTY and USAMTS. After his PhD work at Berkeley, as a math professor at Butler University Dr. Franco began to coach gifted high school students, several of whom attended MOP. Dr. Franco has fond memories of Stuyvesant HS where he co-captained a math team which produced 10% of that year's USAMO qualifiers. He was one of two perfect scorers at ARML, won USAMTS and also attended HCSSiM and MOP. At Harvard (AB,AM), he was on the Putnam team as a junior and made the top 10 as a senior.
Mr. Joshua Frost
  • FORMER Mathematics Department Chair and current math teacher - Jonas Clarke Middle School, Lexington, MA
  • Owner/Operator of FrostMath 2013- present
  • Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching 2002
  • Coach of MA MATHCOUNTS state champions 2007-2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
  • Coach of National MATHCOUNTS champions in 2012, 2013, 2019
  • Edythe May Sliffe Award winner in 2018 - Middle School
  • Coach of New Hampshire State MATHCOUNTS champions 2001-2006
  • Coach of IMLEM state champions 2007 - 2013
  • MAA Sliffe Award winner for Distinguished Teaching 2008 (middle school)
  • MAA Sliffe Award winner for Distinguished TFORMER math dept chair and current math teache eaching 2009 (high school)
  • Raytheon MathMovesU - Math Hero Award winner 2008
  • Phillips Exeter Academy- Honoring Early Educators award winner 2006
Mr. Xiaopeng Gong
Xiaopeng is a Principal software engineer working at HP Vertica. He started his college education in 1985 as a math major student in Peking University. Holds a M.S in computer science and M.S in computational chemistry. Xiaopeng was a math competition veteran back in his school days and has been actively participated in math education for long time. He founded the competition math program in Winchester Chinese School and has taught Math in several other weekend program and summer camps since 2009. In his spare time, he also coached students for HMMT, AIME, JMO, LMT.
Mr. Chris Jeuell
  • ARML problem authoring committee member (1998 - present)
  • AMC advisory panelist and problem author (1999 - present)
  • AIME committee member (2004 - present)
  • Instructor at Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) (2004 - present)
  • USAMO qualifier (1995)
Dr. Jonathan Kane
Jonathan Kane is an emeritus professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater where he taught a wide variety of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and actuarial mathematics courses for 32 years. Now he is an honorary fellow at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Dr. Kane is very active in the mathematics contest community as chair of the AIME Committee, member of the AMC 10/12 Committee, member of the USAMO Committee, member of the Wisconsin Math Talent Search Committee, and is a cofounder and coordinator of the annual online Purple Comet! Math Meet. He is coauthor with Titu Andreescu of the Purple Comet! Math Meet - The First Ten Years, is author of the textbook Writing Proofs in Analysis, and is coauthor of American Math Contests: A Guide to Success (published in China). Jonathan likes running, bicycling, swimming, hiking, chess, bridge, leather work, and photography.
Dr. Yanfei Li
  • Senior (Independent) Financial Analyst, recently working for
    • PNC (September, 2012 - Present)
    • Fannie Mae (May, 2005 - August, 2012)
  • PH. D in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Johns Hopkins University
  • Master of Computer Science and Engineer, Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University
  • Instructor, CTY Summer Program (1994)
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) (1995-1996)
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Johns Hopkins University (1990-1996)
  • Instructor, Department of Mathematics, Beijing Normal University (1986-1990)
Ms. Bo Lu
  • Principal Software Engineer, Citrix Systems Inc.
  • M.S. Rice University
  • Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Computer Science, Rice University
  • B.S. University of Science and Technology of China
  • Meritorious Winner team in MCM (Mathematics Contest in Modeling)
  • First Class Prize, National High School Physics Competition of China
  • First Class Prize, National High School Mathematics Competition of China
  • Chinese Mathematics Winter Camp (Chinese version of MOSP) participant
Ms. Mila Martynovsky
Mila has been teaching mathematics at Fordham University for more than 10 years as well as at numerous established and highly-regarded extracurricular programs, such as John Hopkins CTY, NY Math Circle, Math-M-Addicts, and Bright Minds of New York. She also has taught at the Speyer Legacy School in Manhattan, where she established the Girls Math Initiative club. Her MA in Education is from Moscow State University. In recent years, Mila has been coaching for the elementary and middle school competitions such as Math Kangaroo International Competition, AMC 8, MOEMS, MATHCOUNTS, and Math League, with excellent results.
Dr. Gabriella Pinter
  • Professor - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies 2012-2015, 2019-present
  • Math Circle leader since 2011
  • Mentor for undergraduate research
  • Math Club adviser since 2013
  • Instructor for mathematical modeling, differential equations, analysis and problem solving courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels
  • Problem editor for the MAA Wisconsin Section high school competition 2013-2018
  • Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year - UWM, 2015
  • UWM Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award, 2007
  • UWM Foundation and Graduate School Research Award, 2005
Mr. George Reuter
George Reuter was a high school mathematics teacher for 17 years, teaching everything from middle school mathematics through AP Calculus and an elective course in problem solving.
He is currently a Lecturer at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where he teaches mathematics and mathematics education (which means he teaches teachers how to teach mathematics).
He is the President and head author for the New York State Mathematics League, and he is the Vice President and head author for the American Regions Mathematics League.
He also writes contests for a wide variety of local math leagues. When he's not writing math contests, he's probably trying to win at fantasy baseball or fantasy football. He lives in Canandaigua, NY, and he enjoys spending time with his wife and six children.
Mr. Albert Roos
  • Mathematics/Statistics teacher: Marian High School, Framingham, MA
  • Retired math/statistics/computer science teacher: Lexington H.S., Lexington, MA 1997-2013
  • APSI (AP Summer Institute): Presenter in AP Statristics: 2008-2013
  • Edith May Sliff Award for distinguished math teaching: 2003 and 2007
  • Siemans AP Teacher national award recipient: 1998
  • Math club advisor: Lexington H.S. 2007-2013
  • Math club advisor: Marian H.S. 2013-present
  • Assistant to Eastern Mass ARML team 2010-2014
  • 48 years experience teaching mathematics
Mr. Jeganathan Sriskandarajah
  • Mathematics Instructor - Madison College, Madison, WI 2000-2013.
  • Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin, Richland Center, Wisconsin, since 1985; Associate Chairman, Department of Mathematics, 1989 -2000.
  • Chair, Mathematical Association of America (WI) 2005.
  • Member, AMATYC Student Math League Test Development Team since 2008.
  • Member, Question Selection Committee, American Mathematics Competition 8.
  • State Director, American Mathematics Competitions (WI) since 1988.
  • Distinguished Teacher of the Year 2005, Madison Area Technical College.
  • Outstanding Employee of the Year 2004, Madison Area Technical College.
  • Certificate of Meritorious Service 1988, Mathematical Association of America.
Dr. Celine Sun
  • Head of Data Science, Dropbox, 2019 - Present
  • Sr. Director of Data Science, Wealthfront, 2013 - 2019
  • Ph.D., University of Washington
  • B.S., University of Science and Technology of China
Mr. Zheng (Jason) Sun
  • Math faculty in high school
  • M.A. in Education, Tufts University
  • M.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University
  • B.S. in Mathematics and Software Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University
Mr. Tao Tu
A graduate of Special Class for the Gifted Young from University of Science and Technology of China (Class 1992), M.S. in computer science, an IT veteran, Mr. Tu is a long term enthusiast in math training and coaching. He has been coaching students for AMC, AIME, Mathcounts for multiple years, initiated the school Mathcounts team and served as head coach since then. During his spare time, he also instructs at Andover (MA) Chinese School focusing on early development of young talents, fostering kids' interest and creating a co-operative learning environment.
Dr. Luyan Wang
  • PH. D in Mathematics, Department of Mathematic, University of Pittsburgh (2001)
  • M. S. in Mathematics, Purdue University (1996)
  • B. S. in Mathematics, Peking University (1983)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Peking University (1983-1994)
  • Silver medal, Chinese national math competition (1978)
  • Instructor, Chinese mathematics Olympiad program (1986)
  • Senior (Independent) Financial Analyst (2008 to present)
  • Director, Commonfond Mathematic modeling (2007-2008)
  • Vice President, SunTrust Bank Mathematic modeling (2006-2007)
  • Vice President, Mellon Bank Mathematic modeling (2004-2005)
  • Vice President, Mellon Bank Mathematic modeling (2004-2005)
  • Assistant Vice President, Citi Bank information Business (2003-2004)
Mr. Steven Xu
  • Principal Software Architect
  • PH.D in Mathematics, Brandeis University
  • B.S. in Mathematics, Peking University
Dr. Liyang Zhang
  • Assistant Professor of Practice at Boston College
  • Williams College Class of 2012
  • Yale University PhD 2017
  • Putnam Team Honorable Mention 2011
  • Mentor for undergraduate research (NREUP 2021)
Dr. Jie Zhao
  • Seasoned Financial Analyst, currently working as Director of Model Risk Management, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
  • Math Competition Veteran
  • College teacher for more than 10 years in China and the United States ..
  • Idea Math Instructor since 2018
  • Educational Background: BS in Computational Mathematics, Nankai University; MS in Mathematical Logic and Computer Science, Nankai University; Ph.D in Applied Mathematics, University of South Carolina

Instructors

Mr. Sergei Bernstein
  • MIT Class of 2013 (BS in Mathematics)
  • USAMO Winner (2007, 2009)
  • Two Sigma Investments (Quantitative Researcher 2013-2018)
  • Math Olympiad Summer Program Grader (2010)
  • MIT PRIMES Research Mentor (2012, 2013)
Mr. Adam Bertelli
  • Carnegie Mellon University Class of 2023, Knaster-McWilliams Scholar
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2019
  • MOP Qualifier 2016, 2017
  • Exeter Math Club Competition (EMCC) Tournament Director in 2019
  • Carnegie Mellon Informatics and Mathematics Competition (CMIMC) Problem Czar for 2021
Mr. Brian Derek Burks
  • UC Berkeley Class of 2019
  • California Piano Evaluations Panel State Finals (2015)
  • ARML 9th Place Individual(2014)
  • ARML 1st Place Team (2013, 2015)- MOP 2014
Mr. Evan Chandran
  • Princeton University Class of 2024
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2020
  • HMMT November Team Captain, 4th Place Sweepstakes Team (2019)
  • USAPhO Qualifier (2019-20)
  • AIME Qualifier (2016-19)
  • LaunchX Global Finalist (2019)
  • Siemens Competition Regional Finalist (2017)
  • Mathcounts Nationals Participant (2014)
  • PEA Concert Choir Member (Baritone)
Mr. Ravi Charan
  • Private Math Teacher in NYC (2017-present)
  • IdeaMath Instructor (2011-2014 and 2017-present)
  • McKinsey New York (Business Analyst, 2014-2016)
  • MIT Class of 2014 (BS, Mathematics and Political Science with a minor in Physics)
  • Exeter class of 2010 (Founder + co-director of the Exeter Math Club Competition, Exeter Math Club Captain)
  • USAMO qualifier 2009
  • AIME qualifier 2007-2010
Mr. Evan Chen
  • MIT (Class of 2018)
  • IMO Gold Medalist (2014)
  • USAMO Winner (2014)
  • Harvard-MIT Math Tournament Problem Czar (2014 -- present)
Ms. Jeana Choi
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology Class of 2021
  • Lexington High School Class of 2017
  • KSEA Math Competition winner (2014)
  • Avid music lover and violinist
Mr. Joseph Chu
  • Carnegie Mellon University Class of 2013
  • US Physics Team (2007-08)
  • USAMO Honorable Mention (2006)
Ms. Claudia D Feng
Claudia is a statistical geneticist studying the role of gene function in human stem cells at the University of Cambridge. During high school, Claudia was heavily involved in math contests, qualifying for the AIME all four years (2011 – 2014) and earning an Honorable Mention at Math Prize for Girls in her senior year (2013). She is a native of Exeter, New Hampshire, but moved across the pond to pursue her post-high school education in the United Kingdom. During her undergraduate degree, a course in the modelling influenza pandemics followed by an internship at the World Health Organization, inspired her to transition into biology, where she aims to incorporate mathematical and statistical techniques to better our understanding of outstanding biological questions.
  • University of Cambridge – Wellcome Sanger Institute (PhD in Human Genetics, 2019 – 2023)
  • Mount Sinai Hospital - Division of Psychiatric Genomics (Data Scientist, 2019)
  • Private Math Teacher in NYC (2019)
  • University of Cambridge (Masters in Computational Biology, 2017 – 2018)
  • World Health Organization (Data Analysis Intern, 2017)
  • Trinity College, University of Cambridge (BA in Mathematics, 2014-2017)
  • Program in Mathematics for Young Students (Camp Counselor, 2015-2016)
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2014) Exeter Math Club Competition (Tournament Director, 2014) Math Prize for Girls – Honorable Mention (2013)
  • AIME Qualifier (2011 – 2014)
  • Cambridge University Varsity Swimming (2016) & Water Polo (2015 – 2018)
  • Trinity College, University of Cambridge – Wellcome Sanger Institute (PhD in Human Genetics, 2019 – 2023)
  • Mount Sinai Hospital - Division of Psychiatric Genomics (Data Scientist, 2019)
  • Private Math Teacher in NYC (2019)
  • Trinity College, University of Cambridge (Masters in Computational Biology, 2017 – 2018)
  • World Health Organization (Data Analysis Intern, 2017)
  • Trinity College, University of Cambridge (BA in Mathematics, 2014-2017)
  • Program in Mathematics for Young Students (Camp Counselor, 2015-2016)
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2014)
  • Exeter Math Club Competition (Tournament Director, 2014)
  • Math Prize for Girls – Honorable Mention (2013)
  • AIME Qualifier (2011 – 2014)
  • Cambridge University Varsity Swimming (2016) & Water Polo (2015 – 2018)
Mr. Zachary Feng
Zachary Feng is a university student currently studying undergraduate chemistry at Imperial College London (Class of 2022). Previously attending Phillips Exeter Academy in the class of 2019, he was a co-head of the math club and peer tutoring. He is an AIME qualifier and placed 1st in the HMNT General Round and 11th overall in 2018.
Mr. Andrei Frimu
  • Caltech, PhD (2014 - present (expected graduation 2019)) in algebraic geometry/number theory
  • Microsoft (2012 - 2014) - Software Developer, Bing Ads
  • MIT (class of 2012)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2008)
  • IMO Silver Medal - 2007, 2008
  • IMO Bronze Medal - 2006
  • Balkan MO Silver Medal - 2007, 2008
Mr. John Gee
  • Harvard Class of 2017 (BS in Computer Science, MS in Statistics)
  • 2013 Intel Science Talent Search (STS) Semifinalist
  • 2010, 2011 USA Junior Math Olympiad (USAJMO) Qualifier
  • 2013 USA Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) Semifinalist
  • 2013 Eagle Scout Honor (Boy Scouts of America)
  • Youtube, LLC (Software Engineer 2017 - 2019)
Ms. Angela Gong
  • Yale University (Class of 2021)
  • Lexington High School (2017)
  • Math Prize for Girls, 7th place (2016)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2016)
  • Math Prize for Girls Participant (2015)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2015)
  • Lexington High School Math Team Captain (2016-2017)
Mr. Ravi Jagadeesan
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2014)
  • IMO Gold Medalist (2012)
  • USAMO Winner (2011, 2012)
  • invited to the US Physics Team (2012, 2013)
  • Head Problem Writer, Exeter Math Club Competition (2013)
Mr. Ertan Kaya
  • Math Olympiad Coordinator and Department Chair, Pinnacle Academy, Oakton, VA (2018 - Present)
  • Instructor, IdeaMath, Nashua, NH (2018)
  • Online Instructor, CyberMath, CA, (2018 - Present)
  • Director, Star Learning Center, Sugar Land, (2016 - 2018)
  • PH. D candidate in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Istanbul Commerce University, Turkey
  • Master of Science in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Hampton University
  • Master of Science in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, Istanbul University, Turkey
  • Author of four math olympiad books
  • 10 times Awarded by (TUBITAK) Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
Ms. Ashley Ke
  • MIT Class of 2024
  • USA EGMO Team, Silver Medalist (2020)
  • MOP Attendee (2018,2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2019), USAJMO Honorable Mention (2018)
  • Math Prize for Girls Olympiad Gold (2019), Silver (2018), Bronze (2017) Medalist
  • Math Prize for Girls Youth Award (2016), Honorable Mention (2016 & 2019)
  • USACO Platinum Division
Ms. Elizabeth Ke
  • EGMO Silver Medalist (2020)
  • MOP Participant (2018, 2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2019)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2017, 2018)
  • Math Prize for Girls 5th place (2019), 9th place (2017)
  • Math Prize for Girls Olympiad Gold Medalist
  • USACO Platinum Division
Mr. David Li
  • University of Virginia Class of 2022
  • AIME Qualifier
Ms. June Li
  • Teaching adult classes in recreational centers (2008 - present)
  • Teaching Algebra and Geometry (2016-present)
  • Senior researcher and software developer (1993-2003)
  • Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins Univ. (1993)
Dr. Ray Li
  • Stanford University (PhD, Computer Science)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (Class of 2017), Knaster-McWilliams Scholar
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (class of 2013)
  • IMO silver medalist (2013)
Ms. Luana Liao
  • Columbia University (Class of 2026)
  • Clear Lake High School (Class of 2022)
  • AIME Qualifier 2021
  • Varsity orchestra player (2018-present)
Mr. Victor Luo
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2019)
  • MIT (Class of 2023)
  • USAMO Honorable Mention (2018)
  • MOP Participant (2018)
  • USACO Gold Division
  • USAPhO Silver Medalist (2018)
Mr. Michael Ma
  • MIT (Class of 2022)
  • Plano West (Class of 2018)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2009 - 2018)
  • USAMO Honorable Mention (2015, 2017)
  • AIME and AMC 12 Perfect Score (2017)
  • Romanian Master of Mathematics Silver and Team Gold (2016)
  • Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad Perfect Score (2017)
  • MOP attendee (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • USA Physics Olympiad Qualifier (2017)
Mr. Michael Medaugh
  • Harvard (Class of 2021)
  • Guest Speaker at the U.S. Dept. of State
  • 11th place Nationally in International Brain Bee Neuroscience Competition
  • Elks Most Valuable Student National Scholar
  • Horatio Alger National Scholar
  • State AP Scholar (24 Exams)
  • USABO National Semifinalist
  • AIME Competitor (Twice)
  • ARML Member
  • Moody's Mega Math Modeling Honorable Mention Scholarship Recipient
Mr. Evan O'Dorney
  • IMO golden medalist (2010, 2011)
  • IMO silver medalist (2008, 2009)
  • Intel Science Talent Search champion (2011)
  • Putnam Fellow (2011, 2012)
  • Acknowledged for most creative USAMO solution (2008, 2009)
  • MOSP student (2007-2011) and grader (2012-2013)
  • MOSP Singing Troupe pianist (2009-2013)
  • Collects and creates olympiad-type problems for Monthly Contest at Berkeley Math Circle (2007-2013) and gave lectures on their solutions (2008-2009)
  • Duluth REU participant (2010, 2012)
  • Solved two open research problems, one in linear algebra and one in number theory (2008, 2009)
  • Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion (2007)
Mr. Chad Qian
  • Mathcounts National Champion (2012)
  • Harvard-MIT Invitational Competition Top Ten (2013)
  • USAJMO winner (2014)
  • EMCC Problem Committee Head (2014)
  • EMCC Tournament Director (2015)
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2016)
  • MIT (Class of 2020)
Mr. Michael Ren
  • MIT (Class of 2022)
  • Phillips Academy (Class of 2018)
  • USA IMO Team 2018
  • USAMO Winner (2017, 2018)
  • USAJMO Winner (2015)
  • NIMO/OMO Problem Writer (2014-present)
  • Mathcounts National Team Champion (2013)
Mr. David B Rush
  • MIT (Ph.D. program, Department of Mathematics)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Class of 2013)
  • Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of 2009)
  • USAMO Winner (2009)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2005-2009)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2009, 2010)
  • HMMT Problem Czar (2011)
  • PEA Student Council President (2008-2009)
Mr. Marc Scarfo
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst Class of 2021
  • Physics Major (BA) and Education Minor
  • Danvers High School Class of 2017
Ms. Sarah Selke
Sarah has devoted the past 20 years in meeting the demands of her two gifted children. She home-schooled her children in mathematics since elementary school to better serve their needs. Working on challenging math problems with her children and their friends alongside with their math coaches were the happiest times in her life. After her children left home for college (one sophomore in CS at CMU and the other Ph.D. student in Math at Stanford), she becomes a private math coach training gifted K-12 students for math competitions.
Sarah holds a Ph.D. from Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. She was trained in Applied Mathematics in Tsinghua University in Beijing. She competed in many math competitions in her younger days and she was the first-prize winner in high school in Hubei Province in 1984. Sarah is one of the best lecturers in the Statistics Department at Purdue University. Her students say "she created an extremely friendly, motivating, intellectually stimulating and open classroom atmosphere while providing great quality instruction".
One of the best compliments from her student is: "She is absolutely amazing.It feels like I'm learning from my mom and I feel like we are all her children." Rest assured that Sarah will teach your children as if they are her own.
Mr. Zhuoqun Alex Song
Zhuo Qun (Alex) Song is currently a graduate student in mathematics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is a long-time coach for the Canadian Math Competitions programs and a problem proposer for the Canadian Open Math Challenge and the Canadian Math Olympiad. As a student, he participated in the International Math Olympiad for Team Canada and won one bronze and five gold medals. He is an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy and Princeton University. He has been teaching at Idea Math since 2013.
Mr. Alec Sun
  • Carnegie Mellon University, Algorithms, Combinatorics, and Optimization PhD Program
  • Harvard College Class of 2021
  • Putnam Competition Honorable Mention
  • USAMO Winner (2016, 2017)
  • U.S. Physics Team (2016)
  • MOP (2014, 2015, 2016)
Mr. Matt Superdock
  • Princeton University (Class of 2013)
  • Winner of Princeton's Andrew H. Brown Prize, awarded to the outstanding junior in mathematics
  • Enrolled in Princeton's Teacher Preparatory Program
  • MOSP grader (2013), participant (2007, 2008)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2011, 2012)
  • USAMO Honorable Mention (2008, 2009)
Mr. John Wang
  • California Institute of Technology Class of 2021
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2017
  • USAJMO Qualifier 2014
  • AIME Qualifier 2012-2017
  • MathCounts National Participant 2013
  • PEA ARML Team 2016
  • DIII Multi-sport Athlete (Swimming and Water Polo)
Mr. Maxwell Wang
  • MIT Class of 2024
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2020
  • HMMT November 7th Place Individual (2017)
  • AIME Qualifier (2012-2020)
  • USAPhO Gold Medalist (2019)
  • PEA Concert Choir Member (Baritone)
Mrs. Carena White, M.Ed, M.A
Has been in education for 19 years. Born and raised in a small rural community in Rock Point, Arizona. Rock Point is a Navajo community on the Navajo Indian Reservation. She attended Fort Lewis College (Colorado) where she majored in Secondary Education. She became a Mathematics teacher at Rock Point High School in 1997. She later taught at two other high schools, Many Farms High School (Many Farms, AZ) and Red Valley/ Cove High School (Red Valley, AZ) on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
She holds graduate degrees: MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ and a MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. She had the opportunity to hold several administrative jobs as an Exceptional Education Coordinator (K-12), Dean of Instruction (High School), K-12 Principal but she continues to find her greatest passion to teach high school Mathematics and help Navajo children to be enthused about learning math and to encourage them to be active in the Math Circle.
She is grateful to be back in the classroom today at Newcomb High School, Newcomb, NM!
Mr. Shawn Xiong
  • IT consultant in enterprise software solutions, 1994 - present
  • Contest Math Program teacher at QD Academy, 2008~2012
  • MathCount Coach at Fowler Middle School, 2013 ~ Present
  • M.S. in Computer Science, North Texas University
Mr. Dai Yang
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2012
  • MIT Class of 2016
  • MOP participant (2009 - 2011)
  • Romanian Master of Mathematics Bronze (2012)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2012, 2014)
  • Most terrible puns (2010 - present)
Ms. Zheng Rong
  • Founder of Shamrock Association 2012 - present
  • Teacher of INSEAD 2004-2006
  • Curtin University (2002,2003)
  • Lecturer of Qiqihar university 1999
  • Qiqihar University (class of 1994)
Mr. Howard Zhong
  • MIT Master in CS (Class of 2023)
  • MIT Bachelor in CS and Math (Class of 2023)
  • Research Science Institute Scholar (2018) and Teaching Assistant (2019)
  • USACO Gold Division 2019
  • USAPhO Silver Medalist 2018
  • USAMO Qualifier 2017
  • United States Chess Federation (USCF) National Master (since 2015)
Dr. Yang Chun Zhong
  • Ph.D in Applied Mathematics, North Carolina State University, 1998
  • IT professional, 1996-present
  • Math program at Dallas Modern Chinese Language School, 2016-present
  • Graduate Assistant (PreCalculus and Calculus), Department of Mathematics, North Carolina State University, 1990-1996
  • M.S. in Information Systems, Tsinghua University, 1986
  • Lecturer, School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, 1986-1989
  • B.S. in Computer Engineering, XiDian Unveristy, 1983

Visiting Scholars

Prof. Carlos Shine
  • Math Instructor, Colégio Etapa (Brazil) (1998-present)
  • MOSP Instructor (2010, 2011)
  • Brazil IMO Team Leader (2009)
  • Brazil IMO Deputy Leader (2004, 2008)
  • Academic Director of the Brazilian Math Olympiad (2008-2011))
  • Academic Director of the Brazilian IMO Training Camp (2003-present)
  • Chair of the Problem Selection Committee, Iberoamerican Olympiad (2008, 2010)
  • Chair of the Problem Selection Committee, Cono Sur Olympiad (2010)
Mr. Yufei Zhao
  • PhD student, MIT Department of Mathematics
  • MIT (Class of 2010)
  • Canadian IMO Team Deputy Leader (2008)
  • Putnam Fellow (2006, 2008, 2009)
  • IMO Gold Medalist (2005)

Teaching Assistant

Mr. Kevin Cong
  • Harvard Class of 2026
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2022
  • USA IMO Team 2022
  • USAMO Winner (2020, 2021), Gold (2022)
  • RMM Silver Medal (2020)
  • USAJMO Winner (2017, 2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2018)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
  • Mathcounts Nationals participant (2017-18)
  • PEA Jazz Band Member (drums)
Mr. Benjamin Epstein
  • 2019 USAJMO Winner
  • 2016-2019 USAJMO Participant
  • 2016-2017 Massachusetts MATHCOUNTS State Winner
  • 2016-2017 MATHCOUNTS Nationals Participant
Ms. Joy Gong
  • Lexington High School Class of 2021
  • AIME Qualifier (2018, 2020)
  • Math Prize for Girls Participant (2018)
  • Varsity Indoor & Outdoor Track
Mr. Andy Jung
  • Oxford Class of 2025
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2017, 2019)
  • MathCounts Coach (2017-2021)
  • BCA Math Team Captain (2020-2021)
Mr. Patrick Lu
  • Yale Class of 2027
  • Middlesex School Class of 2023
  • USAMO Qualifier (2022)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2020, 2021)
  • PROMYS Participant (2021, 2022)
  • (Middlesex) Thoreau Medal in Music (2021, 2023)
Mr. Simon Sun
  • Harvard Class of 2025
  • USAJMO Honorable Mention (2019)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2018, 2019)
  • MIT PRIMES USA (2020)
  • BCA Math Team Captain (2020-2021)
Mr. Jaedon Whyte
  • Archimedean Upper Conservatory Class of 2022
  • USAJMO Winner (2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2018)
  • Mathcounts Nationals Countdown Participant - 6th Place written (2018)
  • Greater Miami Youth Symphony - Double Bass
Mr. Austin Wu
  • Georgia Institute of Technology- Class of 2025
  • Windham High School Class of 2021
  • 2016-2017 State Mathcounts Winner
  • 2018-2019 USAJMO qualifier
Mr. Vincent Xu
  • Andover High School class of 2023
  • AIME qualifier 2021-2022
  • Varsity Men's Volleyball
  • MATHCOUNTS State 2019
Mr. Eric Yang
  • Phillips Exeter Academy Class of 2022
  • (2019) USAJMO Winner
  • (2017-2018) USAJMO Qualifier
  • (2017) MATHCOUNTS Nationals Participant
Mr. Jack Younger
  • Colorado Academy class of 2022
  • AIME qualifier 2020
  • MATHCOUNTS State 2017-2018
  • US International Duo Piano Competition winner 2017, 2019

Program Managers and Staff

Xueyu Annie Zhang
General Manager
Lihua Feng
Webmaster
Cindy Zhang
Office Manager
Monique Spence
Office Manager