PrepNow Tutor - Joe M.
A well-rounded computer scientist, Joseph is excited to teach his students about math, physics, and computers. Having been tutoring for nearly his entire life, he finds great joy in teaching these topics. Joseph earned his BS in computer science and physics from Loyola University Chicago and his MS in computer science from Northwestern University. He started his career as a full-stack engineer at a global design and architecture firm, taking on different roles as needed. He then transitioned to working for a major airline, where he is now a front-end engineer.
Joseph started tutoring when he was in high school. “I love talking about exciting topics like math and physics; tutoring gives me a great outlet while also allowing me to give back to my community,” he says. Over the years, he has taught students from kindergarten to college level in a variety of subjects, but particularly math, physics, and computer science.
“My teaching style is a hybrid between a demonstrator and facilitator depending on how well the student understands the subject matter,” Joseph says. “If the student is having trouble understanding a topic, I will be more of a demonstrator, walking through a problem while checking in with the student to make sure they follow. If I feel like they are following, I will turn to the facilitator and challenge them to complete a problem on their own.” Joseph believes that letting the students get hands-on is a particularly effective way to allow a student not only to learn but also to get excited about the process. “Once they are excited about it, facilitating conversations about the subject allows them to learn more and solidify what they know,” he says.
Joseph played tennis, golf, guitar, and piano in high school and college. He was an honors student at Loyola University Chicago, where he had made the dean’s list for three years in a row, received the Presidential Scholarship, and became a Mulcahy Scholar. He was also published for some of his work while studying to be a physicist.
These days, Joseph loves biking, playing and writing music, collecting vinyl, and attending concerts. Rounding out his interests, he also enjoys origami, running, traveling, and board games. He has a two-year-old dog named Jimmy—after Jimmy Page.
