Meet the CTC tutors

Amber

I have lived in the Fairbanks/North Pole area since I was 5 years old. I got my first paying job tutoring math when I was in 5th grade and after that, I was hooked. When I attended UAF as an undergrad I worked in the Math lab up on campus. After graduating I did private tutoring and then worked for the IAC campus of UAF tutoring students from rural areas, both in-person and remotely. Once I started having kids I quit working full time and spent over a year helping the Literacy Council of Alaska get the math portion of their GED program started. 

After staying home and homeschooling the last several years, I am very thankful to be back in the lab with students, helping them understand and succeed at math.

Besides math I love homeschooling my own kids, especially teaching them to read and love books. Prior to having kids I was very active and spent a ton of time hiking, canoeing, playing ultimate frisbee, and exploring. Someday I hope to do those things again. In the meantime, I am reading, investing in my friendships, trying to learn to cook better, and discovering my crafty side with embroidery.

Hisae

Hi, my name is Hisae (hee sah eh). I worked as a high school math teacher at the International School of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for 14 years. Toward the end of my career there, my main assignment was to teach AP calculus AB and the International Baccalaureate (IB) mathematics courses. I retired in 2020. Since then, I have been giving private tutoring sessions in IB Higher Level, IB Standard Level, AP calculus AB, AP calculus BC, algebra 1, and algebra 2 courses. I have also been an IB examiner (I mark IB papers for the IB Organization) since 2019. 

I moved to Fairbanks in October 2022 to be closer to my daughter (she is a therapist here), and I started to work as a part-time math tutor at CTC in May 2023 (and I am having a blast!).

My daughter and I own two horses, and they keep us very busy!

Vaughn

My name is Vaughn Ewig and I have lived in the Fairbanks area my whole life. Before high school I found math to be difficult and stressful, but then 2 of my math teachers helped me realize that I could succeed at and even enjoy math. This change in perspective influenced me to double major in math & history at UAF, and I graduated with Bachelor’s Degrees in 2004 and 2006. While in college I tutored both at the Chapman Math Lab and privately. For the past 13 years, I have worked for the UAF Culinary Arts and Hospitality department teaching culinary and business math. While I have enjoyed teaching, I’ve missed being able to work with students one-on-one. This is why I am glad to be working here as a tutor once again.

When I am not at work I am usually pursuing my interests, sometimes with family and friends and sometimes by myself. The activities I enjoy doing include: traveling, eating in restaurants, partner dancing, video games, and of course solving fun math problems. The fields I enjoy reading/watching and talking about include: history, theology, psychology, and fiction (especially Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Harry Potter). I look forward to helping you better understand and enjoy math!

Matthew

After I earned my BS in physics and astronomy, I moved to Fairbanks to study the aurora at the Geophysical Institute and earn an MS in space physics. After graduate school, I went through UAF’s teacher certification program and started working at North Pole High School.

For 27 years, I taught mathematics and physical sciences, as well as video production and theater classes. During that time, I earned an AAS in process technology and National Board Certification in science. I truly enjoy helping people who are trying to learn. So, after I retired from full-time teaching, I began working as a tutor at CTC.

In my free time, I work with my wife to operate Wiser Path Farms and conduct research on ways to improve poultry farming in the arctic. If you are ever in the mood to hear a lengthy explanation, ask me how I heat my chicken coop!

Nadia

I was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, and grew up speaking French. I moved to New York City at the tender age of ten with my family and enjoyed spending a large part of my adolescence and twenties in the Big Apple. I received my BA in Russian Studies from Queens College, NY, and spent a few years living in Russia. I came to UAF in 2005 for the post-baccalaureate teaching licensure program and never left… Well, my husband did get a teaching job on the Kenai Peninsula for 14 years, so we raised all four children down there, but we came back in 2021.

Sally

I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. In addition to tutoring writing at the Learning Center, I am also a writing instructor for UAF and CTC. I have been working for CTC for over a decade. I received both my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at UAF, so I have spent a lot of time at this University over the years. In the summers, I work as a deckhand for a fishing boat in Bristol Bay. I also work as a house-sitter and dog-walker on the side. When I’m not working, I enjoy outdoor activities (weather permitting), such as berry picking and boating in the summers and riding my fat tire bike in the winter.

Jennifer

Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Montana and her MFA in Creative Writing at UAA. She co-taught creative writing at Fairbanks Correctional Center with many local writers and teachers, including Jennifer Tilbury, who hired her to tutor and eventually teach writing at CTC. She has been teaching composition and creative writing at CTC for the past 5 years. Jennifer’s short stories have been published in the South Dakota Review, Jaberwock Review, Marathon Literacy Review, HCE Review, and Making Waves: A West Michigan Review.

Stephanie

A born and raised Alaskan, Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at UAF, with minors in English and Social Work, and a certificate in Child Advocacy Studies from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University in August 2025. Stephanie has professional experience in information science, education, child advocacy, and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to general writing assistance, she can help with research skills, including finding credible sources, synthesizing research into papers, and citing references effectively. Stephanie also has experience in public speaking and can assist with writing speeches and creating presentations. In her spare time, she loves to garden, play Dungeons & Dragons, exercise, read, and play video games.

Gina

I came to Alaska in 1989 for a one-year judicial clerkship and never left. After practicing law for over a decade, I became a stay-at-home, homeschooling mother. Now that our children are grown, I work as a writing tutor and enjoy supporting other students. I am a lifelong reader, hiker, student, and traveler who enjoys life with my partner, a UAF alumnus. Writing is a skill, not a talent -I’m here to help you with any writing, from social media captions to research papers.

Ethan

Ethan Voss is a PhD student in the Joint Program in English and Education at the University of Michigan. He specializes in research writing and professional communication, and his research interests include writing program administration, first-year composition, teacher education, and critical writing pedagogies. In his spare time, he enjoys going out with friends, traveling to new places, reading, playing volleyball, and watching sitcoms.

Nora

Nora McIntyre is a Workforce Development Tutor and is dedicated to helping students succeed academically in CTC programs and be prepared for the workforce. She can assist with math, writing, study and test-taking skills, as well as resumes, cover letters and general job readiness.