Jonathan Osband

Biography

Hi, my name is Jonathan Osband, and I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with degrees in Economics and Psychological Brain Sciences. I was an honors student and had the honor of serving as my commencement speaker. During college, I also worked in educational psychology research, exploring which activities are most effective during short study breaks. That experience deepened my fascination with the science of learning and ultimately led me to tutoring.

I believe everyone can succeed academically. Learning challenging material takes practice, patience, and a growth mindset, and I enjoy helping students work through the moments when something doesn’t immediately make sense. I’m fascinated by the cognitive processes behind learning, and I bring that curiosity into my approach to tutoring.

My goal is to make complicated material feel more manageable by breaking it down into smaller, more approachable pieces. I encourage students to work through examples, ask questions, and learn from their mistakes rather than being afraid of getting something wrong. I want our sessions to be a place where students can engage with challenging material, develop stronger problem-solving skills, and build confidence in their ability to learn. For me, one of the most rewarding parts of tutoring is helping a student move from feeling overwhelmed by a concept to realizing that they can tackle it one step at a time.

Outside of academics and tutoring, I love playing soccer and watching sitcoms—Parks and Recreation is my favorite! I’m also learning how to play chess, so if anyone has a good strategy, I’m always happy to hear it.