Matthew Dobner

Biography

Hello! It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Matthew Dobner, and I’m a tutor in history and English at AJ Tutoring. I grew up in the Bay Area and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory before heading to Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

At Gonzaga, I majored in International Relations with a focus on Latin American affairs and minored in English. These subjects built on the enjoyment I had found in history and English throughout high school and laid the foundation for my continued interest in both fields. I got my first taste of tutoring at Gonzaga, where I worked at the Foley Library’s Writing Center and helped students develop practical skills for improving their essays. I especially enjoyed finding ways to explain writing concepts that made sense to each individual student.

After college, I worked in sales, specializing in one-on-one ski boot fittings and snow package sales. While working with customers, I enjoyed meeting new people and educating them about ski and snowboard equipment. I quickly learned that every person had different needs and different ways of understanding information, so I developed an individualized approach to each interaction. I found that creating an enthusiastic and welcoming learning environment was an important part of helping customers feel confident in their decisions. Now, I bring those same adaptive skills to one-on-one tutoring, where I enjoy helping students engage with history and English with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy reading and writing about history and English, with a particular interest in my own creative writing projects. I’m always keeping up with local sports teams and motorsports racing, and I spend plenty of time outdoors as a biker, skier, and hiker.