Suzanne Theokari

I was born in Maryland and raised in the inland empire in Southern California. Since I could walk and talk on my own I’ve been fascinated by how the world around us works. This innate interest to know more has led me to enjoy a wide array of subjects on my academic journey. Due to a particular fondness for the sciences, I eventually graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in environmental management and protection with a minor in biology. Biology has always been my favorite subject, so while my B.S. required several biology courses already, I found myself sneaking in additional courses into my schedule until eventually I ended up with a minor.

Having attended schools with large student bodies for the majority of my education, I intimately understand how impactful a dedicated, excited tutor can be. I began tutoring others in college. When friends in other majors started to struggle in biology classes, I realized how much I enjoyed answering their questions, helping them work through problems, and witnessing the magical moment when a concept they struggled with clicked into place. This experience is what lead me to pursue a career in teaching.

Through tutoring, I want to share with others how unbelievably amazing the world is. My parents are both advocates of lifelong learning and passed on the philosophy to me. Therefore, my goal as a tutor is to be the catalyst that allows my students to experience the excitement and wonder of learning something new, hopefully sparking enough curiosity and independence that they begin to walk an academic path all on their own. I use the 1-on-1 nature of tutoring to get to know my students and their interests so that I am able to help them relate to the material at hand. I am also able to then target the areas in which they find challenges and help them use their strengths to their advantage.

When I am not tutoring, I enjoy reading sci-fi books, discovering new tasty foods, socializing with friends, taking care of my pets and plants, and planning trips around the world.