Our Team


Our Founders

Richard Rusczyk

Art of Problem Solving was founded by Richard Rusczyk in 2003 to create interactive educational opportunities for avid math students. Richard is the author or a co-author of 7 AoPS textbooks and a past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993, and worked as a bond trader for D.E. Shaw & Company for four years. AoPS marks Richard's return to his vocation - educating motivated students.

Glen Dawson

In 2014, Glen founded a learning center in Morrisville, North Carolina, that two years later became the first AoPS Academy campus. Glen served as the National Director of AoPS Academy until his retirement in 2019. He has experience as a college math professor, statistician, and expert SAS programmer. He has been a professional math tutor for many years, and specializes in training academically-advanced and high-performing math students. Glen is a graduate of Duke University and holds a graduate degree in statistics from Boston University.

David Patrick

Dave joined AoPS in 2004. He is the author or a co-author of 4 AoPS textbooks. Dave earned the sole perfect score on the American High School Mathematics Examination (AHSME) in 1988 and was a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner that year. He attended the Research Science Institute (RSI) in 1987, and the Math Olympiad Summer Program in 1988, where he first met fellow student Richard Rusczyk. He also finished in the top 10 on the Putnam exam in 1991. Dave graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 1992 with a BS in Mathematics/Computer Science and an MS in Mathematics. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in mathematics from MIT in 1997. He was an acting Assistant Professor at the University of Washington from 1997 to 2001. Dave is originally from Western New York and is an alumnus of the SUNY Buffalo Gifted Math Program.


Instructors

Interested in joining our team? Click here to learn more!

Elisha Elias

Elisha Elias

Elisha is an interrelated teacher at a middle school in Georgia. She wad drawn to AoPS because they offer students the strategies and pathways not taught in conventional schools. Elisha encourages students to reach back and find their level of understanding, strengthen their foundations if needed, then challenges them.to build their expertise.

Indre Stucker

Indre Stucker

Indre has a bachelor's degree in biochemical engineering, 8 years of tutoring experience, and 4 years of teaching experience as a high school teacher. She loves working with passionate AoPS students who are eager to solve complex problems. Indre encourages students to collaborate and learn from each other. She likes students to take initiative and solve problems on their own with her guidance.

Ranesia Johnson

Ranesia Johnson

With twelve years of experience across public and private sectors, Ranesia has spent several years teaching math and was drawn to AoPS for its commitment to students eager to go beyond the standard curriculum. Her teaching style is interactive, inquiry-driven, and student-centered, guiding students through thoughtful questions and collaborative problem-solving. She fosters a classroom where students feel comfortable exploring ideas, making mistakes, and discussing multiple strategies to deepen understanding.

Chung Lee

Chung Lee Senior Instructor

Chung Lee holds a Master’s degree in Education (Teaching and Learning) and brings 18 years of experience teaching AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and AP Physics. Drawn to AoPS for its strong reputation and innovative programs, Chung is passionate about math education and creates a balanced classroom environment that combines direct instruction with student-centered learning.

Latoya Davis

Latoya Davis

Latoya holds a Master’s in English Education and Academic Leadership and brings over a decade of experience supporting students in K–12 and college settings. She has served as an Assistant Principal, Instructional Leader, and Instructional Designer. Drawn to AoPS by its mission to inspire the next generation of problem solvers, Latoya’s teaching style is student-centered, inclusive, and goal-oriented—focused on empowering students to take risks, think critically, and grow with confidence.

Anna Ernst

Anna Ernst

Anna earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas as a National Merit Scholar, where she tutored college-level physics and linear algebra, and is currently a Computational Science and Engineering master's student at Georgia Tech. She was drawn to AoPS's philosophy of teaching through exploration and a focus on critical thinking. She has a student-centered teaching style, using guiding questions encouraging students to experiment with ideas.

Shruti Shah

Shruti Shah

Shruti holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a focus in computer science and brings over 15 years of experience in the IT industry across both technical and managerial roles. Her background in problem-solving, logical thinking, and leadership informs a teaching approach that blends real-world context with a passion for tackling complex challenges. Drawn to AoPS for its creative and rigorous approach to math, Shruti values its focus on deep understanding and intellectual curiosity. Her teaching style is student-centered and intuitive, emphasizing conceptual clarity, guided problem-solving, and a supportive environment where students feel confident exploring ideas and learning through mistakes.

Aravind Ganesan

Aravind Ganesan

Aravind earned a B.S. in environmental engineering with high honors and a minor in business & technology through the Denning T&M Program at Georgia Tech. He was an AoPS student back in 2013 and has always been a fan of math, so teaching at AoPS felt like a fun full-circle moment. His teaching style is visual and practical—he likes when math makes sense in the real world and always looks for ways to connect it back to that, while also fostering engaging and collaborative group environments.

Our family regularly talks about AoPS. We try to think about how our life would be different without you all. What if my daughter hadn't learned to love math? What if she never experienced being pushed to her limits? Overcoming failure? She wouldn't be who she is. And she is AWESOME! A very proud mom here. We are so fortunate that we found AoPS Academy. I credit AoPS for much of her confidence.

Kelly B.,

AoPS Academy parent to 16-year-old engineering major at UW and future cancer researcher