Kayla Godbee

Kayla Godbee (she/her) is a Criminal Justice major with a strong passion for education and community support. She discovered her love for helping others while working as a Math Learning Assistant, a role inspired by her positive experience in Math 920. After overcoming her own struggles with math, Kayla became committed to helping others gain confidence and find success in the subject. She is particularly passionate about assisting students who, like herself, do not anticipate careers in math or have majors that require extensive math knowledge. Kayla believes that with hard work and dedication, anyone can succeed in math, and she enjoys providing students with the tools and support they need to achieve their goals. Through her work, she aims to foster academic growth and inspire others to realize their potential.

Whitney Maddern

Hi, my name is Whitney Maddern (she/her), and I’ve been a Math Learning Assistant for Math 920 for over a year and a half. Helping students succeed in math has been such a rewarding experience for me because I know firsthand how challenging math can feel at times. I’m currently studying Social Work with a focus on mental health, which has taught me the importance of patience, empathy, and creating a supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged to learn and grow. I love connecting with students, celebrating their progress, and helping them realize their potential, not just in math but in anything they set their minds to.

Jared Clark

Jared Clark has been a learning assistant for over a year, mainly helping students in Math 990 and 1010. He enjoys helping students grow and understand topics they thought were too complicated. Jared is in the engineering program, specifically wanting to become a mechanical engineer. He enjoys mathematics and scientific topics; however, he realizes that not everyone does, nor do they want to. As an aspiring engineer, Jared doesn’t see things as broken or unfixable, but as hidden solutions, or something to be worked on. Jared likes to put emphasis that math isn’t a skill that you are born with, but an ability that can be worked on, and the process can help understanding other topics that may interest students.

Lorraine Catalina

Lorraine launched her professional journey as a U.S. Navy Cryptologist and Arabic Linguist, with a specialized focus on the Iraqi dialect. From 2013 to 2019, she distinguished herself and her expertise quickly earned her leadership responsibilities. She not only managed teams but also mentored and trained others, sharing her unique methods and skills. It was during that time Lorraine gained a passion for teaching and supporting others.

After completing her service in the Navy, Lorraine transitioned to academia, pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College. As a dedicated Learning Assistant, she is passionate about making math more accessible and engaging for students. Lorraine takes pride in empowering learners, firmly believing that anyone can excel in mathematics with the right guidance and support.

Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Lorraine is a talented artist who enjoys oil painting and drawing. She is also an avid hiker and has a keen interest in nails and cosmetics, showcasing her creative flair across multiple domains.

Michael Vail

Michael is currently taking classes in mechanical engineering but is open to exploring other fields in engineering. Math has not always been easy for Michael, and he is currently learning to love it again but collaborating with others has always been some of his favorite learning experiences. When he is not doing math, Michael likes to spend time in the mountains hiking, camping, mountain biking and more. He loves almost all kinds of music and enjoys drawing and water coloring.

Jacob Scherzinger

I am a biotechnology major and am working toward completing an additional chemistry degree. I love studying and I especially love math. Being a learning assistant has been my favorite job of the many I have had. I have so much fun and take great pleasure in helping others, especially with understanding math. I am always happy to help in any way I can. Outside of school I like reading, playing guitar, and shooting pool.

Cheyenne Nelson

Hello! My name is Cheyenne Nelson, my hobbies are drawing, fitness and being a good dog mom. I am a proud indigenous first-generation college student. I am working towards an associate's degree in business to help teach the future generation in finance. I found a passion in helping students in college, with time management skills and dedication to homework and participation, I try to inspire my classmates. My passion is to help students and classmates with their goals at SLCC. Being an LA in the 920 Cohort 3 course has been a wonderful experience. I fell in love with math by taking this course myself starting from the bottom up and found a great relationship with math. With this cohort it is more about equity, which is fairer and justice with understanding that not everyone starts in the same place and that is okay!

Ilmah Eshagh Harooni

Ilmah Eshagh Harooni (she/her) is a Pre-Medical Laboratory Science student at the University of Utah, passionate about a long-term goal of attending medical school. She earned the Utah Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and English and is a certified Medical Interpreter in Persian, allowing her to support patients with limited English proficiency. Ilmah works as a Math Learning Assistant, where she enjoys helping students build confidence in math and fostering a love for the subject, just as she has developed a passion for it herself. She believes that anyone can find joy and success in Math with the right guidance and support. Ilmah also volunteers as a Patient Tech at the Maliheh Free Clinic, gaining valuable experience in patient care for underserved communities. Her healthcare experience includes an externship as a Medical Assistant at Intermountain Healthcare. In addition to her academic and volunteer work, she is in her third year at Solitude Mountain Resort, where she has strengthened her customer service and teamwork skills. Outside of her studies and work, Ilmah enjoys staying active through gymnastics, swimming, climbing, snowboarding, and hiking. With a strong commitment to service, education, and healthcare, she looks forward to continuing her journey toward becoming a compassionate healthcare professional.

Yiqi Lin

Hi, I am Lin. Mahor in business (accounting). I love math and I am very enjoying with being LA in math class. Helping students be successful is my goal. It’s my pleasure that I could help students with their concerns, not only math but also the things in life. To help students be successful is an important thing for me, I am always here to help! Math is always hard for beginners, so if you feel stressed at this moment, don't give up. To get better in handling math questions, we need a lot of practice in the same kind of question to make sure we can handle the questions. The important thing in doing math is never skip any steps, doing math in mind is always get mistake. If you have any concerns, I am always here to help you achieve success!

Kate Wang

Kate is a Learning Assistant in Math at SLCC and is currently a student at the University of Utah, majoring in Computer Science with an emphasis on Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE). She is also considering a math minor, driven by her passion for problem-solving and the connections she sees between coding and mathematics. As a non-traditional, bilingual student, Kate has benefited greatly from her time at SLCC and is committed to giving back by supporting her peers—not only in mastering math concepts but also by mentoring and fostering connections across diverse cultural backgrounds. She finds fulfillment in helping others succeed and values the opportunity to learn from them while contributing to a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Talon Johnson

Hello! My name is Talon Johnson. I am currently a student and Learning Assistant at SLCC. I am majoring in Pre-Chemical Engineering and am working on finishing my general education. I have recently learned that I enjoy working with and teaching students. In addition to being an LA I also am a Teaching Assistant for a summer program called Jordan Prep for students between elementary and the beginning of high school. I specifically LA for Math 1035/30 and my goal is to help students achieve success in their math class. I’ll help students in understanding concepts, practicing concepts and even working through homework. All that said, I look forward to working with you this semester!

Kayla Stowe

Hello, my name is Kayla. I am currently pursuing higher education in teaching mathematics. I am a dedicated learning assistant with one semester of experience supporting students in Math 0920, where I focused on helping them build foundational skills and confidence in mathematics. My passion for education stems from my belief in the power of patience, practice, and encouragement to unlock every learner's potential. In this role, I guided students through challenging concepts, clarified problem-solving strategies, and fostered a collaborative learning environment. Outside the classroom, I enjoy furthering my own education and exploring ways to improve student engagement and success.

Ramiro Ortega

Hello, my name is Ramiro, and I am a learning assistant here at Salt Lake Community College. I was Born and raised here in Utah but my family hails from Mexico. I am currently working towards getting a business associate degree here at SLCC and hope to transfer to the University of Utah to get a business administration degree. I enjoy being a learning assistant because it gives me the opportunity to help people out where I previously struggled and I enjoy the challenge math provides, almost like learning a new language.