Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics
University of California Berkeley
PhD Candidate in Mathematical Biology
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
nburks@esmprep.comAcademic Mentorship
Walter Cronkite
Naomi's interest in mentorship began in high school, when she first coached middle and elementary school students. Since then, she has taught at high school math camps, tutored undergraduates, and lectured college courses. With each new experience, she has become more motivated to help students succeed.
In addition to her academic focus on math, Naomi took many AP courses in high school and studied piano performance for fourteen years. After two years at UC Berkeley pursuing a math/piano double major, she fully committed to mathematics, going on to graduate with her degree in May 2019. Currently, Naomi splits her professional time between mentoring through ESM and researching mathematical biology at UMN Twin Cities in pursuit of her PhD.
In 2018, towards the end of earning her undergraduate degree, Naomi struggled with severe flare-ups of her chronic illness. With one semester of requirements remaining, she had to stop and take time off to build nonacademic skills necessary to manage her condition. Without this academic break, she would not have graduated. Through this and other experiences, Naomi internalized that our academic selves are not separable from the rest of us.
Naomi's defined goal as a mentor is to help students achieve academically; to do this, she teaches students skills to succeed in other areas of life as well. Students can often use help not just in learning concepts, but also in building confidence, habits, and self-expectations. Naomi mentors students so they can achieve their own goals, learning to be their best selves in the midst of the competing pressures placed on them by our societal environment.
In her free time, Naomi enjoys waterfronts, games (physical and video), dad jokes, cooking, and volunteering at her local cat shelter.