Meet Our Staff
Our team consists of well-trained professional and student staff who are committed to enhancing students’ self-worth and confidence using non-evaluative, low-stakes relationships of trust. Our professional team has extensive tutoring and teaching experience, many of whom are UNT Dallas graduates. In addition, our student team are selected based on a rigorous recruitment and hiring process, which includes faculty recommendations.
Interested in learning more about the Learning Commons team? Scroll down to find out more.
Student Employees
Contact our Front Desk Assistants for help scheduling appointments or general questions about our services. Call 972-338-1755 or email lcwriting@untdallas.edu (for writing tutoring) or lcstem@untdallas.edu (for STEM tutoring).
Angela - Front Desk Assistant and Writing Tutor
Major: Criminal Justice
From: Red Oak, TX
Interests: K-Pop, True Crime, and reading books
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: “When I was a new student, the Learning Commons was the first place I came when I was lost and confused, and people helped me. I want to be able to help students in the same way."
Clara - Front Desk Assistant
Major: Political Science
From: West Dallas
Interests: writing and True Crime
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: “I like working in the Learning Commons because it takes me out of my comfort zone because I’m naturally a reserved person.”
Christian - Science Tutor
Major: Psychology
Interests: K-Pop, Anime, Dancing, Gaming, Playing Chess and Tennis, Hockey (Go Stars!)
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: "Working at the Learning Commons allows me to grow as a leader and enables me to help students master subjects they had previously struggled with."
Kristy - Math Tutor
Major: Education: Math 4-8
From: Dallas, TX
Interests: reading, arts and crafts, and hanging out with family and friends
What do I enjoy most about working in the LC: “I chose to work for the Learning Commons because I want to help people excel in their education. It’s also good practice for my future career. I like working here – the people are nice and it’s a good community.”
Future Goal:
Valeria -- Math Tutor
Major: Education: EC-6 Bilingual
From: Mexico
Interests: TV, reading, and puzzles
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: “I chose to work in the Learning Commons because I wanted to help students, and it’s a way for me to practice my skills for becoming a teacher.”
Future Goal:
Jose - Math Tutor
Major: Mathematics with 7-12 Teacher Certification
Interests: Making ribbon roses, tulips, and sunflowers; listening and dancing to country
and Mexican music; eating Chick Fil A and Raising Canes; and collecting Mickey Mouse
merchandise.
What I enjoy about working in the LC: "the environment being welcoming as well as
supportive for everyone."
Future goals: "Expanding my ribbon flower business as well as becoming a high school
math teacher."
Jocelyn - Front Desk Assistant
Major: Biology
Interests: Reading
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: "Something I enjoy about working in the
LC is the comfortable atmosphere it provides."
Future goals: "I am going to become a dentist."
Brya - Front Desk Assistant
Major: General Business
Hobbies: Drawing and meeting new people
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: "I'm here for the new experiences and enjoy getting to work on my feet."
Future Goal: To be successful and famous in an art career
Rueben - Graduate Writing Tutor
Major: I am a counseling major currently in his third semester of graduate school.
Hobbies: I play video games, watch horror movies, and organize things in my free time.
What I enjoy about working in the LC: "I like working in the LC because I get to make an impact on students and help them learn how to help themselves."
Future goals: I would like to eventually have my own study and perhaps be a professor for counseling as well.
Cristina - Writing Tutor
Major: Communications & Digital Media
Hobbies: Listening to music, learning new languages, reading
What I enjoy about working in the LC: "the chaos/ the good energy of the LC"
Future goals: work with the Weather Channel or work with UMG Music.
Anahi - Writing Tutor
Major: Education
Hobbies: Reading books and going to the movie theater
What I enjoy most about working in the LC: "I like working at the LC because I get to help others. It also gives me the chance to get more involved with the school."
Future Goal: Teach English Language Arts for grades 4-8
Professional Staff
Gustavo - STEM and SI Coordinator
Gustavo is from Dallas, TX and graduated from UNT Dallas in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Chemistry minor. He researched antibacterial resistance to disinfectant under Dr. Frantz and chemical salts affecting bacterial growth with Dr. Yousufuddin. Gustavo was very active on campus, serving as the Lab Assistant Manager for Dr. Rodriguez, the Vice President of the Chemistry Club, and a member of Tri-Beta. Gustavo wanted to continue serving the UNT Dallas student body as a tutor to further his love of biology and to help others. Gustavo is currently working on a graduate certificate in Drug Discovery and Development in the College of Pharmacy at the UNT Health Science Center. In addition to his enthusiasm for science, Gustavo is a big fan of comic books, Star Wars, and Star Trek.
Contact: Gustavo.Gomez@untdallas.edu
Paul - STEM Learning Specialist
Passionate about helping students understand difficult material, Paul has over 10 years’ experience tutoring high school, college, and graduate students in chemistry, biology, math, and writing. A UNT Dallas graduate, Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a minor in Chemistry and participated in published research with faculty members. He is currently researching pnicogen-pnicogen through space interactions using computational methods at SMU, and he enjoys cooking and playing the cello in his time off.
Contact: Paul.Wiggins@untdallas.edu
Caitlin - Writing Tutor Coordinator
Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Caitlin is an immigrant and was a first-generation university student. Caitlin is an alumnus of both UNT Dallas and UNT Denton, having earned her Bachelor’s in Communication & Digital Media at UNT Dallas and then earned her Master’s in Communication Studies with a Concentration in Rhetoric at UNT in Denton. As an alum, Caitlin was excited to return to her alma mater campus to serve students in the Learning Commons. Caitlin wrote her first fictional story at six years old, and she has been passionate about writing fiction, poetry, and research ever since! Aside from writing, Caitlin also enjoys theatre, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and listening to music.
Contact: Caitlin.Taylor@untdallas.edu
Erum - STEM Learning Specialist
Erum completed her bachelor’s degree in Pakistan with a major in medicine and is currently
pursuing an MPH with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics at Texas A&M.
She works as a Learning Specialist at UNT Dallas where she finds joy and aspiration
from fellow students and fulfillment in helping students become independent learners.
Erum researched the factors affecting sperm speed and presented in the LAS showcase
fall of 2022 under Dr. Mehdi. She is passionate about helping communities facing disparity
and designing all-inclusive policies beyond regional boundaries, race-ethnicity, and
socio-economic status. In her free time, Erum enjoys going for walks and playing badminton.
Contact: Erum.Waheed@untdallas.edu
Mike - STEM Learning Specialist
Mike was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico but grew up in Dallas, TX from an early age. He graduated from UT Arlington in 2006 with a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, the first in his family to obtain such a degree. He worked part-time at DCCCD as a math tutor and adjunct faculty member while studying to obtain his master’s degree. He’s worked full-time at Tarrant County College (TCCD) since 2009 tutoring mathematics and physics and began teaching credit level mathematics courses in 2019 as well. He enjoys helping young people learn and understand concepts in mathematics and physics. Aside from mathematics, Mike enjoys playing the guitar (acoustic and electric), riding his bicycle around the neighborhood, watching the Dallas Cowboys, reading, and swimming (if he can find a pool).
Contact: Miguel.Manzanares@untdallas.edu
Aimi - Math Learning Specialist
Aimi graduated from Austin College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, Psychology, and Gender Studies. She taught math at the high school-level for two years, and has 5 years of experience as a math tutor. Aimi enjoys working one-on-one with students and breaking down complicated mathematical concepts into manageable pieces. Her favorite subject to tutor is Calculus. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors and travelling.
Enrique
Enrique Alaniz is a 28 year old tutoring professional that graduated from the University of North Texas at Dallas in Spring of 2019 with a degree in Communications & Technology. He is originally from Lancaster, TX and still lives there as of now. He has always had a passion for community and helping others, and this is one of the primary reasons why he decided to work with the Learning Commons. Plus, as a graduate and a person that generally loves writing, it's a perfect fit for him.
Here are some fun facts about Enrique:
Lived in New Zealand for a year (from May '23 to May '24)
Featured on television and radio during his stint in NZ for his work in esports
Professional Esports Head Coach
Has been writing poetry since he was 16 years old
Administrative Support Staff
Elizabeth - Learning Commons Director
Part of the Learning Commons staff since 2017, Elizabeth has utilized her passion
for writing, teaching, and resource development to tutor writing and train tutors,
and in 2023 she transitioned to Director. Her favorite part about working for the
Learning Commons is seeing her students and her team grow and thrive personally, academically,
and professionally. Elizabeth holds a BA in English from Dallas Baptist University
and an MA in TESOL & Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College, and she has taught
ESL to university students in Asia and to immigrants and refugees in Dallas. In her
free time, Elizabeth loves to hike and explore nature.
Contact: Elizabeth.Adams@untdallas.edu
Anya - Learning Commons Coordinator
Anya grew up in Grand Prairie and is one of 13 siblings! Anya earned her Associates of Science from DCCCD in 2012, and graduated from UNT Dallas in 2016 with a Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics and a minor in Sociology. Anya is glad to be a part of a growing university, and is dedicated to helping students build and hone a strong Mathematical foundation to build on and finesse throughout their academic and professional career. In her off time, Anya loves spending quality time at home with her 3 kids and husband. She also enjoys doing puzzles, completing home projects, watching TV, and sitting around the fire.
Contact: anya.reck@untdallas.edu
Shailen - Administrative Specialist
Shailen grew up here in Dallas, a few minutes from UNT Dallas’s campus. She graduated
from Texas A&M University with a BA in English Literature with a focus in Creative
Writing. Shailen also holds an MFA from Arcadia University in Creative Writing: Poetry.
She ultimately hopes to better serve and inspire the community she grew up in, and
UNT Dallas is representative of that community. In her free time, Shailen enjoys
creative writing, drawing, and lyric improvisation.
Contact: Shailen.Scott@untdallas.edu
Yareli - Administrative Assistant
Yareli was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She received her Associates of Arts from
Mountain View College in 2017, and graduated from UNT Dallas in 2022 with a Bachelor’s
degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences with a minor in Spanish. Yareli is dedicated to
helping the growing student body by addressing their needs. She enjoys spending time
with her fur babies and doing pottery.
Contact: Yareli.Santamaria@untdallas.edu