PrepNow Tutor - Michael W.
Michael is a practicing chemical engineer with extensive experience teaching STEM topics. He received a BS in chemical engineering from Wayne State University. He has a long work history as a chemical engineer and currently works as a process engineer for a major chemical manufacturing plant. "I utilize high level process skills like thermodynamics, material and energy balances, process simulators, coding, etc.," he says. His experience troubleshooting and solving problems related to his students' curricula gives him a leg up when it comes to showing how concepts are applied beyond academia.
Michael started tutoring at a learning center for K-12 students. "It was a joy to help individuals with coursework that can seem very confusing!" As an undergraduate, Michael helped tutor underclassmen in subjects in the chemical engineering curriculum. He has taught a breadth of topics: chemistry I & II; physics; material and energy balance; and math, including algebra, geometry, linear algebra, and calculus I & II).
As to his teaching philosophy, Michael initially likes to ask students how they would begin to solve a given problem. Then, he dissects any specific areas where they get stuck. "I like to have students walk through their thinking with me, so that I am not just giving answers," he says. "Math and science deserve a lot of practice, so I like to put pen to paper and not just talk things out."
As a student, Michael was on the honor roll every semester at Wayne State and graduated cum laude for being in the top 25% of his class.
At school, Michael played football and rugby; he was also vice president for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was a Young Professionals board member.
"I am a hardworking and patient father of two beautiful daughters," says Michael. He loves to spend time with his family, exercise, and work on cars. Fun fact: he was born and raised in Michigan but moved to Texas for work. "Quite a change!" he reflects.
