Dr. Mark Yin

STEM, Test Prep, and College Planning The founder of Yin Academy

Dr. Mark Yin holds five academic degrees. He was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Math and Master of Science in Biomechanics from the prestigious Fudan University. After earning his Master’s degree, Dr. Yin was invited to work and study at City University of New York, where he earned his Master of Philosophy, Master of Science in Computer Science, and Ph.D. in Engineering.
Dr. Yin’s extensive experience with both Chinese and American educational systems has proven key to his success as a tutor. Drawing upon the best of both systems, he aims to help students develop the talents and abilities they already possess. He guides them toward a greater understanding of a subject’s fundamentals, then encourages them to think and solve the problems by themselves. “I don’t want them to become like machines, just memorizing,” he says. “Coaching students to think and develop their own ideas is more powerful than just showing them how to solve one problem.”
Dr. Yin’s methods have led to great results for many students, including his son, William, who was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar and awarded the opportunity to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Sweden. Like many of Dr. Yin’s students, William set his sights on the nation’s top colleges and was accepted by six Ivy League schools and MIT. He is currently studying at Stanford University.

Dan Bloom

Biology

Dan Bloom holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.A. in Science Education. He is a committed educator who has volunteered with Americorps, participated in City Year Greater Philadelphia, and worked in high-needs schools. He comes to the Yin Academy from Greenwich High School, where he teaches Biology and Forensics.

Nancy Haverson

English

Nancy Haverson holds a M.S. in Speech Pathology from Columbia University and has spent many years helping students in Connecticut and New York prepare for their college entrance exams. She has served with the Greenwich Board of Education and Brookline Public Schools. She assists Yin Academy students with English tutoring and test prep services.

Dr. Lenore Schneider

English and History

Dr. Lenore Schneider has a Master’s degree from Duke University, a doctorate from Carnegie Mellon, and more than twenty-five years of experience with Advanced Placement exams. She has taught AP History, helped develop and set the standards for AP European History tests, and taught AP workshops at more than twenty sites. She specializes in helping students develop the writing skills to succeed on their essays.

Dr. Ge Zhang

Economics

Dr. Ge Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Duke University and serves as an Associate Professor of Finance at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Her specialties include corporate finance, investment, and risk management. She offers tutoring in Economics.

Claire Li

College Planning

Claire Li works with Yin Academy students as a specialist in college planning and admissions. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in educational policy and administration. Over the years, Ms. Li has helped students gain admission to Stanford University, Emory University, University of Virginia, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Rochester, Boston University, Durham University, and many quality private secondary schools.

Angela

Chemistry

Angela is a high school chemistry teacher, with bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry as well as a master's in secondary education. She completed and presented her master's thesis in chemistry (Absorbance of Trihalomethanes on Carbon) at the 242nd American Chemical Society Conference. She has been an Adjunct Professor at Sacred Heart University since 2013, where she teaches General Chemistry lectures, laboratories, and nursing chemistry. Angela began to pursue teaching after working for 4 years in chemical industry as a research organic synthesis chemist, where she was co-inventor on a patent for lubricant oil compositions. Angela also teaches hot yoga when she isn't teaching chemistry, as her passion for helping others extends outside of the classroom.