Stephen Rudin, MD, Founder, Principal Mentor, and President: a graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and former Upward Bound Teacher of the Year, Dr. Rudin is the founder and guiding force behind Individual U., LLC, NLD-NYConnects, and IU A.S.P.E.C.T.S. The inventor of Individual U.'s "Smart Edzyme" model of collaborative mentoring, his specialties include reparative learning, and the creative educational enrichment of children and young adults. An innovator, author, remediator, and developer of insightful products that make challenging topics more easily understood, Dr. Rudin has been a mentor of individuals from kindergarten, through Medical School, mid-life, and beyond. His best-selling, award-winning software and books include A.D.A.M.: The Inside Story, The Nine Month Miracle, Conquering the New SAT, and The Human Body: Fandex Family Field Guide. Dr. Rudin's additional interests include white water kayaking, Argentine tango, Tai Chi Sword, Goju Ryu Karate, Japanese language and culture, yoga, meditation, writing lyrics for a variety of musical genres, and writing for theater and film - all of which enhance Individual U.'s approach to learning. Dr. Rudin currently serves on the Board of Advisers of the United Kingdom-based ILAET (International Laboratory for Advanced Educational Technologies), focusing on building schools for the future worldwide, and heading its Division of Remediation and Special Needs Learning. Dr. Rudin's father, Milton, 92, still wishes Stephen would practice medicine.

Boris Berenfeld, PhD: renowned educator, World Technology Award finalist, internet pioneer, biophysicist, and elected Member of the Russian Academy of Science, Boris is the Principal Investigator of several National Science Foundation projects through The Concord Consortium.
One of the "fathers" of educational tele-collaboration, Dr. Berenfeld is the principal author of the internationally acclaimed Global Lab Curriculum, which allows small groups of students in geographically distributed areas to share observations, data, and conclusions as a collaborative community. Global Lab was piloted and tested in nearly thirty countries around the world.

At Individual U., Boris heads the Technology and Education efforts, asks probing questions, mentors students young and old, surprises us with amazing, web-based, interactive learning opportunities, and inspires us to reach higher while staying grounded in our mission to help people learn.

Marcia Eckerd, PhD, Director of Integrative Mentoring, Vice President of Special Needs and Learning Issues: a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Yale University, Dr. Eckerd earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from CUNY and has been a licensed psychologist working with adults, adolescents and children for over 25 years. Dr. Eckerd's specialized interest is in children with social disabilities and associated cognitive and academic challenges. Trained in neuropsychological evaluation, her clinical work outside of Individual U. involves diagnosing and addressing the challenges these children face. She is a consultant to schools, lecturer, therapist and writer and gives professional workshops on learning challenges, executive functions, neuropsychological evaluation, and ADHD. Dr. Eckerd is on the professional boards of the CT Association for Children and Adults with LD and Smart Kids with LD, and is listed on the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. She is also a resource professional on Asperger.com and LDline.com.

At Individual U., Dr Eckerd directs our integrative mentoring efforts, working closely with Dr. Rudin as the internal resource for understanding the impact of emotional trauma and learning challenges on students, mentors, and families alike. She is also a member of our 'Eye to I.U.' assessment and Inward Bound teams.

Tioma Maloratsky: an MIT-trained physicist and mathematician, Moscovite Tioma divides his time between mentoring at Individual U. and dancing at all-night tango gatherings (milongas) from New York to Buenos Aires. His tango work is internationally recognized under the performance name, "El Ruso." At MIT, Tioma worked in the Plasma Fusion Center, the Robotics Lab, and consulted for the Global Lab, while also mentoring incoming freshmen from economically disadvantaged and minority backgrounds to prepare them for MIT coursework. He received his teaching certification in Physics from Wellesley College while teaching twelfth grade at Boston Latin High.

At Individual U., Tioma, who guides our mathematics efforts, works with students of all ages in both enrichment and remediation.

Chris Martin, Vice President of Education: Individual U.'s Poet-In-Residence hails from the West: originally Colorado and more recently Santa Fe. He is the 2006 recipient of the Hayden Carruth Award, given annually to an emerging poet. Chris received his MA in Poetry Performance and Education in June 2007 from NYU's Gallatin School for Individualized Study. His first full-length book, American Music, was published by the esteemed Copper Canyon Press in Nov. 2007. He is the editor and co-founder of an online journal of the arts, "Puppy Flowers," and reads his work throughout New York and at various colleges. He is, furthermore, a singer/songwriter and a rapper, though you wouldn't believe the latter by looking at him.

At Individual U., Chris works as part of our core mentor group, providing excellent remediation and enrichment in many fields including Math, English, and Art Appreciation, as well as managing current programs.

Matthew Kelly, Vice President of Programs: a magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University's Biomedical Ethics and Biology Programs, Matthew's undergraduate thesis examined the treatment of scientific authority by the United States criminal justice system. He has also written about several other biomedical ethics topics, including scientific journal practices, nationalism and scientific progress, and metaethical issues related to neuromodulation. In addition to studying social issues in science, Matthew has conducted primary research examining microbial resistance profiles in natural habitats. He comes to Individual U. from the New York Academy of Sciences, where he directed the organization's biology, chemistry, and physics-based Science Research Training Program and served as the Primary Curriculum Author for their Science Program. Prior to his time at the Academy, he oversaw a creative arts education program in Providence, writing that program's first curriculum guide. Currently, he is a Wyman Scholar at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Program in the History and Ethics of Public Health and Medicine. When he's not reading or writing bioethics related articles, Matthew enjoys writing works for the stage, many of which have been professionally developed and produced. He is particularly interested in the use of absurdist theatre techniques to present complex social issues in science, and was nominated for a NYC based playwriting award for a play exemplifying this style.

At Individual U., Matthew works with our core group utilizing his interdisciplinary training to enhance his instruction of biology, chemistry, physics, and math, as well as managing current programs.

Dustin Long: Dustin received a BA from UC Berkeley and is currently working towards his PhD in English Literature at Indiana University, where he was awarded his MA. He recently moved to New York to begin his dissertation, but spent the last four years dividing his time among teaching composition, taking graduate courses, and writing novels. His first novel, Icelander, was published by McSweeney's in 2006, and he is currently completing another.

At Individual U., Dustin mentors students in English Literature, Grammar, and Writing. He is also involved in preparing Individual U. students for various standardized examinations, including the SAT, ACT, and SSAT.

Sarah Raymont: Sarah was born at the ABC Hospital in Mexico City and has lived in both Mexico and Spain. A graduate of Brown with a BA in English and Art-Semiotics and an MA in writing from the University of East Anglia, she has extensive experience providing home instruction for elementary schoolkids in New York. She is also an expert on great candies of the world.

At Individual U., Sarah mentors students in Spanish language and Spanish literature, as well as English Writing and Grammar, and is active in our "mentors in motion" program.

Jim Higdon: holds advanced degrees from Brown (MFA in creative writing, Peter Kaplan fellow, '00) and Columbia (MS in journalism, with honors, '05). With his education and training, Jim has begun a career as a professional writer, currently on contract with Penguin/Putnam with his first book. For the past two years, Jim has been living in Kentucky and recreating decades-old criminal activity with Freedom of Information Act requests, and interviews with retired law enforcement officers, long-tooth journalists and ex-convicts. As a freelance journalist, Jim also covers technology and business news in Silicon Valley, specializing in VoIP, IT management and the convergence of technology and politics.

At Individual U., Jim specializes in English, history and essay composition. Jim also works with creatively precocious students interested in enriching their writing skills, whether analytic, creative or journalistic. Jim also values the richness of New York City as a learning laboratory, and seeks to use the city's resources -- museums, institutions, neighborhoods and cultural landmarks -- as teaching tools for students' explorations.

At Individual U., through teaching Japanese, she conveys a different perspective on the world that attracts students and fuels an interest in other aspects of Asian and American cultures as well as their intersections. Sae also teaches classes in Japanese cooking and Ikebana.

Saul Chernick: a visual artist and educator, Saul's work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and cultural institutions including The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, The Bronx Museum of Art, and The Arad Museum of Art. He received his MFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, and his BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has also studied art education at the Pratt institute in Brooklyn and was selected for residency by the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine. He has worked as an educator for Studio in A School and Dreamyard programs, both of which serve New York City public schools in need of art's enrichment.

At Individual U., Saul mentors students in the visual arts and arts enrichment helping them explore their academic studies through hands-on creative activities.

Barbara Purcell: a Cum Laude graduate of Skidmore College, with a BA in sociology, Barbara has published two books, including Black Ice: Poems (Fly By Night Press, 2006) which was funded in part by New York State Council on the Arts, and has been featured in a variety of reading series and writer's workshops. A trained ballet and modern dancer, she is a nationally certified yoga instructor, and Reiki practitioner. In addition, she keeps a daily business blog that covers topics such as healthy urban living, mind-body balance, and stress management, and is a recognizable presence in national magazines and network television, most recently for using chi-based techniques to help reconnect struggling couples.

At Individual U., she heads our yoga studies, and additionally mentors students in poetry.

Mariana Fresno: one of the most dynamic Tango performers of the new generation, Mariana has established herself in the field of Argentine Tango through performing in numerous Tango shows and motion pictures, but has distinguished herself as well as an extraordinary Tango mentor of children and young adults throughout the world. Before discovering tango, she graduated from the National School of Dance in Buenos Aires, where she studied ballet, folklore, jazz and modern dance. Mariana has studied under such prominent instructors as Juan Carlos Copes, Mingo and Esther Pugliese, Graciela Gonzélez, Gustavo Naveira, José Garéfalo, Natalia Games y Gabriel Angio, Facundo and Kelly, Julio Balmaceda and with renowed milongueros such as Tete and Silvia, Rodolfo and Maria Cieri, 'El Pibe' Palermo, Carlitos Albornoz and many others. In 1997 she starred in the 'Buenos Aires Tango' show with the Walter Réos Orchestra, which ran in Tokyo, Japan. She toured Chile with Osvaldo Zotto's group, and in 1999 was also part of Anébal Pachano's "Tangou" musical show. Mariana's remarkable maturity and depth as a dancer is exhibited in such films such as 'Evita' directed by Alan Parker, and 'El Sueéo de los Héroes' (The Dreams of Heroes) by the Argentine director Sergio Renén. In Buenos Aires, Mariana joined the Escuela Argentina de Tango and the Abasto Plaza Hotel teacher's staff. She has also taught Tango workshops throughout the world including Argentina, United States, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France and Denmark.

Mariana's work with Individual U. began several months after she first became Dr. Rudin's personal Tango instructor. During a workshop, he noticed that she could get the entire class to move through her motion and expressivity while hardly saying a word and that her teaching fostered a deep sense of connection and communication between the dancing partners she was instructing. What evolved was 'Less Talk, More Tango,' their shared collaboration for teaching students to listen to, lead, and follow each other through their intentions and with as few words as possible. Today, Mariana is active in teaching Individual U. students with a variety of learning, social, and emotional challenges.

Jason Fitzgerald: a graduate of Harvard College with a BA in American History and Literature, Jason operated under the delusion that he was going to grow up to be an editor while an undergraduate, but then chose to pursue his true love, the theater, instead. He went on to earn his MFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism at Yale School of Drama, where he dramaturged over ten productions and, ironically, was the co-managing editor of Theater magazine; he is now the associate editor of The Annual Magazine of Yale School of Drama. Jason moved to New York City in August of 2004 to pursue his doctoral dissertation (DFA) investigating the role of camp in the American theatre since the 1960s. Meanwhile, he is a teaching fellow in the Theater Studies department at Yale College. He also moonlights as a theatre critic on newtheatercorps.blogspot.com and elsewhere, and he is an occasional freelance dramaturg and script consultant.

At Individual U., Jason mentors students in History and English.

Sensei Arnaldo "Andy" Diaz: a 6th degree Black Belt in GoJu-Te Karate and father of three boys, Sensei Diaz has been studying and practicing martial arts for close to 40 years, achieving mastery not only in karate, but in the internal Chinese martial arts of Tai Chi, Hsing-I, and PaKua. He was the founder of the Martial Arts Conservatory Karate School, which was honored by Black Belt Magazine. Sensei Diaz has worked with numerous blind, visually impaired, and otherwise disabled students, and currently conducts classes at the Jewish Guild for the Blind. Dr. Rudin first met Sensei Diaz at Asphalt Green, where, among other martial arts programs, Sensei teaches Water Tai Chi for the motion-impaired and disabled, and credits Sensei Diaz with helping him through the challenges of his own unexpected hip injury and mobility limitation.

At Individual U., Sensei Diaz mentors students in chi-channeling practices to help improve their focus, coordination, spatial skills, balance, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Sensei Diaz infuses his teachings with philosophy, history, literature and Yankee baseball, bringing a fascinating East-West balance to his popular chi-mentoring sessions.

Barry Heyden: a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Exercise Science and Certified Strength and Conditioning, Mr. Heyden is a recognized leader in the health and fitness arena. Barry began a relationship with Major League Baseball as a youngster shagging balls for Dusty Baker at spring training camp near his Florida home. He then went on to serve as a strength and conditioning coach for major league baseball teams (including The Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers) and gained national prominence for the low injury rates incurred by players on the New York Mets while he was their Director of Strength and Fitness Conditioning from 1997-2001. Subsequently he began consulting internationally. Of note, he recently helped Bobby Valentine develop the Conditioning Program for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.

In 2001, Barry also began focusing his attention on tennis fitness and injury prevention, working as a consultant to both men's ATP and the woman's WTA Professional Tennis Association where he developed Sports Specific and Functional Training regimens that are now a standard for training programs throughout the world. A popular motivational speaker and author of books on baseball conditioning, he was most recently recruited by the Hospital for Special Surgery to spearhead the development of their Sports and Human Performance Center.

At Individual U., Mr. Heyden works on focus, motivation, and performance enhancement with students in our IU A.S.P.E.C.T.S. Program, Young Adults Lifepath Program, Gap Year Program, and with Individual U. students of all ages who want to enjoy the benefits of fitness, flexibility, and specific sports skills. Away from "work," Barry's passion is training his teenage daughter, Lilly, who is an increasingly formidable competitor on the tournament tennis circuit.