Diane grew up in Everett and graduated from Cascade High School.  She completed her BS in Chemistry at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. Through a research fellowship Diane attended Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before journeying to New Zealand on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study Biochemistry at the University of Otago. Diane received an MS in Chemistry and a certificate in Astrobiology from the UW where she also completed graduate work in the History of Science emphasizing teaching math and science to non-science majors.

With extensive experience in teaching and tutoring, Diane came to University Tutoring as a tutor in 1996.  With an ever-evolving passion for supporting students in various subjects and through test preparation, Diane stepped in as Owner and Director in 2000.  She points to her classroom experiences in creative problem-solving, her liberal arts education, and her upbringing as the daughter of a small business owner as key episodes that have led to her own work and success as a small business owner.  As a National Science Foundation Fellow, she worked in Seattle’s public schools incorporating new methods of math pedagogy in local classrooms.  She has taught in various capacities at Seattle University, University of Washington, University of Puget Sound, and University Preparatory Academy.  She served on the Seattle Public Schools Math Curriculum Committee and supported the launching of the non-profit College Access Now.  She has published on the emerging field of astrobiology, on issues of both content and pedagogy. She encourages her students as well as the staff at University Tutoring to discover their own learning and communication styles and personality types, and turns to Myers-Briggs personality typing,  Dennis Bakke and Howard Gardener for inspiration in her work.

In addition to supporting University Tutoring staff and working with students in Seattle, Diane is bringing high-quality tutoring to the Olympia area by opening our second location, University Tutoring - Olympia.