Our Team

Art of Problem Solving was founded by Richard Rusczyk in 2003 to create interactive educational opportunities for avid math students. Richard is the author or a co-author of 7 AoPS textbooks and a past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993, and worked as a bond trader for D.E. Shaw & Company for four years. AoPS marks Richard's return to his vocation - educating motivated students.

In 2014, Glen founded a learning center in Morrisville, North Carolina, that two years later became the first AoPS Academy campus. Glen served as the National Director of AoPS Academy until his retirement in 2019. He has experience as a college math professor, statistician, and expert SAS programmer. He has been a professional math tutor for many years, and specializes in training academically-advanced and high-performing math students. Glen is a graduate of Duke University and holds a graduate degree in statistics from Boston University.

Jacqueline's journey in education began in a high school math classroom, where she first fell in love with helping students find their "aha" moment. Over 30 years and a doctorate later, she has held roles ranging from professor to administrator, but her focus has always remained the same: working side-by-side with students to help them conquer math. She has long believed that math is about understanding why it works, not just how to solve it, which is exactly why AoPS feels like home to her. Jacqueline is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel safe to take risks, think deeply, and learn from their mistakes. She looks forward to helping each student reach that breakthrough moment where a complex challenge suddenly clicks into place.

Natalie Williamson is a passionate math teacher with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Teaching Certification from Lamar University. Natalie's love for math is fueled by its beauty and creativity, which she strives to share with her students. Her journey as a math enthusiast began in 8th grade Algebra when she discovered that mathematics has a creative side, not just one way of doing things! Natalie fosters a supportive classroom environment where students contribute freely, explore diverse problem-solving methods, learn through their own discoveries, and feel comfortable taking intellectual risks without fear of what others will think. Beyond teaching, Natalie enjoys quilting, crocheting, restoring old furniture, and going on disc golf trips with her husband and two children.

Marisol earned their M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in contemporary German-language literature and film. With over ten years of teaching experience, they have instructed German as a foreign language, film analysis, academic writing, and AP English in Germany. Marisol has also worked as a curriculum developer, German tutor for students with ADHD, and freelance editor. A lifelong learner who finds joy in studying Japanese, reading D&D handbooks, and tinkering with Linux, Marisol brings that same curiosity to their teaching. Their ultimate goal is producing curious, kind humans equipped to navigate complex challenges. They teach through scaffolding, community building, and differentiated learning, helping students engage with unfamiliar concepts by leveraging existing knowledge. Marisol's playful nature creates welcoming classroom experiences where intellectual risk-taking feels safe.