Our Team

Maya Gobert is our Director of Student Innovation. She is also the Founder and Director of the Leadership & Innovation Lab. 

Maya attended Cornell University on a full expenses paid scholarship where she double majored in Economics and Political Science and graduated with top honors. Maya has worked across three continents and industries - finance, marketing and educational consulting. Maya has led a team of consultants and worked personally with students across the world (more than 14 countries and counting!), mentoring them in candidacy building and extracurricular pursuits. Her students have gained admission into all the Ivy League colleges and many other Top 20 US universities. 

Avi Hegland-Fisher is our Instructor. Avi attended Colgate University, where she studied English, philosophy, and classics. She taught and tutored high school students while in law school at the University of Pennsylvania and was the recipient of an Exceptional Pro Bono Service Award, which is awarded to Penn Law students who complete over 200 hours of pro bono service. Avi also received a Certificate in Management from Wharton. After Penn, she was a teaching assistant, research assistant, and adjunct professor at American University. Avi is a researcher, writing consultant, and college essay coach who tutors students in English, humanities, writing, reading, high school admissions testing, SAT, ACT, LSAT, and AP courses.

Zijia Liu is the Director of Admissions at our institution. With a background in bioinformatics, Zijia earned her master's degree in the field. Throughout her career, Zijia has utilized her expertise to educate and mentor thousands of middle and high school students, as well as undergraduates. Simultaneously, she has held the role of academic counselor, providing invaluable guidance to students as they navigate their academic and career paths. With decades of experience under her belt, Zijia has played a pivotal role in helping students achieve their goals. In addition, she has demonstrated her dedication to continuous learning by independently preparing for and passing all CPA exams during her leisure time.

Alex is an inventor, entrepreneur, educator, and 3D designer passionate about empowering youth to bring their ideas to life. 

Alex participated as a finalist in the International Science and Engineering Fair, was named the National Diamond Challenge Champion, and received the 2022 Future Innovator of the Year award from the Arizona Governor. 

Since 2020, Alex has taught more than 25+ students CAD and 3D printing, helping them launch their own projects and prototypes. When he's not teaching or building things, you will find him dancing or swimming with his friends!