Please meet our amazing staff!
I’m Japheth Wood (he/him), a math professor at Bard College and a Bard Math CAMP co-director. CAMP (a Creative and Analytical Math Program) is one of my favorite weeks each year; I love working with my fellow staff members and enthusiastic CAMP students to uncover unexpected mathematical truths. I am overjoyed that the Bard Math CAMP has been meaningful to so many alumni, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them at CAMP. Outside of math and teaching, I enjoy being outdoors, juggling, communicating, and spending time with my family.
My name is Frances Stern (she/her/hers)! I’ve been teaching math at CAMP since the first year, naking sure our math theme has a connection to art and computer. It’s fun to show students math that they don’t see in school. I’ve retired from daily teaching but continue to teach for the New York Math Circle & students who are seeking more math in their lives. My hobbies include learning to draw, paint, & juggle, reading, walking & folk dancing. I’ve written 2 books for teachers and parents called “Adding Math, Subtracting Tension” (for different age-ranges of children). They pay as much attention to how to keep out of a fight (what many parents told me is a problem) as they do to math.
My name is Yulia Genkina, any pronouns work. I’m really excited to be teaching Computer Science at CAMP this year. In the past, I worked as a math and computer science educator, theater technician, and musician. Bringing art, hands-on problem-solving and exact sciences together is one of my favorite approaches to education. I can’t wait to share it with all of you this summer! For the past few years I have been working as an educator in the Tech industry, creating training and learning experiences for software engineers. Bard is my alma mater and C.A.M.P. has been keeping me connected to it for the past several years. It reminds me and emphasizes how Bard really is “a place to think”. In my free time, I like rock-climbing, volunteering for the circus, making crafts, and dancing.
My name is Layo Bright (she/her/hers). I am thrilled to be an Art Instructor at CAMP this year. I’m a visual artist whose art practice explores storytelling, feminism, advocacy and migration. I believe in the power of art to bring about change, and I work with different art mediums including clay, glass, wood, and textiles. I have exhibited my artwork both internationally and nationally including: Altar Ego, de Boer, Los Angeles, CA; Dawn and Dusk, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT; Heartwood, Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton, NY; Undercurrents, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York, NY; Bode Projects, Berlin, Germany; Phillips, New York, NY; among others.
My name is Gemma, and I will be a Math TA this year. I am from New York City, and have attended CAMP (as a camper, volunteer, and TA) since 2017. I love math, and especially puzzles. Outside of math, I love to play tennis and tabla (the classical indian drums). I am looking forward to this summer!!
Hello! My name is Fidan, and I will be a CS TA this year. I am interested in math, programming robotics and puzzles. At school I am on an FRC robotics team, Rosie Robotics, where I am the electrical team lead. We went to worlds last year, competed there and got to the district championship this year. It was extremely exciting to experience that and get to see different people’s designs and ideas cultivated into reality. Outside of robotics I have always loved putting thing’s together. Puzzles and Rube Goldberg machines have always been a favorite of mine. Also as additional hobbies of mine, I enjoy swimming and occasionally playing volleyball or tennis. I am looking forward to this summer and meeting everyone!
My name is Lia Roy. I’m a rising junior from the West Coast. I’ve attended math circles including Bard CAMP since third grade, and this will be my second year volunteering. I adore mathematics because it allows for integration with a variety of other subjects and ideas, like other STEM fields, creativity, and problem solving. I am on a VEX Robotics team through my local organization and spend majority of my (very limited) free time immersed in writing, reading, digital art, puzzles, and investigating to learn as much as I can about the world around me. I cannot wait to be the blogger for this year’s CAMP!
My name is Makayla Robinson (she/her), and this fall I will be a senior at Rhinebeck High School. I attended CAMP in 2022 and 2023; during that time, I enjoyed learning new things and playing different math games. My hobbies include playing soccer, rowing crew, and spending time with my dog. I also adore traveling with my family and learning about different cultures along the way. Some of my favorite locations I have visited are Hawaii, Tuscany, Paris, and Amsterdam. The place I wish to travel next is Jamaica, where a large portion of my family lives. I am excited to work with everybody in my second year acting as a high school volunteer.
Hi! My name is Ada (she/her), and I’m a rising senior at Red Hook HS. I attended CAMP back in middle school and I’m super excited to be returning as a volunteer! I’ve always loved math for its logical, puzzle-like nature and the ways it intersects with some of my other hobbies, including art, music, and robotics. This past year, I presented a piece created in Max at the Bard Math and Music Conference, where I got to combine my interests in mathematics, technology, and music. Outside of math, I’m passionate about film and love reading (especially murder mysteries) which makes this year’s theme even more exciting for me. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and I can’t wait to see what CAMP this year will bring!
My name is Daniel Reiss and this is my first year as a HS volunteer at Bard. I am a rising Sophomore at Brooklyn Technical High School and really like math, especially when it is creative! I enjoy Rubik’s Cubes and playing chess, as well as board games like Subterra and Blood on the Clocktower. I am an avid fantasy reader and love to learn. I have been at CAMP for 2 years now, so I am excited to come back as a HS volunteer! Looking forward to seeing everyone in the summer!
Hello! My name is Yousef Alhoumsi, and I am a Computer Science and Mathematics student at Bard College. I enjoy solving problems, and helping others understand mathematics. I believe math is not only about finding answers but also about developing logical thinking and creativity. Outside of my studies, I like reading about psychology and critical thinking. I am excited to be part of Bard Math CAMP!
