CCLC Coaches

Debbie Brink

About me: I am a hard worker, a loyal friend, and a fast learner. I try to do my best in everything and constantly improve my skills and methods. Some of my interests include cars, dog training, and cybersecurity. I enjoy reading, playing tennis, and participating in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. 

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I think the CCLC is a great opportunity to grow my own skills while helping others to develop theirs. Being able to explain concepts and the application of them to others strengthens my own understanding of them, and gives me the opportunity to think of and explain them in different ways. I also wish to help fellow students work through their programs because I've utilized the CCLC in the past year and found it to be extremely helpful.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142

Programming languages that I know: Assembly Language, C, Java, MATLAB

Xiaojie Chen

About me: My name is Xiaojie Chen, and I am an international undergraduate Computer Science student at Michigan Technological University. I come from China; this is my second year here at Houghton. I love Computer Science and programming in general. I’m familiar with Java, Python, and Javascript. In my free time, I enjoy using Node.js to design and create a full-stack website. Besides programming, I love watching movies and listening to music.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I consider that this opportunity will strengthen my communication and leadership skills. I love to help other students, and I believe that tutoring them also reinforces my skills and techniques. Consequently, I’ll also be required to remain highly knowledgeable in the area I’m tutoring in. This means that I’ll continue to review and add upon my knowledge base. These outcomes are important for my growth as a professional, and that’s the reason I want to be a College of Computing Learning Center Coach.

CS Courses that I can help with: CS 1121, CS 1122, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3000, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3411, CS 3421, CS 3425

Programming languages I know: C, Java, JavaScript, Python, Rust

Carter Dugan

About me: My name is Carter Dugan and I am an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Michigan Tech. I spend much of my time programming, usually in the C language. I am interested in code optimization and data structures. My hobbies include reading, coding, watching football, and going for walks around campus and the surrounding area.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I hope to improve not only the skills of other students but my own skills in both computer science and tutoring.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2321

Programming languages that I know: Assembly Language, C, Java, Python

Hunter Kretz

About me:  I am an outgoing second-year. Many of my friends would consider me to be a social butterfly. In high school, I was section leader of the drumline. Freshman year of college, I tutored my friends through Calc 1 and 2, helping them achieve better exam scores than they were expecting. When not doing school work or helping my friends, you could find me with the Pep Band, volunteering with my fraternity, or playing intramural sports. I have expensive tastes in hobbies such as LEGO, Magic the Gathering, and video games.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: CCLC coaching is a great opportunity to help others, maintain skills learned in prior classes, and become a better communicator when communicating code.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 2311, CS 2321

Programming languages that I know: Java

Daniel Masker

About me: I am a senior Computer Science student that is interested in all things technological and mechanical. In my spare time, I write programs, play video games, cook, unicycle, and participate in any activity that could be construed as 'fun.' I enjoy the social events that happen on campus and I am currently president of the D&D Club and the webmaster for Broomball.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: It's been fun working with the students in the introductory courses, and I hope to see some of the interesting designs they come up with in the more advanced courses!

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3000, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3425, CS 4121, CS 4321

Programming languages that I know: Assembly Language, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Lua, PHP, Python, SQL, Visual Basic, C#

Josh Overbeek

About me: I'm a third-year CS student from just south of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I enjoy programming in Java, C++, C#, or whatever works best for a given project, as well as board games and tabletop rpgs,  video games,  and reading. Beyond that, I'm also a third degree blackbelt in tae kwon do and a FIRST alum/occasional mentor; I'm always happy to talk about it.
Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I really love teaching, especially programming, and I think it's a great way to continue doing that and actually helping other students.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1122, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3421, CS 3425

Programming languages I know: C, C++, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, SQL

Tim Perr

About me: I am a second-year student studying Computer Science, and minoring in math and psychology.  In my free time I like to play video games, card/board games with friends, listen to music, and code random stuff.  I also enjoy learning new things, and am interested in astronomy, physics, paleontology, and technology.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: In short, I like helping people do things.  Being a coach at the CCLC is a way that I can help people easily, which makes it a perfect job to have.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2321

Programming languages that I know: Assembly Language, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Swift, Visual Basic

Patrick Philbin

About me: I'm a senior majoring in Software Engineering with an interest in UI/UX Design and CS education. In my free time, I enjoy playing tabletop games such as Dungeons & Dragons, playing video games, and programming. I'm currently interested in JavaScript frameworks like React, but also have plenty of experience with C and Java in the classroom setting. My favorite class I've taken at MTU is Systems Programming with Soner Onder.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: Working with the learning center last year was a lot of fun and I am excited to return.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1122, CS 1142, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3411, CS 3425, CS 3712

Programming languages I know: Assembly Language, C, Java, JavaScript, SQL

Thomas Quillan

About me: My name is Thomas Quillan, I am a junior studying Computer Science. I enjoy playing around with various programming projects that I make in my free time. At the moment, I particularly enjoy playing around with and learning about embedded systems. My hobbies consist of playing with new technologies when I can, and playing video games.

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I enjoy writing code and helping others learn about, and understand, programming. Additionally, I believe having the ability to read, comprehend, and help another with their code is a valuable skill and something I am good at.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3425

Programming languages I know: Assembly Language, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, R, SQL

Matt Schwennesen

About me: I am a senior pursuing a Computer Science major with a Mathematical Sciences minor here at Michigan Tech. Within that scope, I enjoy discrete mathematics, particularly graph theory, algorithm design, and data science. I enjoy using and customizing my programming tools, such as vim and emacs, and really my whole computing experience. Outside of classes, I'm a section leader in the Huskies Pep Band, an avid TTRPG player (D&D 5E and Pathfinder 1E), and I enjoy card games and strategy games, as well. My favorite genre of novel is science fiction, with hard science fiction (science fiction with an emphasis on the science part) being a particular favorite. I look forward to seeing you in the Learning Center this year!

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: As a returning coach, it is very rewarding to see a student enter the Learning Center struggling to understand a concept and leave later with a through understanding of that same concept. That moment of understanding when everything clicks is priceless. Computing and computer science will continue to become important for careers and majors that were not historically. I believe that those who know that they can tutor and express these concepts in a clear and meaningful way should do so.

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3411, CS 3421, CS 3425, CS 4121, CS 4321, CS 4811, CS 4821

Programming languages that I know: Assembly Language, C, C++, Java, LISP, Python, R, Racket, SQL

Tristan Sorenson

Joseph Teahen

About me: My name is Joe Teahen. I am passionate about computer science, TTRPGS, board games, writing, and drawing. I am a fourth-year Computer Science major with a minor in statistics. This will be my final year at Michigan Tech (if I don't end up going here for my graduate program). My goal after college is to continue on with schooling to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science so that I can teach and further the understanding in the field of computer science that has given me so much. 

Thoughts on CCLC coaching: I was a coach last year and it was one of the most rewarding experiences here at college. I love my work at the College of Computing Learning Center to not only help students come to appreciate this wonderful field, and to grow in my own appreciation at the same time. 

CS courses that I can help with: CS 1131, CS 1142, CS 2311, CS 2321, CS 3000, CS 3141, CS 3311, CS 3331, CS 3411, CS 3421, CS 3425, CS 4121, CS 4321, CS 4811

Programming languages I know: Assembly Language, C, C++, Groovy, Java, JavaScript, MATLAB, PHP, Python, R, SQL