Excelsior Learning
ABOUT US
​OUR TEAM
Meet the Executive Board!
Isabella Jia
Co-Founder
Isabella is a graduating senior at Stuyvesant High School and an incoming freshman at Duke University. She is a motivated and diligent student, not afraid to challenge herself with multiple AP courses and honors math classes in Geometry, Algebra II, and PreCalculus. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, catching waves at the beach, and reading books on her morning commute. She is also passionate about volunteering as she has been tutoring at Manhattan Ace as an English tutor and is a reading team leader. Additionally, she is interested in journalism and is an editor for the News Department of the Spectator, her school’s newspaper. When she is not editing or writing articles, you can find her leading The Indicator, her school’s yearbook, as the Editor-In-Chief or managing the Business Department of StuyPulse 694, her school’s largest robotics team, as the Business President. As an avid participant in whichever community she finds herself in, Isabella finds joy in helping others and is always looking for ways to give back!
Kaitlyn Cheng
Co-Founder
Kaitlyn is a graduating senior at Townsend Harris High School and an incoming freshman at Brown University. She is an ambitious and hardworking student who dedicates her time to various AP classes including AP Research, AP English Language, AP Psychology, and other honor classes. With her creative and artistic nature, she is the Art-Social Media Liaison Editor of her school’s newspaper, The Classic, and Treasurer for her school’s Apparel Design Club. She also has experience working and leading in various communities as an English tutor and Writing Teaching Assistant at Manhattan Ace, Graphic Design Advisor of the Global Youth Economics Forum (GYEF) NY Chapter, and Secretary of the Chinese Culture Club. In addition to meeting new people in volunteer experiences, Kaitlyn is an Instructor at JEI Learning Center, where she strives to provide meaningful learning experiences to younger students. She is delighted to contribute to and aims to bring impactful learning experiences to others.
Liz Kim
Chief of Staff
Liz is a graduating senior at Brooklyn Technical High School and an incoming freshman at Stony Brook University. They are an energetic and attentive student who perseveres through everything they do from volunteer work, to AP classes, and more! Passionate about political science and history, they are part of the Law and Society major at Brooklyn Tech, while taking several courses like AP US Government, AP United States History, Criminal Law, and Legal Ethics. They also volunteer at the Minkwon Center for Community Action, which serves low-income immigrant communities to achieve economic and social justice. During their free time, Liz likes to penpal new friends from all over the world and collect cute stationery. They are very passionate about this program and happy to contribute to the learning of new students.
Derek Dong
Chief of Staff
Derek is a graduating senior at The Bronx High School of Science and an incoming freshman at Macaulay Honors Hunter College. He is a very organized and responsible student who continuously challenges himself with various AP courses in different subjects, and is excited to take three science courses for his senior year which are AP Psychology, Intro to Neuroscience and Animal behavior. Aside from his academics, he is the co-secretary for the Psych and Neuro Club and the Boys Varsity Volleyball Liaison at his school. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends, taking pictures for his Instagram photography account as a way to document his life, and volunteering at Key Club events to give back to his community. He is thrilled to work with other NYC public high schoolers in assisting middle school students with SHSAT prep this summer.
Andy Xian
CEO
Andy Xian is a rising Junior at Stuyvesant High School who is interested in pursuing a career in business management & administration, economics, or public policy. Andy is an ambitious and inquisitive student who strives to expand his intellectual horizons while building meaningful relationships along the way. He has taken multiple AP courses and electives and is taking advanced classes in mathematics and Spanish. Andy has been involved in student government for 6 years, most recently serving as the class president during his freshman and sophomore year. In pursuit of his interest in business, Andy serves as the business director of the Stuyvesant Business & Trading Club and has interned at local businesses. Outside of clubs, Andy is a fencer on the Stuyvesant Boys Varsity Fencing Team and plays the trombone in Jazz as well as Symphonic Band. During his free time, Andy likes to volunteer, such as at the Chinatown Community Fridge. Serving previously as a tutor and now a CEO at Excelsior Learning, Andy is ecstatic to contribute to Excelsior Learning once again and support students in their educational endeavors!
Lilliana Uritsky
CEO
Lilliana is a rising senior at Brooklyn Technical High School. She volunteered as a tutor for Excelsior Learning before becoming CEO, and she greatly valued the opportunity to connect with students preparing for the SHSAT. Lilliana has always had a passion for education, which has caused her to not only enjoy tutoring but also to appreciate learning. At Brooklyn Tech, she has taken challenging courses covering all subjects, including AP English Language & Composition, AP Computer Science, and Constitutional Law. Lilliana is a member of the Big Sib organization at Brooklyn Tech, through which she has helped ninth graders adjust to their first year of high school, and is a member of the Student Wellness Committee. Outside of school, Lilliana finds joy in reading realistic fiction novels and watching baseball with her older siblings. At Excelsior Learning, Lilliana’s goal is to help all students — no matter their background — succeed academically. She understands the importance of Excelsior Learning’s goals and is excited to work to fulfill these goals!
Sylvia Tai
Assistiant Chief of Staff
​Sylvia Tai is a rising senior at Townsend Harris High School. She is an open-minded student with a driving passion to learn and has explored various opportunities including interning at a small tax firm and learning as a student enrolled in an AI/machine learning course. Such experiences have influenced her interest in pursuing a career in data science and economics. When it comes to maintaining a school-life balance, Sylvia challenges herself with rigorous coursework through multiple APs while managing her school’s tutoring club, Uplift, as co-president and regularly running after school as a member of the cross country & track team. Aside from that, Sylvia finds herself a tea enthusiast and avid traveler who enjoys binge-watching movies in her free time. Through Excelsior Learning, she hopes to see the organization flourish under her assistance and continue contributing back to her community!
Vivy Liu
Assistiant Chief of Staff
Vivy Liu is a rising junior at Stuyvesant High School. She is a persistent and curious student who loves to gain experience by dipping into a myriad of opportunities. Vivy is passionate about educating herself (and of course others!) and has taken multiple APs and honor classes. She also enjoys meeting new people and being involved in her community, both inside and outside of school. She is part of the Business Department in the Spectator, her school’s newspaper, and has volunteer experience being a tutor for Perrenial Prep and a Discovery Guide at her local zoo, where she educates visitors and advocates for wildlife conservation. Aside from that, she enjoys chucking and chasing after disks as a member of her school’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. In her free time, Vivy likes to read novels, hike, and play the piano. At Excelsior Learning, she is eager to contribute to an expanding community of devoted learners and help them pursue higher education.