Former Calculus tutor for undergraduate and graduate students, Derric Chien will join the math department this year.

He will be teaching Precalculus: Trigonometry and Function, Data Structures and Design and AP Computer Science A.

Chien graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School and earned his bachelor’s degree with highest honors in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.

He also earned his master in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame.

Chien said that the Harvard-Westlake campus seems like a great place for him to start his teaching career.

“The campus is really nice, and the students seem really on top of things and the faculty have all been very very welcoming,” Chien said.

Since Chien has worked as an assistant and a tutor, he said that he is excited to start his first official teaching job and to have total control over the classroom for the first time.

“I’m definitely still developing my teaching style, so I will be learning a lot from my faculty mentors and colleagues,” Chien said. “As far as teaching style, I think I try to give my students more independence so that they can explore more and from there I can lead them.”