Meet our dedicated team of educators, mathematicians, and business leaders
We do not currently have any open roles. If you’re interested in future positions at National Math Stars, please send your resume to careers@nationalmathstars.org.
Ilana founded National Math Stars in 2023. Prior to that, she worked as a management consultant for Bain & Company, advising for- and non-profits in education, climate, and manufacturing. She started her career as a Product Manager at Yahoo!. She holds a B.S. in Engineering from Olin, an M.Phil. in European Literature from Cambridge, and an MBA from Stanford. In her spare time, you’ll find Ilana attending the theater, reading novels, petting her two cats, and solving all sorts of puzzles.
Ambika is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and Bangalore, India before moving to New York City for college. She has spent the last decade working in private and public charter schools as a mathematics educator and more recently as the Founder and Superintendent of Promesa Academy, a public charter school in San Antonio. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Mathematics Education from Columbia University.
A self-professed math nerd, Alex began his career as a 5th-grade STEM teacher in California before joining Edpuzzle, where he led curriculum development for schools nationwide. More recently, Alex ran an education nonprofit focused on expanding college access for first-generation, low-income students. Alex has a BA in Psychology and Education from Dartmouth College.
Teresa Lambe brings over two decades of teaching experience, spanning middle and high school, across diverse educational environments. Most recently, she worked for an educational technology start-up dedicated to providing high-quality online classes across the country. Teresa attended the North Carolina School of Science and Math, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a degree in English Education, and UNC Wilmington for a degree in Curriculum and Supervision.
Al has worked in advanced math enrichment as an instructor, coach, and curriculum writer for several math camps and programs both in and out of schools. He loves designing new math activities to showcase the beauty and joy in studying advanced math. He holds a B.S. in Math from Iowa State, M. Ed. in Math Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a M.S. in Applied Math from UC Riverside. In his spare time, Al enjoys being active outdoors, playing board/video games, and hanging out with his two dogs.
Bilqis brings a blend of experience in education and technology to National Math Stars. She began her career in Dubai, developing and teaching a tech-integrated curriculum at a startup school. Upon returning to the U.S., Bilqis gained experience as an educator and administrator in both in-person and online public charter schools. She has also worked in the technology and business sectors. Bilqis holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Arabic with a minor in International Studies from Dartmouth College.
Zach comes to National Math Stars with over 18 years of experience in education. Born in Miami, Florida, Zach has always taken to helping people. After graduating from the University of Miami, he served as an education volunteer in the Americorps and later the Peace Corps. He has taught in both Austin and San Antonio, earning recognition from the Texas Education Agency as a “Master Teacher.” In his spare time, Zach enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking with his family.
President, Carina Initiatives
President, Polynera Fund
Advisor, Weiss Asset Management
Professor, Stanford University
President Elect, American Mathematical Society
Founder and CEO, National Math Stars