THINK TANK Employee Spotlight Series: Aliyah Postell
Catching a glimpse of a shooting star is a rare and fortunate occurrence — much like discovering a student employee who moves into a professional role at the same organization. Enter Aliyah Postell, a THINK TANK tutor turned Program Coordinator, whose passion for math is rivaled only by her love of astronomy and snacks.
Aliyah began her journey at THINK TANK as a math tutor in January 2020. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 as a first-generation college student with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Mathematics (Applied emphasis) with minors in Astronomy and Classics. Upon graduation, Aliyah started her current position as a Program Coordinator with THINK TANK’s Tutoring program.
Reflecting on her unique path as a student worker turned professional, Aliyah shared how her time as a tutor continues to shape her approach to her role now.
Aliyah’s Student Employee Experience
During her three years as a math tutor, Aliyah specialized in foundational Math up through Calculus 2. When asked about any memorable moments of this time, Aliyah reflected on the four other part-time jobs she had and what made THINK TANK stand out.
“What made THINK TANK and my job as a tutor the most memorable is the support I had from the staff here,” she explained. “My supervisors … were very supportive of me, not only as a student, but as a person.”
Impact on Professional Development
Aliyah shared how her experience as a tutor has impacted her interactions with students now, saying, “[Being a tutor] taught me a lot of skills, … compassion and patience, and learning styles — how everyone learns differently.”
She also emphasized the importance of empathy when supporting students and how her understanding deepened through her time at THINK TANK: “I was coming in already, [as] very compassionate as a person, but [became] even more so in touch with how other people learn things and how best to support them.”
“[Being a tutor] taught me a lot of skills, … compassion and patience, and learning styles — how everyone learns differently.”
Nurturing a Positive Vibe
Aliyah’s role involves managing the many moving pieces of the tutoring program, including scheduling shifts for the staff of more than 85 tutors. Aliyah actively focuses on how she can foster a positive environment for the tutors: “I try to empathize with my tutors from what it was like when I was a tutor, making sure they feel supported enough; … verbal check-ins are always good [and] supporting them in snacks. College kids love snacks.”
Wise Words to Hesitant Students
Aliyah’s perspective allows her to give words of wisdom to students who are wary of visiting THINK TANK but may want or need academic support in the future: “Start off with coming in before you actually have something that you need the help on, … even if you're just working on an assignment, to come in and be in our spaces.”
Entering unfamiliar territory can be daunting – Aliyah emphasized that after familiarizing oneself with the space (peek into THINK TANK’s space at the Bartlett Academic Success Center), integrating the academic support becomes a critical part of a student's success strategy.
“That way, when there are times when you need that help, you're already familiar with what's being offered,” she shared. “[It] hopefully doesn't feel as daunting or like something to jump into, ‘Okay, now I need to make the time to go and get help,’ [which] makes it not as much of a hurdle hopefully to get into the door.”
“Start off with coming in before you actually have something that you need the help on, … even if you're just working on an assignment, to come in and be in our spaces.”
After Hours: Aliyah’s Passions
On a personal note, Aliyah talked about her deep passion for astronomy and mythology, and how she found a perfect blend of the two in a video game called “Smite.” She plays as a way to unwind after a long day at work — along with, of course, a snack: “I still love snacks. I'm still a college kid at heart.”