Our Team

Who We Are

We build on students’ educations as well as fill in the gaps. We prepare students for lifelong success where schools alone cannot. We cultivate students for success on and beyond grades and tests and position them to get the most out of their school years.

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Our Team

SHAWN BERGER

Founding CEO, Admissions Consultant
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Shawn Berger has over 10 years of experience working as a teacher, dorm parent, Admissions Committee member, Professional Development Committee chair, lacrosse and cross country coach, and student advisor. The intimate connections with whole families that he made as Dean of Student Life at an independent k-8 in Princeton, NJ, motivated him to pursue a career as an educational consultant where helping students overcome their fears and break new ground are daily occurrences. Education has always been the context in which Shawn has made the strongest relations as well as been of the greatest service to others, especially regarding coaching families to maximally navigate their children’s school experiences. Shawn previously served as an executive board member for the New Jersey Council of Teachers English and is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).  Founder of The Lyceum Institute, an educational services company, Shawn has a bachelor’s degree in English Language Arts and a master’s degree in Adolescence Education, as well as a diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language. He is a New York State Certified Teacher who has a broad range of experience working with 4th through 12th graders in both urban and rural settings:  public, radical, and private schools from the Bronx to Princeton.  

ORNA-GRACE BAHARY

Admissions Consultant, MOTEL 7-12, Test Prep English, Application Essay Coaching
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Orna is an accomplished educator and mentor with over 15 years’ experience guiding individuals and teams toward academic and professional success. With a strong foundation in English language arts, mathematics, and science, Orna brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective that combines analytical thinking, problem solving and communication excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northwestern University, where her coursework focused on English language arts, art history, mathematics and the sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rush University, which prepared her for a career in pharmaceutical drug development. 

Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to break down complex material into clear concepts tailored to individual learning styles. In senior leadership roles at global pharmaceutical organizations, Orna designed and delivered protocol training programs for clinical research studies in immunology, oncology, neurosciences and rare diseases for medical and healthcare study staff. She mentored learners at all levels, and supported measurable growth through personalized instruction and thoughtful guidance. 

Orna’s approach emphasizes student engagement, organization, and accountability, ensuring that each learner feels supported while being challenged to reach their full potential. As a tutor, Orna is committed to helping students develop strong academic skills, critical thinking, and lasting confidence—equipping them not only for present success, but for lifelong learning.

JIM ANTHONY

Director of Math, MOM 6-12, Test Prep Math
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Jim has his BS in Chemical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. After retiring from his career at Hewlett-Packard Company, he taught high school math for 11 years. He continues to teach by providing test preparation services for students taking standardized tests, including SAT, ACT, and SSAT. Additionally, he also tutors our students in all the high math subjects such as Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Calculus.

ALEXANDRA TABIBNIA

Director of English, MOTEL 7-12, Test Prep English

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Alexandra has her B.A. in English Literature and her Ed.M. in Secondary English Language Arts Education, both from Rutgers University. Alexandra has had over 16 years of experience teaching English literature at the high school level, as well as 15 years tutoring students in SAT/ACT test prep and language arts/writing skills. She currently continues to tutor, in addition to providing writing assessment services for private test companies. Alexandra has also written two resource books for classroom teachers: Teaching Reading, Analyzing and Writing in 10 Lessons and Fight the Fake News Invasion.

 Linda Ziamanesh is an undergraduate at the University of Virginia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in German

ELIE VENEZKY

MOM 6-12, Test Prep Math
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For over 25 years, Elie Venezky has helped students of all levels excel on standardized tests. He’s been featured on NPR, CNN, US News and World Report, Fast Company, The New York Post, and Univision. He was a nominee for a 2015 World Technology Network award in education. He has written three books on education, one of which, Test Prep Sanity for Parents, was an Amazon best seller. 

LEYLA TONAK

MOTEL 7-12, Test Prep English, Application Essay Coaching
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Leyla Tonak is an award-winning artist, writer and researcher.  Leyla holds a BFA from Boston University, where they graduated Summa Cum Laude as a Presidential Scholar, a member of the Kilachand Honors College and a recipient of the Dean Elsbeth Melville Scholarship. Leyla has mentored students from elementary to college level as a teaching assistant and counselor for BU’s Visual Arts Summer Institute and the MFA Boston’s Studio Classes.  Leyla grew up traveling between Nova Scotia, Canada, and Istanbul, Turkey, and completed part of their education in Turkey and Europe.  They continue to find this cross-cultural perspective an informative and enriching point of connection in their work with young people from different contexts and backgrounds, particularly those who are new to the US education system.  Leyla has always been deeply invested in writing and storytelling, particularly in the service of social good.  They have taught creative workshops in US prisons, worked with NGO’s to write grant proposals for disaster funding, and recently completed a Fullbright research project on Turkey’s femicide crisis.  At The Lyceum Institite, Leyla specializes in English Tutoring and Application Essay Writing and Support.

DANIEL HATHAWAY

MOTEL 7-12, Test Prep English, Application Essay Coaching
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Daniel has his BA in Communications from Thomas Edison State University and his MA in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University. Daniel has over 22 years of experience as a middle school language arts and social studies teacher. During his tenure as a teacher, Daniel earned the Honored Educator Award of Hunterdon County in 2010 and was nominated Teacher of the Year in his district in 2013. The awards he holds most dear, however, are the numerous Tri-County Reading Council Young Authors’ Writing Competition Awards. While teaching, Daniel also served as a tutor for over twelve years, instructing students in SAT/ACT test preparation and helping students of all ages improve their reading and writing skills.  Daniel takes pride in helping students achieve their academic goals as they pursue their dreams.

 Linda Ziamanesh is an undergraduate at the University of Virginia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in German

JOYBRATA DAS

MOM 6-12, Test Prep Math
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Joybrata Das earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from the National Institute of Technology Surat, one of India’s most selective engineering institutions, and completed his MBA at the highly competitive Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, consistently ranked among the top business schools globally.

With over 20 years of corporate experience in data analytics, quantitative modeling, and logical reasoning, Joybrata brings real-world analytical depth to his teaching. He specializes in Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Statistics, and SAT/ACT preparation—helping students strengthen conceptual clarity, improve problem-solving speed, and approach exams with confidence and strategy.

 Linda Ziamanesh is an undergraduate at the University of Virginia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in German

RISHABH KALMANKER

MOM 6-12, Test Prep Math
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Rishabh specializes in preparing students for the math sections of the SAT, ACT, ISEE, and SSAT. His success lies in his strong foundation in quantitative reasoning and emphasis on precision and efficiency when it comes to problem solving.

A student at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Rishabh arrives to Lyceum with a proven record of academic excellence and a strong foundation in quantitative reasoning. 

His experience working on high-impact projects in data analytics at companies such as Apexon and Genpact have strengthened his ability to identify students’ strengths, break math concepts into manageable chunks, and create performance indicators to drive student results. 

Rishabh believes that strong test preparation builds more than just scores—it develops critical thinking, focus, and self-discipline that serve students well in school and beyond. He brings the same discipline and curiosity that drive his own academic and professional pursuits to every student he works with.



 Linda Ziamanesh is an undergraduate at the University of Virginia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in German

AMANDA MUNDELL

Application Essay Coaching
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Amanda Mundell graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in English. She holds a certificate in Copyediting from UCLA and has over 20 years of writing, editing, and proofreading experience in the marketing world. Amanda is passionate about the written word, from working on her own creative writing, to being an avid reader of literature, science fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction. With an eye for detail and a passion for fostering creativity, she loves to help students get “un-stuck” in their writing, brainstorming ideas for college application essays, or finding personalized ways to elevate their existing writing. At The Lyceum Institute, she specializes in English Tutoring, Application Essay Writing and Support, and Test Prep (SAT, ACT, AP Exams, SSAT, and ISEE).

 Linda Ziamanesh is an undergraduate at the University of Virginia majoring in Chemistry and minoring in German

Giulia Hollister

 Application Essay Coaching
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From small towns and big cities in the US to lively classrooms in Europe, South America and Asia, Giulia’s career as a college admissions counselor, high school college counselor, and independent educational consultant has been shaped by curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to guiding students and families through the ever-evolving world of education. 

Throughout her career, she has worked with families from hundreds of backgrounds, cultures, and curricula across 25 countries and all 7 continents, each encounter deepening her understanding of the unique dreams and challenges students face worldwide.

Giulia’s immersive experiences in college admissions and counseling have equipped her with a keen ability to discern the themes that run through students’ thoughts, interests, and experiences. Her true passion lies in helping young people recognize these threads, learn more about themselves, and shape their journey into an authentic, compelling story; one that reveals who they are and how their path has led them to the majors, schools, and goals that they now pursue.





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