Kutub Gandhi

Game Programming Instructor
Kutub Gandhi is a PhD student at Northeastern studying games, specifically how games can make us think about ourselves and the world around us. In his spare time he loves going rock climbing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and exploring Boston!

Luis Garcia

Game Programming Instructor
Luis Garcia is a PhD student at Northeastern researching human-computer interaction through games. He’s interested in developing game AI that players can interact with meaningfully. For fun, Luis likes reading, making procedural art, and petting his cat, Ziti.

Adrian Feiguin

Physics Instructor
Prof. Adrian Feiguin grew up and obtained his education in his home country, Argentina. He earned his PhD in Physics from the National University of Rosario in 2000, when he moved to the US to continue his research. After postdoctoral stays in the National High Magnetic Field Lab (Tallahassee, FL) and UC Irvine, he joined Microsoft Research to study the feasibility of building a quantum computer based on novel topological states of matter. He joined Northeastern in 2012.

Prof. Feiguin got interested in computers and programming at an early age. He learned to code by programming games for Tandy and Commodore 64 computers, before the advent of the PC. When it was clear that he wanted to study physics, it made sense to combine it with his passion for games and computers. His research involves developing algorithms and using computer simulations to understand phases of matter of quantum origin, such as magnetism and superconductivity.

Prof. Feiguin is fascinated by the pedagogical challenges of teaching quantum mechanics. The probabilistic interpretation of quantum theory (“God does not play dice!”) remains one of the most puzzling unresolved questions in physics.

Kledia Spiro

Video Programming Instructor
Kledia Spiro creates videos, performances, installations, and paintings. Kledia was born in Albania and was part of an olympic weightlifting team. She uses strength and weightlifting as a symbol of survival, empowerment, and celebration. Weightlifting becomes a vehicle for discussing women’s role in society, immigration, and times of war. She is currently a Post Graduate Teaching Fellow at Northeastern University. For fun, Kledia likes the outdoors, swimming, and talking about art with friends.

Collin McCormick

Robotics Instructor
Colin McCormick is a graduating high school student from Lynnfield Massachusetts. He started his own non-profit organization — The FMG Robotics Association — dedicated to improving STEM education in New England. He’s had a passion for robotics since youth and uses his projects as a chance to inspire the next generation of engineers. He has spoken at a variety of high schools and universities advocating for networking and pursuing your career at a young age.

Luis Brens

Photography Instructor
Luis Brens is a photographer. Born in the Dominican Republic, Luis graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with two bachelors in photography and Printmaking. He has been a professor of photography at Northeastern for over decade. Luis likes motorcycles, outdoor sports and is very passionate of music.

Althea Bennett

Art Instructor
Althea Bennett is an art teacher at Boston Public Schools who is a Boston native herself. “As an arts educator, my teaching is hip hop, with that I mean it is a pastiche of history, culture, art, respect, representation, expression, and experimentation. My classroom is tranquil yet active, a sculpture classroom open to all mediums. Through my lesson plans and the experiences, I give my students opportunities to uncover their personal histories to understand their futures. My students discover new connection with materials and techniques, being innovative and resourceful. My students are expressive, inquisitive, and inspired in the classroom, art is a tool they can be used to share their thoughts, feeling, and opinions.”

Ellie Schimelman

Art Instructor
Ellie Schimelman graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1960 with a degree in Art Education. She was an art teacher and supervisor in public schools for over 20 years and taught adult education classes in the Boston area. She was also a professional potter and part owner of the Cambridge Artists Cooperative crafts gallery in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.

Always attracted to African art, Ellie took her first trip to Ghana in 1978. Since then she has returned many times to research and study traditional crafts, do volunteer teaching and take people on crafts and culturally centered tours of Ghana. She now devotes herself full-time to directing Cross Cultural Collaborative, Inc. and facilitating workshops held at its cultural center in Ghana.