Staff Members
Staff Members
Samaneh Sheikh-Nia
Owner & Center Director
Samaneh, B.Eng. M.Sc., earned her undergraduate degree in Computer Software Engineering and completed her graduate studies in Computer Science with a major in Data Mining (University of Guelph, ON, Canada). With over 10 years of experience in Computer Science, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing - Samaneh's love for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) combined with a strong belief in "quality education" and the importance of STEM for children, make Stemtree a natural fit. As the parents of two young children, Samaneh and her husband, Hamidreza Sadrnia, actively engage their older son's natural curiosity for science and math and are proud of his exceptional progress in STEM subjects. Attributing her success in life to "those that have provided me with hands-on learning experiences", as owner and director of Stemtree of South Irvine - Samaneh wants to provide the same opportunities for children in her community.
Hamid Sadrnia
Lead STEM Instructor
Hamid, B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, is an exceptionally talented teacher & engineer. He has 20+ years of experience in automotive industry - innovations department. As well as 15+ years of teaching computer related subjects to students. He loves teaching and he has a reputation for beautifully simplifying complicated and technical subjects for kids so that they can thoroughly learn! His favorite hobbies has been computer and electronics since childhood to this date! His relatives and friends has many stories of his childhood coming up with great ideas when playing with electronic kits! His wish for all children is to be able to experience the beauty of STEM, and to enjoy it as much as him!
Laleh Alavinejad
STEM Instructor
Laleh, B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering, has more than 5 years of experience in the field of Computer Hardware. She also earned a B.Art in Photography. She loves working with children and sharing her joy and enthusiasm for learning. She pursued her true passion for teaching and has been working with IUSD for more than 4 years. With 7+ years of experience teaching different subjects such as Math, Science, Art, and Language, she is a dedicated and passionate instructor who makes learning fun and easy for her students and makes them believe in themselves as strong and capable learners!
Roksana Shirazi
STEM Instructor
Roksana graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. During her time at UCLA, Roksana worked in many laboratories. After graduation, she worked as a Staff Research Associate II in Dr. Robert L. Modlin's laboratory for three years. Now, Roksana is a Ph.D. student in the Morrison lab. She looks forward to facing new challenges to achieve her goal of becoming a Ph.D. scientist. Roksana has been a Math Tutor for more than 4 years at Irvine valley college. She encourages students to ask questions, think critically, and explain their reasoning. She helps students to find the connection between personal passions and STEM learning and believe in themselves to shape the future and to change lives.
Celina Emami
STEM Instructor
Celina is currently working on obtaining her bachelors, and later, her masters degree in chemical engineering. She plans to transfer to UC Irvine and complete her education there. Once she has graduated, Celina hopes to become a professional engineer and continue working in the space or energy engineering industry. Celina has a background teaching science and math, among other subjects, to students of all ages in IUSD. Celina has spent several years tutoring children and brings a positive attitude to the table. She makes sure to take care of each students’ individual needs and teaches them according to their preferred learning style. Celina hopes to make other students confident in their STEM-related skills and hopes to help students foster a good relationship with science and engineering.
Steven Takeda
STEM instructor
Steven earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from CSULB and is currently attending Cal Poly Pomona to acquire his M.S. in the same field. After his undergraduate studies, he went on to work on MRI’s as a field engineer but is looking forward to getting into design work after earning his Master’s Degree. Steven is also a passionate educator, having more than 12 years teaching music at various educational institutes. As a teacher, he strives to help his students realize their capability of greatness and values the skill of learning regardless of field. He has since shifted towards teaching STEM subjects at all levels but maintains his passion for helping young people realize their potential.
Amanda Assaf
STEM instructor & Scheduler
Amanda is pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics-Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego. She has prior experience in STEM education, including tutoring high school students and working at an interactive science museum, where she taught science concepts to children of all ages. Amanda is also involved in the arts, participating in theatre and choral activities, and has volunteered with a children’s choir. She is currently conducting undergraduate research in geometry processing and computer graphics, reflecting her enthusiasm for the intersection of STEM and the arts. Amanda is passionate about making STEM accessible and exciting, and strives to spark curiosity and joy in her students.
Selina Dai
STEM Instructor
Selina Dai is an aspiring psychology student with a passion for understanding the human mind and making a positive impact on future generations. Growing up with younger siblings, she naturally developed patience, empathy, and a love for teaching—gaining hands-on experience in guiding and tutoring children. Selina is dedicated to being the kind of instructor who makes learning fun, supportive, and inspiring. Beyond academics, she enjoys playing the guitar, singing, and exploring new interests. With a blend of curiosity, creativity, and compassion, Selina brings warmth and enthusiasm to everything she does.
