Ari Gzesh is a Senior Advisor at Scholar Co. who has been on the team since 2018. A TeachforAmerica alumni and former public school educator in the Bay Area and abroad, he has over fifteen years of experience in teaching and advising. He is a tenure-track professor at Hunter College CUNY and holds a PhD, graduating with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University. He earned his undergraduate degree as a double-major in English and history of art, and received his teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University.

Ari has mentored hundreds of students, ranging from middle to graduate school, and is adept at meeting the needs of diverse learners; in particular, he brings his therapeutic acumen to his work with students. He specializes in supporting youth as they discover their aspirations, achieve their goals, and cultivate their burgeoning identities as scholars and change-makers.