HUNTERTUTORING
Channing Hunter, STEM tutor

About Channing

I help students build real understanding in STEM — from first fractions through graduate qualifying exams — and I also tutor English, reading, and writing, world languages, intro economics, data science, and admissions test prep. In sessions I make hard material feel structured: clear definitions, worked examples, and study habits you can reuse after we log off. I work with students from K–12 through PhD. Online sessions are available anywhere; in-person sessions are in the Greater Portland, OR metro. See courses for topic outlines and pricing for current rates.

Background

I have tutored one-on-one for 17 years, supporting students who need a steadier pace, sharper problem-solving, or someone who can meet them at the level of the course they are actually in. Families often find me when a class moves too fast; college and graduate students find me when problem sets, labs, or thesis work start to pile up.

For classes we work on together through a semester, students typically see meaningful gains — on average, about one to two letter grades by the end of the term. Outcomes depend on where you start, how often we meet, and the practice you put in between sessions; every student is different, but steady, course-aligned work is what produces those results.

Education

  • Master of Engineering, Environmental, Energy & Chemical Engineering — Washington University in St. Louis (2017–2018)
  • Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics (Statistics concentration) — Washington University in St. Louis (2013–2018)
  • Certificate, Renewable Energy and the Environment — WashU Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center (PARC) (2016–2017)

My statistics training shows up in how I teach probability, data, and lab analysis; my engineering background shows up in how I teach physics, chemistry, and applied math. For data-heavy coursework I draw on Python, SQL, and R alongside pen-and-paper problem solving.

Industry

Alongside tutoring, I work in analytics and data science — SQL, Python, and turning messy problems into clear steps.

  • Lead Analyst, Nike — global supply-chain / sustainability analytics and executive decision support (Databricks, Tableau, SQL/Python).
  • Prior Nike roles leading bookings and regional revenue analytics used by senior leadership.
  • Earlier energy/analytics roles at McKinstry, Cadeo, and Energy 350 (utility SEM modeling, Northwest & California programs).

Cities, community & public data

  • Partnered with Just Moms STL (and WashU Green Action) on West Lake Landfill Superfund advocacy — community-facing data analysis, EPA submissions, and translating technical findings for residents.
  • Data Analyst, Ministry of Water Resources (India) — worked with an international science/engineering team on Ganges River cleanup proposals; improved data-collection systems and defined data needs for statistical analysis (2017–2018, New Delhi).
  • Saint Louis Zoo — taught high school seniors on environmental issues with the Institute of Conservation Medicine; also sustainability / emissions work for the zoo.
  • Helped cities including Phoenix, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and St. Louis with greenhouse-gas inventories and transparent policy data; CDP reporting (Cincinnati 2016–2017; Milwaukee 2017).
  • ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager datasets for campus and municipal buildings.

That mix of industry, cities, and community work is what I draw on when I teach statistics, modeling, lab analysis, and “show your work” problem solving — including explaining hard ideas to non-technical audiences.

Research competitions & academic teams

  • Intel ISEF 2013 — 4th Place, Computer Science — *A New Algorithm for the Triangulation of Polygons Using Recursive Diagonal Creation* (with Conner Ruhl)
  • Illinois JSHS (IJSHS) 2013 — top-two finish (oral track → National)
  • National JSHS 2013 participant (Dayton, OH) — same project
  • Illinois State Science Fair 2013 (Champaign–Urbana) — Best of Computer Science (same project)
  • WYSE Academic Challenge — Governor French Academy team; Illinois sectionals at McKendree (2011–2012); school division winner 2012 (under 300)
  • Math team — competed at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC)
  • WashU **Class Act (2018); MARC USTAR** Summer Undergraduate Research Award

Publications & technical reports

  • *A New Algorithm for the Triangulation of Polygons Using Recursive Diagonal Creation* (ISEF / JSHS abstract, 2013)
  • Global Cities Report 2016
  • Phoenix 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
  • 2015 Cincinnati Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Analysis
  • SDG&E Industrial SEM Early Feedback
  • PG&E Industrial SEM Early Feedback

Athletics

Elite competitive athlete in Shitō-ryū karate (black belt; USA Shito-Kai / WSKF), ~2007–2013. Medaled at the 8th WSKF World Championships (2009), Pan-American Shito-Ryu Championships, USA-NKF / USA Karate Nationals & National Team Trials (including 2010 Greenville, SC and 2011 Arlington, TX), and USA-NKF Junior Olympics. That dual focus as a student-athlete shapes how I coach high schoolers balancing sports and coursework.

Languages

  • Session-ready: English, German, Dutch
  • Support / conversational: Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Esperanto, Portuguese, Welsh
  • Basic / some reading: Japanese, Vietnamese, Czech, Hungarian, Greek, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Turkish, Swahili

STEM sessions can still use English for dense technical vocabulary when needed.

How I teach

  • Start from what you know — we connect new ideas to math and science you have already seen.
  • Match your course — notation, exam style, and pacing follow your class, not a generic workbook.
  • Build habits — not just answers, but how to study and check your own work between sessions.
  • Writing when it matters — English essays and academic writing, plus STEM lab reports, methods, and technical drafts.

Beyond tutoring

When I’m not tutoring, I’m often flying, sailing, or in the kitchen cooking and baking. I hold a U.S. private pilot license, a commercial U.S. drone license, and a Canadian drone license. I root for the Cardinals, St. Louis CITY, and Bayern Munich, and at home I hang out with my dog Sammie, whom I trained in German and Italian.

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