Math Circle Coaches
Fenqjen Luo
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (406) 994-5950
Fenqjen Luo is Associate Director of the Science Math Resource Center and the Director
of the Montana Math Circle. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from
the The University of Texas at Austin and is currently a faculty member at the MSU
Department of Education.
Current Coaches
Sumaila Yakubu (2024 · Lead Coach)
Sumaila Yakubu is a PhD student in Curriculum and Instruction with a strong interest
in mathematics education. He was born and raised in Tamale, a town in Northern Ghana.
Sumaila holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Education
Winneba in Ghana, and currently serves as an MSU Graduate Teaching Assistant for K-8
Math Methods. Upon completing his bachelor's degree, his passion for education became
evident through his work as a high school mathematics teacher and a teaching assistant.
Sumaila Yakubu is committed to leveraging his academic background and teaching experience
to make a meaningful impact in the field of mathematics education. He has a research
interest in mathematical thinking and connections. Outside academia, Sumaila enjoys
watching and playing soccer, and video games.
Past Coaches
Tannaz Goodarzi (2023 · Lead Coach) 
Tannaz Goodarzi is a PhD student at Montana State University, where she studies Mathematics
Education and serves as a teaching assistant for K-8 Mathematics Methods. Tannaz received
her Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Pure Mathematics at the IKIU International University
in Iran. She enjoys music, dancing and aerobics; basically any activity with lots
of energy!
Amber Chou (2023 · Assistant Coach)
Amber Chou is a rising high school senior from Phillips Academy Andover. She is excited
to serve as a volunteer coach for the Montana Math Circle Summer Camp! Amber has
been passionate about math since elementary school. In middle school, she competed
in the MontanaMathCountsstate competition and achieved top 10 each year. Amber qualified for the honors roll
in the AMC 8 exam and in high school her AMC 12 score qualified for theAIMEexam.
Her experience in competition math has allowed her to gain a deeper appreciation for
math and has given her the opportunity to meet other talented mathematicians.
Matthew Mycroft (2022 · Lead Coach)
Matthew Mycroft is a Senior in Mathematics Education at Montana State University. In addition to math, Matthew enjoys playing music on the bass and drums, weightlifting, hiking, and long walks with his wife.