Rainier Scholars faculty members are passionate and committed educators.

 "I am always impressed by our students. People who challenge themselves on purpose and understand how valuable it is are rare. I have the great honor to work with scholars who understand how profound this is at 11 and 12 years old. Rainier Scholars is a place where talented people ensure that students have access to the best of themselves. I can think of no better statement about the future. There was a time when I never thought I’d be a teacher. Now, I can’t see why anyone who cares about the future would do anything else."  -Drego Little, Literature and Writing

Complete list of Rainier Scholars Faculty

Dr. Siddiq Abdul-Alim, Science
Ph.D., Genetics, University of Rochester, SMD
Masters, Genetics, University of Rochester, SMD
B.S. in Microbiology, UC Santa Barbara

Jeff Blair, Literature/Writing
B.A. Colorado College, 
M.A. Seattle University

Melissa Braaten,  Science 
B.A  University of Tennessee, M.A. and
Ph.D. candidate at University of Washington

Heather Clark,  Conclave
B.A. Evergreen State College,
M.A and Ph. D candidate at University of Washington

Lauri Conner, Invictus
B.A.  University of Kansas
M.F.A. and PhD candidate at University of Washington

Darice Johnson, History
B.A. and M.A. Evergreen State College,
Danforth candidate at University of Washington

Drego Little, Literature/Writing
B.A , M.A. University of Washington
Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington

Sam Lockwood, Math
B.S. in Psychology, University of Washington
M.S. in Early Childhood Education, Bank Street College of Education

Tom O’Connor, History
B.A. Connecticut College,
M.A. Columbia University Teachers College

Dr. Kristina Peterson, Math
B.S. UCLA
M.A. and Ph. D. at University of Washington

Darin Reynaud Knapp, Science
B.A. Whitman College, 
M.A. Seattle Pacific University

Payvand Seyedali, Literature/Writing
B.A. University of Washington,
M.A. Seattle University

Bethany Sjoberg, Science
B.S. and M.A. University of Washington

Ben Wheeler, History
B.A. Yale University
M.A. University of California-Berkeley