Andrew Colford

Lead GRE Instructor

Andrew is a 7th-generation Californian who took several detours before settling back on the west coast. He graduated in three years from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service with a degree in International Political Economy. For many years after that, he tutored and taught standardized tests in Manhattan. With a GRE score of 170V/169Q, Andrew is an expert on the intricacies of the test. He trains all new teachers on the 80/50 Method and is the lead GRE Instructor for Twainstein. Andrew loves receiving emails from students several weeks after class, celebrating their Test Day success. If you’re lucky enough to have him in class, don’t forget to make his day by emailing him your score on Test Day.

Hana Wodkin

Student Coordinator

Hana has been with Twaintein since the beginning, coordinating all of the classes, customer service needs, and being there for students in whatever way they need. In addition, she manages all of the free workshops and events that Twainstein holds for prospective students. Hana is a graduate of Cal State Los Angeles with a degree in Fine Arts. Her artwork has appeared in exhibits around Los Angeles and when she’s not in the office or with her two kids, you can find her in design studios doing her design ‘thang!

Kelly Bishop

Marketing Director

Kelly has spent his entire career in education after receiving his own MBA here in Southern California. degree. As a passionate education leader, Kelly has led marketing teams for some of the biggest private and public education outfits in the country, from Kaplan Test Prep to innovative Charter Schools.

With Twainstein, Kelly is responsible for marketing strategy, student outreach and content management. But his real goal is to share with the world Twainstein’s unique teaching approach to raising test scores, making their grad school dreams a reality.

Chris Durgen

Test Prep Instructor

Chris is that rare breed of Test Prep Instructor that can not only get a near-perfect score on the test himself (339/340 GRE) but also teach his students how to get better at it as well. He has a passion for helping our students unlock the standardized test potential and overcome their anxiety of math by teaching Twainstein Method tricks and strategies that translate into higher scores and fewer test day nightmares. Chris has a passion for… Vietnam. Having lived there for four years, he was taken over by the culture, the people, and oh, the food! Owner of a perfect 170 Verbal score, Chris has written GRE questions that have appeared in test prep books used nationwide.

Mark Twain

Wordsmith/Namesake

Twain, or ‘Mark’ as he’s known around the office, embodies the spirit of humanity and wit perhaps better than any other American figure. In addition to being a brilliant writer (and one half of the name Twainstein), he was also an incredible teacher. Mark believed that teaching was the most noble profession, and those who do so with great care for their students are akin to saints. Now, while we’re no saints, we care deeply about our student’s experience—and their success.

“’Tis noble to teach oneself, but still nobler to teach others—and more gratifying.”

— Mark Twain

Albert Einstein

Math Nerd/Namesake

Einstein, or ‘Al’ as he’s known around the office, first joined Twainstein in 1912, a full 100 years before the company was even created. Well, his spirit did anyway. Einstein’s academic approach—reducing difficult concepts to simple ideas—inspired our 80/50 Method and forms the backbone of our “math-light” GRE/GMAT curriculum.

“Make things as simple as possible, but never simpler.”

— Albert Einstein