My Tuition Hub Academy is pleased to introduce Paz Daniela Ortiz Santa María, a highly accomplished educator and researcher whose academic journey spans multiple continents and
disciplines. Currently a Davis Scholar at Trinity College, she belongs to the Class of 2026 and brings a wealth of international experience to our community. Her background as a UWC Red Cross Nordic alumna informs her global perspective on education and mentorship.
In a professional landscape that demands versatility, she demonstrates a high degree of creativity and adaptability. Her work is characterized by strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills, which she applies to both classroom management and administrative tasks. Furthermore, she possesses highly developed people skills and empathy, allowing her to connect effectively with diverse student populations. These attributes are supported by excellent multitasking abilities and great time management, ensuring that complex instructional goals are met with consistent attention to detail.
Academic Background and Language Proficiency
The foundation of her instructional expertise is built upon a rigorous academic record and a commitment to lifelong learning. She is currently pursuing a Major in Philosophy and Political Science at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where she maintains a cumulative GPA of 4.083. This academic path is complemented by a Minor in Japanese. Her status as a Davis UWC Scholar, sponsored by the Davis United World Colleges Scholars Program, reflects her standing within a global network of high-achieving students.
Language proficiency is a cornerstone of her ability to communicate in international educational settings. She possesses native proficiency in both English and Spanish, enabling her to bridge linguistic gaps for students in bilingual or multilingual environments. Additionally, she has elementary knowledge of Japanese, which supports her minor studies and cross-cultural research initiatives.
Instructional Experience and Tutoring Specialization
Since November 2022, she has served as a Remote International Baccalaureate (IB) Tutor for Lanterna Education. She was selected by the Lanterna Recruitment team to be part of their global network of online IB tutors, a role that involves high standards of subject matter expertise. In this capacity, she provides personalized tutoring to students from around the globe on a weekly basis.
Her teaching practice involves customizing lessons to accommodate the individual needs, interests, and learning preferences of each student. This personalized approach ensures that instruction is relevant and accessible, regardless of a student’s starting point. In practice, tutors often focus on identifying specific gaps in understanding and addressing them through targeted exercises and discussion. Importantly, she specializes in the following subjects:
-
Philosophy
-
English A
-
Spanish A
-
Mathematics Applications and Interpretations (Higher and Standard Level)
This breadth of subjects allows her to support students in both the humanities and analytical disciplines, fostering a well-rounded academic experience.
Research, Writing, and Academic Contributions
Beyond direct instruction, she is an active contributor to academic discourse and research. At Trinity College Publications, she has held roles as a Staff Writer, Researcher, and Creative Writer from February 2023 to May 2025. Her work for the college newspaper, “The Trinity Tripod,” requires the ability to distill complex information into clear, engaging prose. Moreover, her scholarly contributions include a published philosophical exploration titled “Understanding Suicide Through the Lens of Libertarianism” in the philosophy journal “Bad Subjects”.
Her creative work is equally recognized, with poetry and script pieces published in “The Vernacular,” a student-led literary magazine. These experiences in writing and research allow her to mentor students in developing their own voices and conducting rigorous investigations. In an educational context, explaining the nuances of research methodology is essential for helping students move from passive learning to active inquiry.
In 2023, she received the Tanaka Ikueikai Educational Trust Grant for International Research, a USD 4,300 award granted by the Trinity College Center for Global and Urban Studies. She utilized this grant to conduct academic research and fieldwork on Shinto and Andean indigenous cosmologies. This project involved ethnographic research during a visit to Japan, spanning three weeks across five prefectures and eleven different cities. She concluded the research project with a presentation showcasing the investigation’s findings during the campus common hour.
Leadership, Mentorship, and Student Governance
Leadership and mentorship are central themes in her professional history. In August 2023, she was employed by the Office of Career and Life Design at Trinity College as a mentor for the “Summit-to-Success Orientation-NEXT Program”. This program focused on developing strategies for success during the initial semesters of college, providing first-year students with the tools needed to navigate higher education.
Her leadership experience also extends to student government. She served as the Chairperson for the UWC Red Cross Nordic Student Government from March 2020 to March 2021. In this role, she led the Student Council, oversaw twelve representatives, and coordinated six committees and twelve working groups. Her responsibilities included facilitating and chairing weekly open meetings for a student body of over 200 individuals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she represented the student body in collaboration with the school administration to address pandemic-related issues. This effort was instrumental in the successful reopening and functioning of the school throughout the 2020-2021 period. Furthermore, she spearheaded meetings on diversity and inclusion, which resulted in the implementation of anti-discrimination initiatives led by both the administration and students.
Administrative and Global Engagement
From October 2021 to August 2022, she served as a Remote Administrative Intern for the UWC Peruvian National Committee. This role required a diverse skill set, including content creation and social media administration for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn. She facilitated outreach efforts to remote, rural, and underprivileged communities, which led to the establishment of two official collaborative partnerships.
Additionally, she coordinated communications between the Committee and alumni. This coordination resulted in the formation of successful working groups, mentorship-scholar relationships, and increased donations. She also played a key role in the UWC Peru Selection Process, where she conducted, facilitated, and served as a judge. This involved managing schedules, coordinating volunteers, and supervising digital platforms for more than 800 applicants.
Her commitment to social issues is further evidenced by her role as a speaker at TEDx in Flekke, Norway. She wrote and performed the TED Talk “The Art of Being a Woman,” which addressed womanhood, femicide, and feminism in Peruvian society at the official TEDxRCN event. Such experiences highlight her ability to communicate powerful messages to a broad audience, a skill that translates well into the classroom environment.
Educational Foundations and Technical Skills
Her secondary and post-secondary education reflects a high standard of academic excellence. She attended UWC Red Cross Nordic, where she was awarded the International Baccalaureate Bilingual Diploma with 41 out of 45 points. During her time there, she received the Henry Dunant Gold Award for specialized training and volunteer work. She had been nominated by the UWC Peruvian National Committee for the “Dare to Dream” full scholarship, worth USD 64,000, and was accepted by merit.
She also participated in the “Semester At Sea” Study Abroad program through ISE, studying aboard the MV Odyssey and traveling across 10 countries. Her earlier education includes time at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD, where she studied Liberal Arts and maintained a GPA of 3.250. Additionally, she attended the Yale Young Global Scholars program for Literature, Philosophy, and Culture, receiving a full merit-based scholarship worth USD 3,500.
Technically, she is proficient in a variety of digital programs that support modern education. Her skills include:
-
Advanced: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
-
Skilled Editing: Notion, iMovie, and Canva
-
Intermediate: Adobe Photoshop and Premiere
These tools allow her to create visually engaging and organized instructional materials, which is essential for maintaining student engagement in a digital learning environment. Importantly, her primary education was completed at Andino Cusco International School, where she earned her Peruvian Secondary School Diploma with Honors and a Higher Quintile Merit Certificate, ranking in the top three for academic performance.