About Us
Founded by Iris Mou and Lisa Sun in 2024, Rooks and Roots is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization aimed at supporting young girls in chess and math. Through our efforts, we would love to see more girls in local chess tournaments and math competitions, doing our part to bridge the gender gap in STEM and related fields. By offering workshops and small group lessons to K-6 girls, we hope to create a community where girls can be comfortable, make friends, and have fun while pursuing their passions.
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
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Meet the Team 〰️
Hi, I’m Iris! I’m in the Class of ‘27 at the Dalton School, currently in my sophomore year. I’ve been playing chess for ten years, and as someone who’s been one of the top three girls in the country for my age since Kindergarten, I’ve always been passionate about increasing the rate of girls in chess. I am also involved in math, whether it be in competitions, at school, or as an extracurricular, and I have firsthand experience with the lack of girls in both chess and math. I co-founded Rooks and Roots with the goal of supporting and helping young girls fuel their interest in these areas. I have worked with kids in the past and had lots of fun, so I’m super excited to help! I can provide support with math up to Precalculus, with a bigger focus on middle school competition math. Some of my other hobbies include drawing and coding.
~ IRIS MOU
Co-Founder, Co-President
Hi! I’m Lisa and I’m a 9th grader at Hunter College High School. I would love to see more girls in chess and math because I know it can be hard being the only girl at a chess camp or not seeing as many girls in competition math classes. By co-founding this organization, I hope for more girls to find interest and excel in chess and math, as well as make friends and have a good time. I have helped my school team win National Champion 7th and 8th Grade sections at Grade Nationals, National Team Champion in the U12 and U14 Sections at Girls Nationals, and was on my school’s MATHCOUNTS State Team. Outside of chess and math, I enjoy playing piano and chamber music. I have been a counselor at a chess camp, love working with kids, and am excited to help support girls in our shared passions!
~ LISA SUN
Co-Founder, Co-President
Contact us
Email us at contact@rooks-and-roots.org with any questions!
For personal inquiries, email iris@rooks-and-roots.org or lisa@rooks-and-roots.org