Masha graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders. She received her masters degree in speech language pathology with a focus on traumatic brain injury - and rehabilitation - in adults and language/social development in children at Long Island University. Her passion for understanding the developing mind serves Masha well in the water, where her patience and enthusiasm are on display in every class. Masha was a competitive swimmer growing up with the Staten Island JCC Seals, however, it was as an elite fencer where she truly excelled as an athlete. Masha originally joined the Imagine Team back in 2011. Since then she has worked as a care speech pathologist specializing in swallowing disorders, in addition to a rehab director. Masha has also welcomed a new addition to her family, Isaac. She returned to teaching with Imagine in 2023 while continuing her career as a speech language pathologist.