Six faculty members joined Dartmouth’s house communities this fall as the second cohort of faculty fellows. 

Launched last year, the faculty fellows work with house leaders to expand program offerings geared toward intellectual engagement and deepening faculty-student connections. 

“Students often tell us that faculty involvement is one of the most meaningful aspects of Dartmouth’s house system,” says Professor of Anthropology Sienna Craig, who serves as house professor at South House and co-director of house communities development with Associate Professor of Sociology Janice McCabe and Professor of Physics and Astronomy Ryan Hickox. “We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of dedicated faculty.”

All undergraduates are assigned to one of six houses when they arrive as first-year students, and they maintain their affiliation to their house throughout their time at Dartmouth. Each house is overseen by a house professor who lives in a single-family home near the student residences.

“Our dynamic house communities really distinguish the student experience at Dartmouth, and we are fortunate that so many talented faculty dedicate their energies to fostering extracurricular opportunities for friendship and intellectual engagement,” McCabe says.

The new fellows include Professor of Philosophy John Kulvicki and Senior Lecturer of Spanish and Portuguese Gema Mayo-Prada (School House); Senior Lecturer of Psychological and Brain Sciences Melissa Herman and Professor of Government Yusaku Horiuchi (West House); Professor of Math Sergi Elizalde (East Wheelock House); and Assistant Professor of Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies Jorge Cuéllar (Allen House). 

The new cohort joins faculty fellows who began their terms last year: Professor of Computer Science Amit Chakrabarti (East Wheelock House), Professor of Anthropology Nathaniel Dominy (North Park House), Professor of English and Creative Writing Jodi Kim (North Park House), Senior Lecturer of French Kelly McConnell ’00, Guarini ’03, (Allen House), Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies Edward Miller (South House), and Assistant Professor of Art History Adedoyin Teriba (South House).

Faculty fellows have already engaged with house communities through several new events, many of which relate to their personal and academic interests.

Last spring, for example, North Park fellow Jodi Kim organized an event on Islamophobia with Nadine Naber, professor of gender and women’s studies and global Asian studies at the University of Illinois. Earlier this month, South House fellow Adedoyin Teriba was in conversation with Hop artist Somi. 

This week, Allen House fellow Kelly McConnell brings Cajun band Amis du Teche to campus for a private concert and conversation about Louisiana French and music culture over a gumbo dinner. And there’s talk of a backyard cook-off this spring between the School House and Allen House faculty fellows and house professors.

Here, each new fellow shares a few words about their motivation for joining Dartmouth’s house communities.

Jorge Cuéllar, Assistant Professor of Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies
Faculty Fellow, Allen House

Since arriving at Dartmouth, I have noted the special relationship between academic and residential life that makes this campus unique, with the house system at its center. I have seen how the house system is an incubator of good relations and helps sustain a healthy campus life. 

During my own undergrad at UC Santa Barbara, I was part of cohort-building affinity groups and residential communities that, I fondly recall, made the college experience much more enjoyable, fruitful, and dialed down a lot of the stress. These spaces helped me forge strong friendships, meet colleagues, and get to know campus invitees. It is with this spirit that I hope to support Allen House.

Sergi Elizalde, Professor of Math
Faculty Fellow, East Wheelock House

I immensely enjoyed the nine years that I lived at 13 East Wheelock in my role as house professor. I loved hosting weekly dinners and house concerts that brought together faculty, students, and public figures or guest artists, where we all had the opportunity to learn about new topics and make new connections. I have fond memories of our alternative spring break trip to Puerto Rico, as well as our day trips to apple orchards, ski areas, amusement parks, or to collaborate with local nonprofits. I look forward to keeping my involvement with the East Wheelock community, and to continue to interact with students in my new role as faculty fellow.

Melissa Herman, Senior Lecturer of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Faculty Fellow, West House

I am excited to be a house fellow because I love community involvement and activities. I grew up at an international summer camp in New Hampshire—bring on the campfire singalongs, arts and crafts, and community meals! When I’m not doing academic things, I love hiking Moosilauke, Nordic skiing at Oak Hill, cycling the Prouty, and doing the polar bear plunge. I have sung with the Handel Society, Glee Club, and Gospel Choir. 

Yusaku Horiuchi, Professor of Government
Faculty Fellow, West House

Becoming a house fellow is especially meaningful to me because my interactions with students are an essential part of my life at Dartmouth. These interactions have broadened my perspective and made me more open-minded. I also hope my unique experiences—teaching in three different countries, all outside of my home country and in a non-native language—will be helpful to students as they navigate their own academic and personal journeys. I look forward to more opportunities to connect with and learn from students.

John Kulvicki, Professor of Philosophy
Faculty Fellow, School House

I was involved with the East Wheelock cluster, run by my colleague Susan Brison, before the house system existed, and since then I have thought that communities involving faculty, staff, and students are valuable and worth cultivating. School House has been a part of my life since it started under Craig Sutton’s leadership, and I look forward to working with Abby (School House professor Abigail Neely) and the rest of the community this year.

Gema Mayo-Prada, Senior Lecturer of Spanish and Portuguese
Faculty Fellow, School House

I enjoy interacting with students outside of the classroom and seeing their development during their years at Dartmouth. I am passionate about sharing my love for gastronomy with my house community. Food brings people together, and learning about the history and similarities of certain recipes in different regions can be used to know that if we look for common ground, there are many things that we have in common regardless of our beliefs, socioeconomic class, political inclinations, or regions or country where we come from.