One of the special parts of student life at Vanderbilt is the university’s uniquely personal and collaborative residential college experience. Undergraduate houses and colleges are led by faculty who live in community with students.
Our faculty heads of house and their teams are excited to learn more about their new student residents! They’re starting by revealing some things about themselves in this special portrait series.
- Name: Chalene Helmuth
- Faculty position: Senior lecturer, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
- Years at Vanderbilt: 17
- Hometown: San José, Costa Rica
- Residential college: Sutherland House
- Favorite song: “Quisiera” by Flor de Toloache Mariachi and John Legend (today)
- Favorite book: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (at the moment)
- Favorite food: Breakfast tacos
Although this year will be extremely different than years past, what are you most looking forward to for the upcoming academic year? I’m looking forward to welcoming new students to campus and together creating a community of learners, doers and dreamers, just like we’ve always done—although newly inspired by our collective compassion, resilience and determination to make the world a better place.
Advice to new and returning students? We’ve missed you and are eager to see you back on campus. Let’s finish all the good we started!
