Rooted in authentic connection and engagement, Vanderbilt’s residential college experience is a special aspect of student life at the university. Undergraduate houses and colleges are led by faculty, with their families and pets, who live with students, creating another vibrant layer of learning and community. Meet the university’s newest faculty heads of house and heads of college in this special series.
Robin Michael Jones, associate professor of hearing and speech sciences, director of the Developmental Stuttering Laboratory and department vice chair for diversity, equity and inclusion, is the faculty head of Warren College.
His research focuses on the cognitive and emotional facets that are part of stuttering as well as diagnosis and treatment. Through the Developmental Stuttering Laboratory within the Bill Wilkerson Center, Jones examines what may contribute to the early onset of stuttering and tools to help young people with their stutter.
- Name: Robin Michael Jones
- Residential college: Warren College
- Years at Vanderbilt: 11
- Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
- Favorite song: So many, here are a few …“Everlong” by the Foo Fighters, “Let It Be” by the Beatles, Star Wars’ “Main Title” by John Williams and London Symphony Orchestra
- Favorite book: A recent book I greatly enjoyed, Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter by John Hendrickson
- Favorite food: Guacamole with well-roasted sweet potato fries (chips work too!)
- Favorite spot on campus: My office—the view is amazing. Also Peabody Esplanade and now Warren College
- What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming academic year? I am looking forward to building community with the students on campus. In my primary faculty position, I predominantly work with graduate students, so I am excited to more intentionally connect with undergraduate students this year.
Robin Michael Jones, associate professor of hearing and speech sciences, with his wife, Kristin, their children Arlo, Bodhi and Leona, and their puppy, Pawley (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University) - Why did you want to be a faculty head of house? One of many—I am a person who stutters, and I had meaningful experiences with faculty during my undergraduate and graduate education that impacted the trajectory of my life for the better, most of which were outside of the classroom. I cherish the opportunity to build these relationships and foster these experiences for Vanderbilt undergraduate students.
- What do you value about the residential college experience? There is an incredible opportunity to build learning opportunities outside of the classroom, and Vanderbilt’s residential college experience is beautifully designed to do this. I value the opportunity to lead these learning opportunities and to do so in Vanderbilt’s inclusive environment that celebrates diversity.
- What does your family think about living on campus? My
The newest resident of Warren College is Pawley! (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University) spouse, Kristin, and our three children—Arlo (12), Bodhi (7) and Leona “Lennie” Wren (5)—feel that Vanderbilt is home and are all very excited to be living on and exploring campus with our new puppy, Pawley. In particular, my spouse and I are excited to foster an inclusive and welcoming community at Warren College. Now … the better question is—”What will the students think about our family living on campus?”
- What advice do you have for new and returning students on campus? This time of life is wonderful and will fly by. Embrace every moment of it!
- What’s a funny or poignant experience you’ve had at Vanderbilt? During 2020, our teaching and learning was significantly impacted by COVID. I found that the atmosphere of class was different with everyone logging into Zoom to get ready for virtual learning compared to when we were in person. To provide some additional energy, I started playing a song during this period of logging in and the breaks in class that were previously filled with silence. At the end of the year, I set up a public playlist for the songs of class that year, and I played a song on guitar for the last day of class! The students can tell you about that performance of “Crowded Table” by the Highwomen. It certainly caught them by surprise! Ultimately, I hope and believe that those activities over the fall semester that year fostered a welcoming environment during an unprecedented and isolating time in our recent history.
Robin Michael Jones, associate professor of hearing and speech sciences, with his wife, Kristin, their children Arlo, Bodhi and Leona, and their puppy, Pawley (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)
Robin Michael Jones, associate professor of hearing and speech sciences, with his family in their faculty apartment in Warren College (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University) - What do you love about working at Vanderbilt? The people. My colleagues and the students in our department, and the university more broadly, are remarkable and an incredible reflection of the values of Vanderbilt.
- What else do you want people to know about you? Despite growing up in Ohio and living in Tennessee for much of my life, I have been an avid surfer for 20+ years. So, if you want to talk about your favorite surf spot or aspirations to paddle out one day, I am always available.
Read about other faculty heads of house in this special series.
