Melissa Gresalfi will step down as Vanderbilt University’s dean of residential colleges and residential education and dean of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Tiffiny Tung announced today. Gresalfi, who also is a professor of mathematics education, has been given an opportunity to enhance her research projects. New funding from an educational philanthropist will allow Gresalfi to widen her research into how the design of educational environments transforms how students learn math, bringing the work to new schools across the country. Her last day as dean is June 30.
“Melissa has been an extraordinary leader for Vanderbilt’s residential colleges—deeply committed to students, to faculty partnership and to the idea that where students live is inseparable from how they learn and grow,” Tung said. “Under her leadership, our residential college system has matured into a defining pillar of the undergraduate experience. While we will miss her daily presence in this role, we are thrilled that she has this remarkable opportunity to advance her scholarship, and we are grateful for the lasting impact she has had on our community. We look forward to building on this strong foundation as we conduct a search for the next leader of our residential colleges.”
Gresalfi was named dean of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in 2019. In 2023, her role expanded to include upper-division engagement, and she has since overseen the entire residential college system, working closely with faculty and staff to support the experience of all undergraduate students.
“As someone who studies the design of learning environments, it has been a privilege to lead the design of spaces that support Vanderbilt undergraduate students’ learning,” Gresalfi said. “Living on campus with students has given me incredible insights into the ways that students and faculty learn with and from each other. I have loved being a part of Residential Colleges, and although I will miss my day-to-day interactions with faculty, staff and students, I can’t wait to see how the system grows in its next phase.”
LIVING AND LEARNING TOGETHER
Vanderbilt University is home to 16 residential colleges that are innovatively designed to weave students’ academic experience into their living spaces. Each one is a unique home away from home with a faculty head who cultivates an intellectual environment and unites undergraduates through a shared sense of community and belonging.
They are a crucial pillar of the unique Vanderbilt experience, designed to create opportunities for students to engage in integrative learning, dialogue across difference, participate in advocacy, and foster leadership potential and global connections.
By integrating experiential learning into residential life, residential colleges give students an abundance of opportunities outside the classroom to get to know their peers, build relationships with faculty, collaborate on immersion projects and expand their interests.
Student Affairs remains central to supporting students’ holistic well-being, engagement and a sense of belonging at Vanderbilt, while residential colleges play a distinct and growing role in fostering academic rigor, intellectual engagement and faculty-student interactions.
A search is underway to fill the position, which will have the new title of senior associate provost for residential colleges. The person selected will assume the responsibilities of the role in the summer prior to the 2026–27 academic year. Nominations and expressions of interest from within the Vanderbilt community are welcome and may be submitted to this form.
