Residential Experience and Leadership
By living in residence at MIT, students will actively engage with people, programs, and practices that support connection, teach community inquiry, and foster leadership development.
Living in Community
Residences are a partnership with faculty, students, and live-in professional staff to create a vibrant atmosphere for living and learning. Residence Halls are led by live-in faculty who oversee a House Team consisting of an area director, live-in graduate resident advisors (GRAs), and a house manager. Additionally, students play a significant role in building community within residences through strong house governments and a variety of student-led programs.
Distinctive Residential Culture
We prioritize being present, candid, trustworthy, and helpful. We show care through deep listening, perspective-taking, and fostering meaningful, one-on-one relationships.
Working collaboratively with House Teams and campus partners, we have broad responsibilities for the wellbeing and education of our residents including:
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- Strengthening the network of support for students
- Helping Heads of House, Area Directors, GRAs, Peer Mentors, and students as community leaders
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- Fostering a diverse and welcoming environment
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- Providing opportunities for reflection and personal growth
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- Facilitating group and individual conflict resolution
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- Upholding expectations for conduct aligned with MIT policies and practices
Principles of Residential Life
Growth
We best learn, change, and grow in community with others by assuming good intentions when possible.
Respect
We clearly communicate our own boundaries and respect the boundaries of others
Perspectives
We each hold different perspectives, and value these various perspectives as contributing to the strength and uniqueness of our communities.
Responsibility
We are responsible for our words and actions. We show respect to others through honest, reliable, and accountable behavior.
Connection
We are connected to eachother and our individual actions have an impact on all members of our community
A Community of Support
Houses are vibrant communities at MIT. Faculty, professional staff, graduate students, and house governments collaborate to enhance the student experience.
Residential Leadership Opportunities
Students serve vital leadership roles within our eleven residence halls. If you’re interested in working with live-in faculty and professional staff to support the undergraduate experience, we have opportunities for you to grow your leadership skills while deepening your sense of community at MIT.
Meet your Area Directors
An Area Director (AD) is a full-time professional employee of the Undergraduate Residential Life office. As a live-in member of the House Team, the AD provides individual assistance to students through personal advising, counseling and crisis intervention.
Rebecca Kjaerbye
John Ross Campbell
Rachael Beaumont
Margaret Patton Hanagan
Kat Howell
Akimmie Parker
Sandra M Teixeira
Jacob Oppenheimer
Amanda Putnam
