At the forefront of Saybrook is the Head of College (HoC). In the role as chief administrative officer, the HoC sets the college’s intellectual and cultural tone, just as they are responsible for students’ physical safety and well-being. Together with the Associate Head of College, the HoC oversees and cultivates the college’s social life, hosting study breaks, Saybrook Teas, trips, and other events. The HoC and Associate Head of College live amidst the students in the Saybrook “Biggs House” where many events are coordinated.
The Operations Manager ensures the smooth functioning of the college. In addition to coordinating its events and maintaining its facilities, the OM oversees the college’s finances, serves as a liaison between the college and the business office, and supervises special projects.
Supporting the Head of College is the senior administrative assistant, who handles the day-to-day business in the Saybrook Office. While coordinating with the staff in staging the college’s events, the senior AA works especially closely with students and the SCC in support of their many activities.
The Saybrook Aides staff the front desk of the Saybrook office and help students and visitors with the million questions they bring to the office. The aides can help with reserving a room, getting keys, signing out a DVD or board game, or registering a party.
Head of College Thomas Near
Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Curator in Vertebrate Zoology at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Chair of the EEB Department, and Head of Saybrook College, Thomas Near earned a B.S. in biological sciences and a B.A. in history from Northern Illinois University in 1993, a Ph.D. in ecology, ethology, and evolution from the University of Illinois, and a Center for Population Biology postdoctoral fellowship at University of California, Davis. Prior to arriving at Yale in 2006 Prof. Near was an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. At Yale Prof. Near has served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and the Fact Finder for the Yale College Executive Committee. From his first semester as a member of the Yale faculty, Prof. Near has been a fellow of Saybrook College serving as a freshman advisor and on committees to select Saybrook summer fellowships.
Prof. Near’s research uses genomic data to reconstruct the evolutionary history of fishes. Focusing on North American freshwater fishes and a lineage of fishes endemic to Antarctica, his research seeks to understand the mechanisms that generate and maintain biodiversity. An interesting by product of this research is the discovery and description of new species of fishes. As a curator in the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Prof. Near has supervised a dramatic increase in the research collection of fishes, with a large number of important specimens resulting from field work with Yale undergraduates. Prof. Near’s research has resulted in the publication of more than 110 scientific papers. He teaches courses in ichthyology, phylogenetics, and evolutionary biology.
Prof. Near is from the Northcenter/West Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago and is a rare example of someone who roots for both the Cubs and White Sox. Given that the only time the two teams faced off in the World Series was 1906, he is assured that he will never have to choose the best of his favorites.
Associate Head of College Allison NearAllison Near earned a B.A. in English and French from Colgate University, and a J.D. from Northeastern University. Allison grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, but she relocated to Connecticut in 2006. Since landing in New Haven, Allison has worked as a legal aid attorney at New Haven Legal Assistance, Inc. and as an Assistant Federal Public Defender. Presently, she is a partner at the New Haven law firm of Jacobs & Dow, LLC, where she focuses her practice on criminal defense and general civil litigation. Allison loves to cook, enjoys camping with her family, and has season theater tickets to the Yale Rep. Allison and Tom live with their two school aged daughters, Alice and Becca, and their two cats, Basil and Snowball. The girls can often be seen in the courtyard sharing baked goods, organizing games, or putting on impromptu performances. |
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Ann Marie GilmoreSenior Administrative Assistant to the Head of College Ann Marie Gilmore is at the center of the action in the Saybrook office, handling the heavy volume of its day-to-day business. If you’re looking for information about applying for one of Saybrook’s fellowships, using one of the college’s public spaces, or planning an event, Ann Marie is the person to see. Because Ann Marie works so closely with the Saybrook Aides, the Operations Manager, and the Head of College, she’s a great resource to turn to whenever you’re not sure where to start with a project you’re just getting off the ground. You can reach her by phone, at 203 432-0540, or by e-mail. |
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Kristin ButlerOperations Manager Kristin Butler joined Saybrook College on August 1 as its new Operations Manager. Kristin started at Yale in 2011 and comes to Yale College from Hospitality; her previous position was in Berkeley as a Guest Experience Manager. Kristin is thrilled to be part of the Saybrook Community. You can reach her by phone at 203-432-0532, or by e-mail. |
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Saybrook Aides:
Head Saybrook AideNandini Erodula
Nandini (she/her), class of SY ‘23, is from Hamden, CT, and is majoring in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health and on the pre-med track. Her favorite ice cream flavor is coffee oreo from Ashley’s Ice Cream, and her favorite spot in New Haven is Edgerton Park. She loves to dance (she will talk about South Asian dance styles for hours if you let her) and is constantly listening to her Bollywood music playlist. On campus, Nandini is the co-captain of Yale Jashan Bhangra, a Women’s Health Research Fellow, a member of the feminist science and technology studies collective called fSTS (for students seeking a more interdisciplinary approach to education!), and a volunteer for Havenly Treats (go visit the most beautiful cafe in New Haven). You can find Nandini reading about the history of obsterics/gynecology in the Sterling Music Library, hiking to see the sunset from East Rock, or laughing with her friends in Saybrook courtyards.
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Anna Aller
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Mariela Barrales
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Simon Billings |
Loui Chen
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Sarah Cheung
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Sofia Godoy
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Donasia Gray
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Lilley Harris
Satia Hatami
Callie Krueger
Conrad Lee
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Hero Magnus
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Chernice Mbogori
Ben Mehmedovic
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Mirabel Nguyen
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Nikita Paudel
Bea Soto
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Ashley Tauhert
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Anna, SY class of ‘22, has only lived in the Philippines, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, thus she cannot handle the New Haven weather. Other than complaining about the weather or pondering about her future major, she p
Mariela (she/her), SY Class of ’24, hails from sunny East Los Angeles. She is double majoring in Political Science and Spanish, and getting a certificate in Statistics & Data Science. On campus, she is a dance member and Co-President of 
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Sarah Cheung ‘25 is from San Francisco hoping to double major in Statistics & Data Science and Environmental Studies and get a certificate in Chinese. She is a proud Saybrugian (but the g is a hard g almost like a k not a j sound). She loves to sing (yes an acapella person) in her free time, is part of the 
Hailing from sunny South Florida, Sofia, class of ’23, is endlessly grateful for the chilly weather she experiences in New Haven. She is looking to major in Global Affairs and Political Science. Outside of being an aide, Sofia is heavily involved in the 
Satia Hatami, class of ‘25, is from Southern California and cannot decide what to major in, but she knows it will definitely be something in STEM. If she’s not in the Lyceum Room or SY College Office, you can find her in the Saybrook Dining Hall, Saybrary, or in one of her good friends’ suites in Saybrook. Satia is a member of
Callie, class of ‘25, is from rural Wisconsin and likes to make it her whole personality. She plans to major in EVST and/or ENVE, and pursue a Spanish certificate. When not in the SY College Office, you’ll find her on the courts in Lanman, the 
Conrad, class of ‘25, hails from Livingston, Montana and enjoys the (relatively) mild and pleasant New Haven weather. He is a goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team and competes on the Yale chess team. Outside of school and sports, Conrad writes for 
Chernice Mbogori is a sophomore from Nairobi, Kenya majoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Within her major, she plans to focus on the impact of gender in shaping public policy and government structures. Outside of working as an aide, she is involved in the 
Ben, SY class of ‘23, is from Branford, CT and a first-generation American with roots in Bosnia. He is pursuing both a major in computer science and a certificate data science. Outside of class and his work as an aide, Ben is heavily involved with the 
Nikita (she/her), class of ‘25, is an FGLI student originally from Nepal who now resides in Baltimore, Maryland. She is intending to study Global Affairs and human rights. She works multiple jobs on campus such as being a Saybrook College Aide (the best college aides to ever exist) and a vaccine verifier for Yale College of Arts. Nikita also interns for the International Rescue Committee with their Asylee Casework Team to help asylum seekers and refugees resettle into the US. Outside of work, Nikita is involved in various student organizations such as the 
Bea, class of SY ‘24, is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and is hoping to major in Economics and History of Art. Outside of being an aide, Bea is very involved with several Yale-New Haven projects: most recencly, she has been working on a COVID-19 Memorial Project with 
Ashley, SY class of ‘24, is from Plano, Texas. She is currently undecided, but is leaning towards either majoring in Economics and Computer Science or Economics and Environmental Studies. Outside of being an aide, Ashley is involved in the