Who’s who in the Saybrook College Office

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 Assistant Director of Operations ensures the smooth functioning of the college. In addition to coordinating its events and maintaining its facilities, the AD 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 serves as the Chair of the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and was Editor-In-Chief for the journal Systematic Biology. From his first semester as a member of the Yale faculty, Prof. Near has been a fellow of Saybrook College serving as a first year advisor and since 2015 the Head of College.

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 175 scientific papers. He teaches courses in ichthyology, phylogenetics, and evolutionary biology. You can learn more about Prof. Near’s research at nearlab.org

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 Near

Allison 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.

Ann Marie Gilmore

Senior Administrative Assistant II, Head’s Office

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 Assistant Director of Operations, 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.

Kristin Butler

Assistant Director of Operations, Saybrook College

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.

Saybrook Aides:

Head Saybrook Aide

Jonathan Akinniyi

Juan Ahumada

Maria Arozamena

Maria, ‘26, comes from sunny Tampa, Florida, and is proud to consider herself a Pitbull enthusiast (dale). A prospective English major (but still deeply confused), she’s involved with the Yale Student Environmental Coalition, Project Environmental Culture of Responsibility (ask her about the intersection of environmentalism + the arts!), and serves as co-president of the Cuban-American Undergraduate Students Association. Come say hi if you find her napping in the Saybrary, studying in the basement, or faithfully in the dining hall every Saybrook Taco Tuesday!

Kate Choi

Kate (she/her), class of ‘27, grew up in Seoul, South Korea but now calls Berkeley, California home. She majors in Cognitive Science and Humanities. In addition to being a Saybrook College Aide, she is involved in Yale’s Computational Social Cognition Lab, The Yale Literary Magazine, The Women’s Leadership Initiative, and Girls on the Run. Outside of the Office, you might find her sipping a London Fog in the Elm, hosting game nights with her suite, and eating every night in the Saybrook dining hall.

Emerson Harris

Julianne Harwood

Mika Hiroi

Mika, class of ‘28, is from Oahu, Hawaii and intends to be an English major. Outside of the Saybrook college office, she sings in the Yale Glee Club (and assorted choirs) and plays flute in the Yale Precision Marching Band. Mika is unbearably nerdy about literature, Doctor Who, DnD, the Renaissance Faire, Sherlock Holmes, and classic fairy tales. She will absolutely talk your ear off (you’ve been warned). You can expect to find her at one of Yale’s gorgeous libraries, in the Saygym, or inhaling food at the Squiche and dining halls.

Cleia Jones

Cleia Jones, class of ‘28, is from right outside of DC in McLean, Virginia (go DMV!). She’s planning on majoring in Economics, but also loves studying languages, currently Spanish and Russian. She loves singing, whether that be in a Saybrook practice room or with her acapella group, Something Extra. And you may catch her running on campus, either with Club Running or Girls on the Run. Outside of school, she loves traveling, and hopes to one day travel to all of the continents (including Antarctica!). She also loves cooking, with her favorite dish ever being pancakes. She absolutely loves Saybrook and is so excited to be a College Aide!

Dana Ko

Dana, class of ’27, is from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is majoring in Ethics, Politics, & Economics. She has a passion for government and public policy (specifically education policy) and loves exploring her interests by competing for the Yale Debate Association and interning at the Yale Law Journal. On campus, you can also find her coaching debate for the New Haven Urban Debate League and at the YDN building. She is a big fan of her corgi Leia (inspired by Star Wars!), iced lattes, and fall weather.

Abby Matsuyasu

Abby Matsuyasu ’27 is from Newton, Massachusetts and is majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Outside of all things Saybrook—the college office, saybrary, or 12 pack—you might find Abby in her lab researching cardiac biomechanics, on cross campus (lounging in the sun if it’s warm or playing in the snow if it’s cold), volunteering at New Haven elementary schools, or on a run/walk around East Rock. She is also involved in the Society of Women Engineers, Asian-ish @ Yale, and works with the admissions office and the STEM tour guide program. Abby loves to watch movies, drink coffee and tea, go thrifting, play board/card games, and discover new music.

Maggie Nardini

Maggie, class of ‘26, is from New Haven and is majoring in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. She’s involved in Code Haven and has been a ULA for several intro CS classes, and is always looking to get to know more people in the major. When she’s not hosting or attending office hours, she’ll probably be studying in HQ, at the Saybrook gym with her suitemates, or visiting her cats at home. She loves reading, spending time outdoors, and baking with her suitemates in her free time.

Lucas Papamitsakis

Lucas Papamitsakis, ‘28, is a native Brooklynite. Lucas’s interest in understanding the science behind patterns has compelled him to pursue studies in mathematics and statistics. You can find Lucas at Broadway Lofts practicing Levantine dances with the Yale Dabke Troupe, intensively playing ping pong during Club Table Tennis meetings, or calmly shelving books and answering questions at Marx Library. You can also catch Lucas on the elliptical in the Saygym every morning!

Aryana Ramos-Vazquez

Aryana Ramos-Vazquez (she/her) is a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering! She hails from the pretty green of Tuxedo Park, New York. She also works at La Casa Cultural as a student coordinator, so you’ll be sure to find her working in La Casa’s kitchen, chilling in the Despierta Boricua (Yale’s Puerto Rican student organization) room, and sleeping in the gallery! You can also see her performing with the Yale Glee Club in Woolsey Hall, studying in the Music Library or Good Life Center, or enjoying the sunshine on cross campus with friends when it’s warm out! Aryana loves creative writing, watching book rant reviews, taking long walks with music, and playing chess (she loves blitz) when she has a free moment!