Dorm life at The New School is taking an academic turn as professors move into residence halls alongside students through the university’s Faculty in Residence (FIR) program.

Through The New School’s FIR program, professors live alongside students in campus residence halls, serving as mentors, teachers, and community builders outside of the classroom. 

Designed to foster connection, collaboration, and learning beyond academics, the initiative places faculty directly within the student living environment, turning dorms into spaces where education and everyday life overlap.

The program is currently utilized by three professors: Katayoun Chamany in Kerrey Hall, Wendy D’Andrea in Stuyvesant Park, and Harpreet Sareen in 301 Residence Hall. 

For the program, The New School sought professors who could connect well with students beyond academics. 

To be considered, professors needed to enter an extensive three-part interview process that consisted of multiple factors: a statement of vision as to why they’d be an appropriate candidate, a zoom interview, and finally, an in-person, all-day interview with icebreakers and simulation scenarios.

Once accepted into the program, professors are given a three-year appointment with an option to reapply, but will be evaluated throughout the year to ensure they’re a right fit. 

Chamany’s apartment is a two-bedroom (double) suite with a bathroom and a common area. She said it provides her with the opportunity to manage a private life while interacting with students. 

Her communal space, which was designed and decorated to be open and inviting, often hosts different activities, like her upcoming event in her “Meet the Mentor” series where students can eat dinner, snacks, and have the opportunity to mingle with alumni.

Chamany also likes to take her students on field trips like science film festivals and sustainability tours, as well as hold spontaneous events like ice cream and brownies with RAs. 

“These build community and help students connect with each other,” she said. 

When asked about her experience living on campus thus far, Chamany said it has been easy and lovely. “Being at Kerrey is great — I have the library, cafeteria, and Tishman nearby,” Chamany said. “It’s close to cultural centers, and I have more informal interactions with students in the elevator and hallways.”

Living in Kerrey has made things like lab-based learning easier, she said. Her lab is in the University Center, so being close helps her keep a better eye on her experiments. 

It’s also helped her connect with students, Chamany said. 

“Students see me as more human. I run into them in the laundry room, attended hall meetings, and greeted parents during move-in,” she said. 

Students simultaneously respect her personal space and privacy, Chamany said, while also benefiting from the advantage of having a professor in their resident hall. “I haven’t felt any discomfort from students — they seem comfortable and easygoing.”

Administration says the FIR program is a direct reflection of the university’s values. 

“The New School values integration — students being able to flow between arts, design, and social sciences. This program embodies that: grounded in inclusion, equity, and shared space. It’s about creating changemakers who can live and learn collaboratively,” Dr. Shondrika Merritt, associate provost for student affairs and dean of students, said. 

Merritt explained that while the program is still relatively new and everyone, students and professors alike, are still adjusting, the university does have hopes for the program to continue for many years to come.

“The goal is for students who participate to feel a deeper sense of connection and belonging — building long-lasting relationships and memories that make their time here truly special,” she said.