Graduate Commons Program Team

Professor Nancy Hill & Rendall Howell

Nancy E. Hill is the Charles Bigelow Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and a former Radcliffe Professor. Professor Hill is a developmental psychologist and her research focuses primarily on adolescence. Further, she identifies the unique and interactive ways in which race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status influence parenting beliefs, practices, and youth outcomes. In addition, she was a recent recipient of the William T. Grant Foundation Distinguished Faculty Fellowship for her work on improving adolescents’ academic adjustment holistically via interagency collaborations at the state and local levels. Prior to coming to Harvard in 2007, she was on faculty in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. She enjoys cycling, cooking, and kayaking on the Charles River.

Rendall Howell is a Strategic Account Manager at NCR, a financial equipment and technology company serving clients in the financial services industry. He earned his BA in Economics at Oberlin College and his MBA in Finance at Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. In his spare time, Rendall enjoys playing his trumpet and playing any sport.

Together with their two children, Nancy and Rendall enjoy being outside, going to concerts, eating, and are actively involved in their church.

Professor Grace La & James Dallman

With deep Harvard roots, both Professor Grace La and James Dallman received their professional degrees in architecture from GSD and are excited to mentor and support residents in the Graduate Commons community. “James and I are delighted to join the distinctive GCP program, which enables us to contribute to the intellectual life at Harvard in new and expansive ways. We look forward to collaboration across the university,” said La.

La and Dallman are also principals and co-founders of La Dallman Architects, an internationally-recognized firm integrating architecture, engineering, and landscape. The firm’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Danish Architecture Center, and the Roca London Gallery. They have been awarded numerous professional honors, including the prestigious Progressive Architecture Award, for which their work is featured on the March 2021 cover of Architect, the journal of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In addition to their Harvard teaching and collaborative design practice, the couple has a variety of interests they hope to share with HUH residents. La enjoys travel, furniture and textile design, and gardening. Additionally, she hosts Talking Practice, a niche podcast with a devoted following of nearly 75,000 downloads. Dallman enjoys drawing and is an avid outdoorsman who hikes, camps, and has portaged throughout the upper Great Lakes and the Canadian Boundary Waters. They will be joined in residence by their two sons and look forward to creating deeper connections with the Harvard community.

Professor Vinny Manoharan & Michelle Carter

Vinothan (Vinny) Manoharan is the Wagner Family Professor of Chemical Engineering and Professor of Physics and the co-Director of the Quantitative Biology Initiative at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on understanding how systems containing many particles suspended in a liquid—such as nanoparticles, proteins, or cells—organize themselves into ordered structures like crystals, viruses, and even living tissues. His lab uses optical microscopy and holography to watch these systems self-assemble in real-time. The goal is to discover new, general physical principles that underlie complex systems and to apply these principles to practical problems in materials science, nanotechnology, and medicine. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004 and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania before arriving at Harvard in 2005. In his spare time, Vinny enjoys volleyball, cooking, and sleeping, though rarely all at the same time.

Michelle Carter, a practicing painter, is Assistant Professor and Chair of the Art and Design Program at Northern Essex Community College, where she teaches drawing, painting, and design foundations. She has a BA in History from Vassar College and an MFA in Painting and Printmaking from the Massachusetts College of Art. Michelle has exhibited her own work across New England and has a strong interest in community building, both in and out of the classroom.

Professor Todd Rogers and Sara Dadkhah

Professor Rogers is a professor of public policy and behavior scientist at the Harvard Kennedy School focused on work that supports student success and attendance, strengthens democracy, and improves communication.

He received both his master’s degree (GSAS) and Ph.D. from Harvard (HBS/GSAS) and has started two outside social enterprises.

Dadkhah, the child of Iranian immigrants, is an alum of the HKS Mid-Career Master’s in Public Administration Program and consults with the International Rescue Committee’s refugee resettlement operations in the United States.

Having three Harvard graduate degrees between them, Rogers and Dadkhah are very familiar with the Harvard graduate student experience, “We know that graduate school here can sometimes be socially isolating, especially for students and families from outside the US. We want to cultivate a community where everyone feels invited and accepted by sharing our interests and expertise with them.”

Outside of work, Dadkhah is an animal lover who volunteers at a local shelter, while Rogers saves his Sundays to cheer on the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL team he states, “will win the Super Bowl next year.” Their family, which also includes two children, Fletcher and Caroline, will begin working with the Graduate Commons Program in early fall 2023. “We want to use our new roles as faculty directors to cultivate and support the connection people are craving right now.”

Lisa Valela

Lisa started her career at Harvard at the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study before transitioning to Harvard Housing in 2008. She is currently the Director of the Graduate Commons Program at Harvard University Housing. In this role, Lisa is responsible for community building and co-curricular programming in all HUH properties, overseeing the talented professional team and their nearly 400 events each year. Lisa co-facilitates the Harvard Graduate Student Affairs Circle and is on the Advisory Board for the Harvard Graduate Council, a One Harvard student group focused on supporting and unifying graduate and professional students across campus. 

Lisa previously spent 5 years as a management consultant at Accenture, working for clients such as NYU, the University of Chicago, and The Ohio State University, before returning to graduate school to begin her career in Student Life. 

Lisa has a BA in Political Science and an MA in Education. She loves to explore New England, attends yoga classes when she can, and is a fan of the local live music scene. She also loves to talk about her three nieces and her hometown of Chicago.

Veronica Dea Santana

Veronica began her time at Harvard by earning an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). She joined the Graduate Commons Program as Associate Director after previously serving as Assistant Director for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Before her time at Harvard, Veronica obtained her undergraduate degree in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and upon graduating served two years in AmeriCorps VISTA* managing her alma mater’s school partnerships and service learning opportunities. In her academic and professional work, she is passionate about fostering intentional spaces for personal development, community building, and holistic wellbeing.

Veronica enjoys talking with friends and family around a fire, traveling with her partner (to then eat many a thing), and having one-sided conversations with her orange tabby (Fiddle aka Moo) about his level of cuteness (consistently topping the charts).

Andrea Normoyle

Andrea earned a B.A. in History from Loyola University Chicago and a J.D. from the University of Illinois. She was a practicing attorney in Illinois specializing in Family Law and much of her legal career focused on issues surrounding intimate partner violence in under- resourced and marginalized communities. In her role as Family Program Manager, Andrea is eager to introduce new and current families who live in Graduate Housing to everything the Graduate Commons Programs has to offer!

When she is not working, Andrea loves to spend time with her husband and two daughters, Ava and Charlotte. Aside from her professional role with the Graduate Commons Program, Andrea and her family have been long time residents of Harvard Graduate Housing.  

Maia Paterno

Maia earned her B.B.A in Music Business and Management from Belmont University and her Master of Science in Leadership in Higher Education at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Her background is in Residence Life where she fell in love with supporting students on their educational journeys and creating spaces for them to explore their authentic identities. 

Outside of her work, Maia enjoys paddleboarding, baking, trying new foods with her partner Andrew, and spoiling their cat, Neve, who is the loveliest little lady! She is looking forward to connecting with students and welcoming others into the Harvard community.

Thalia Peña

Thalia earned a B.A. in Communication & English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Higher Education from Boston College. She has experience working in both multicultural affairs and student events, as well as college access and financial aid. She is focused on creating a holistic and thriving experience for our resident population. Through her work, Thalia provides students with new opportunities and tools to excel in their current program and beyond.

Thalia loves all things pop-culture related, trying new dishes with friends, and is an obsessive reader. She is excited to connect with the students at Harvard and build community and long-lasting connections.

Madelyn Strike

Madelyn received her B.A. in Human Services from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She previously worked at Roxbury Community College, and has worked in Residential Life, Study Abroad, and Accessibility Services. Madelyn enjoys working with students to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and well supported. When she’s not working, Madelyn loves to hang out with her Chihuahua-Pug mix, Harley.

Alexia Simon

Harvard Affiliation: Ph.D. student in Astronomy

I am originally from France, and my family owns a restaurant where I grew up and learned how to cook. I would love to bring some of my cooking learning to the GCP community. My interests are mainly sports related: yoga, gym, circus, ice skating, and kickboxing. I am looking forward to being part of the GCP community by creating a wellbeing environment in Boston

Baoqing Qian & Jack Rabinovitch

Baoquing Qian

Hometown: Beijing, China

Interests: Biking along the Charles, taking care of indoor plants, teaching Chinese, and cooking.

Jack Rabinovitch

Harvard Affiliation: Graduate student in the Department of Linguistics

Hometown: Boston, MA

Interests: Learning about languages and cultures, playing guitar, poetry, hiking

Keira Walsh & Ben Mclarey

Keira Walsh is a Project Specialist on the Creative Services Team at Harvard's Alumni, Affairs, and Development Office. She is also pursuing her Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management and Digital Strategy at Harvard Extension School.

From: Saratoga Springs, New York

Interests: Walking and running along the Charles River as well as traveling and trying new restaurants around Harvard Square and Boston. She is most excited about meeting new people in the Graduate Commons community and learning more about people's diverse and interesting backgrounds.

Ben Mclarey is the Program Coordinator at the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School. He is also pursuing a Master's in Management (ALM) degree at Harvard Extension School.

From: Scituate, Massachusetts

Interests: Exercising, playing basketball with friends, and traveling to new cities and states across the country. He is most excited about hosting social events for the GCP community that make everyone feel welcome at Harvard.

Kristin Qian

Harvard Affiliation: Ph.D. candidate in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Hometown: Portland, OR

Interests: reading, going to art museums and concerts, performing classical music, exploring new foods and walking around the city, science communication

I'm looking forward to joining the GCP team and helping build community within the residents in Harvard University Housing through fun events and activities.

Yolanda Bruno

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Harvard Affiliation: Yolanda is a Program Service Coordinator at Harvard's Central Administration Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning. She is also pursing her ALM in Government at the Harvard Extension School.

Interests: Traveling, exploring nature parks, playing basketball, coffee shops, and concerts

Why I want to support the GCP Community: I enjoy hosting events and gathering people together to make lasting memories. I'm looking forward to connecting and being involved more with the GCP community.

James Henderson & Lauren Chin

James is a recent graduate of Harvard Medical School and is currently a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he studies ethics in critical care and life-sustaining treatments. James came to Harvard from California and enjoys cycling, travel (learning about culture through food!), and rowing in his spare time. He is excited to give back to the GCP community as a CA, as he greatly appreciated the sense of "One Harvard" community that GCP programming fostered.

Lauren is a project coordinator at Ariadne Labs, a health systems innovation center under the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Originally from Los Angeles, she loves baking and cooking dishes from around the world, photography, and exploring the Boston music scene. She is looking forward to planning programming to help neighbors feel more at home and hopes to learn from others in the Harvard community who come from different cultures and areas of study.

Agata M. Kilar (Aga)

I'm Agata, a postdoctoral researcher in Elena Rivas's lab, specializing in the evolution of biological sequences.

When I'm not immersed in coding, you can find me exploring Boston on my bike, rowing on the Charles River, tending to my plant collection, or experimenting with recipes from around the world. Despite the rewarding nature of my work, postdoc life can often feel isolating.

I’m keen to build genuine connections within the GCP community, a desire deeply rooted in my Polish heritage.

Mink Kim

Mink Kim is a dental resident at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She was born in South Korea and moved to Guatemala as a teenager. Now in Boston, she is completing Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology residency and DMSc in Oral Biology.

She enjoys cooking, watching movies, and hiking in her spare time. Mink is thrilled to contribute to the GCP, aiming to build bonds within the Harvard community and creating lasting friendships and memories along the way!

Brooke Huisman

Brooke is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School. Before beginning her postdoc, she completed her PhD in Biological Engineering at MIT and is originally from Michigan.

She enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, and traveling. Brooke has lived in university housing for the past ten years and loves the academic residential environment. She is excited to serve as a community advisor to foster connections within Harvard housing.

Sydney Moak

Hi! My name is Sydney Moak, lab manager at Harvard School of Public Health. I am from Brookhaven, Mississippi. I am a southern girl at heart (hey y'all!) who loves to meet new people, play tennis, go walking/biking along the Charles river, and attend all kinds of events around the greater Boston area.

I am excited to work with my fellow CAs this year to create a home away from home for all of our amazing residents here in Harvard Housing and to make new friends across all different schools in the Harvard Community!

Xiang (Shawn) Meng

My name is Xiang Meng. I'm doing a PhD in statistics where I use math and coding to validate strategies for AI companies. Call me Shawn because this is nearly how Xiang pronounced. I'm from Hebei, China. I came to Harvard because it has great people for me to learn academically and culturally.

I like to play music and play basketball. I'm excited to support the GCP community because I like to contribute to culture sharing and accommodating people who want to make friends.

Hannah Tam

What brings you to Harvard: PhD candidate in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Hometown: Eugene, Oregon

Interests: Looking at birds, running, hiking, camping, listening to and playing classical music.

Why you're excited to support GCP community: I'm excited to share my love for the outdoors and sustainable living with the GCP community!

Valentina Tarzijan

Valentina is a second-year MBA student at Harvard Business School. Originally from Chile, she enjoys reading and spending time with loved ones.

She is particularly excited about her role because of her passion for fostering a sense of community and her enthusiasm for organizing events.

Clare Xie

Harvard Affiliation: Ph.D. student in SEAS

Hometown: Singapore

Interests: Trying out new recipes/food, walking/biking/running around Charles River, and exploring the outdoor and farms!

Why I want to support the GCP Community: I am excited to engage with the diverse members of the GCP community, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of belonging that enhances both academic and personal growth.

Firdaus Fabrice Hannanu & Rien Anggraini Razak

Harvard affiliation: Fabrice is a postdoctoral researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Rien, his spouse, works in the Pediatrics Department at Atrius Health. Both are trained as medical doctors in Indonesia.

From: Originally from Indonesia, they previously spent four years living in France before moving to the U.S.

Interests: Fabrice enjoys playing the piano, and Rien loves to sing—together, they try to make their home feel like a little concert hall (with some toddler backup vocals!). They both love exploring new places or simply relaxing at home, as long as it’s with their family.

Why we want to support GCP families:
Having moved across countries, we know how strange and overwhelming it can feel to start fresh in an unfamiliar place. Whether during our years in France or now here in the U.S., finding a sense of connection has made all the difference. Through the GCP, we hope to support others who may be feeling out of place and help build the kind of warm, welcoming community where everyone can truly feel they belong—and help make Harvard a Home Away From Home.

Yidan Liang

Harvard affiliation: Yidan is the spouse of a faculty member at HMS.

From: China

Interests: Exploring delicious food and traveling all over the world

Why I want to support GCP families: We have enjoyed many fun and interesting activities from GCP over the years. I would love to contribute to GCP activities and get to know different stories from our Harvard neighbors with diverse backgrounds. In addition, I want to help new neighbor families feel welcome and connected to the community.

Sharon Wang & Hong Qu

Harvard affiliation: Hong is an adjunct lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School

From: China & New York City

Interests: Sharon is registered dental hygienist and enjoys yoga, swimming, and water coloring. Hong enjoys foreign films, street food, and blues music. We love to travel, hike, bike with our kids.

Why we want to support GCP families: We thoroughly enjoy meeting and getting to know our brillant neighbors from all over the world. We love to help residents make the most of their time living in Harvard and discovering its bountiful resources. GCP brings people together to form lasting friendships through its exciting events which generate delightful memories for our entire community.

Caroline Myers & Michael Myers

Harvard affiliation: Michael is beginning his second year at HBS and is an alumna of Boston University. After a decade of military service, he is moving more towards working in aerospace. Caroline is primarily a mental health therapist working with adults navigating life transitions.  She is an alumna of the USC school of social work where she specialized in military social work.  

From: Princeton, NJ (Michael) and Belmont, MA (Caroline) 

Interests: Reading, running/lifting, time outside with our two sons and traveling 

Why we want to support GCP families: As a military family we are all too familiar with being somewhere for a short time.  Though temporary, having a connected community, especially in parenthood, makes each stop along the way more supported and enjoyable.  We are excited to welcome new students to campus and foster inclusive connections amongst families and across school through the many GCP and playroom events. 

John Obrycki

Harvard affiliation: John works at the Harvard.T.H. Chan School of Public Health

From: A few different states over the years, currently I say I’m from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Interests: Biking, Walking, Going to playgrounds with my family, Reading lots of books and going to the libraries

Why I want to support GCP families: I want to be a helpful resource for GCP families through programming activities and supportive conversations. I’m here to help!