Hello Eliot! I am thrilled to start my fifth year as Resident Dean of Eliot House. I am joined at Eliot by my husband, Ajay Sonalkar, and our eight-year-old son, Ziv.

I grew up in a tiny town (population=2500!) in rural Missouri (in case you were wondering, yes there were definitely more cows than people). I completed my B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Science at Lawrence University and an M.A. in Development Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India. Before joining Harvard I was based in Providence, RI where I completed an M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology at Brown University and developed a love for Del’s Lemonade. In what feels like another life (i.e. pre- Ph.D.) I spent many years living and working in South Korea where I taught courses on Leadership and Social Activism and served as the International Student Advisor at the Ulsan National Institute for Science and Technology (UNIST). 

Trained as a feminist anthropologist, my research examines the experiences of female migrant laborers from the Northeast Region of India who move to Bangalore for work as intimate laborers. Since my research focuses specifically on laborers in beauty salons and anthropological methods center on immersion, I trained and worked in a salon for over 18 months during my intensive field research. In addition to my role as your Resident Dean, I am a Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology where I teach engaged scholarship courses on the politics of care and activist anthropology. At Brown and here at Harvard, I concentrate most of my activities outside of the classroom on community building, mentoring, and advising. I'm currently involved with campus initiatives to bring restorative practices to our student conduct processes and channel my passion for food into a monthly "snack around the world" event in collaboration with Eliot students. At Brown I worked as a graduate coordinator at the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender, a graduate assistant at the Swearer Center for Engaged Scholarship, a mentor at the First-Generation Low-Income Student Center, and a member of the Bias Review Team.  All of this is to say that I care deeply about creating an inclusive community where all students are able to thrive. My approach is to meet students where they are, make space to see and hear them, and provide support with any personal, professional, extracurricular, or academic concerns. Fortunately, providing support and advice is a significant part of my role here at Eliot House. I also serve as your representative to the College’s Ad Board and the Sophomore Advising Coordinator. I can assist you with navigating Harvard’s numerous resources and connect you to partner offices. Mostly, I look forward to getting to know you! So please do not hesitate to get in touch.  You can sign up for office hours HERE or email me at eliothousedean@fas.harvard.edu

Additional Tidbits:

I am a firm believer that one can never have too many plants or too many books, and my house is a testament to this belief. I relish bargain hunting. Seriously, if you need to buy something and want to talk strategy, please be in touch. I am a huge fan of fermented foods (thank you, Korea) and find much joy in experimental cooking and baking. I am always up for a long walk and love traveling to new places. My husband Ajay is a trained financial analyst, but his true passions are tennis and cricket. If you enjoy watching, playing, or talking about either of these sports, then you should definitely catch him at the dining hall. My son Ziv enjoys playing soccer and cricket, doing math puzzles, spending time with his pet hamster (fondly named Laddoo), and building new inventions (he even has his own tool box). You are likely to encounter him in the dining hall where he will happily discuss everything from Pokémon to obscure animal facts. 

We are so honored to be part of this wonderful community and cannot wait to meet you!