Vanderbilt Residential Colleges has named Jeremi London faculty head of Memorial House on The Martha Rivers Ingram
Commons. London,听associate professor of mechanical engineering and听an听associate provost in the听, will assume the role July 1, 2026. She succeeds Celso Castilho, associate professor of history and director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies, who has served as faculty head since 2021.听
As faculty head听of Memorial House, London will work closely with students听to develop听a vibrant intellectual climate where听they can听thrive and reach their full potential听in their academic,听personal听and professional pursuits.听听
听“I look forward to welcoming Jeremi as a faculty leader, knowing that she will positively shape the academic experience and intellectual growth of first-year students,鈥� said Tiffiny Tung, vice provost for undergraduate education.听鈥淗aving worked closely with Jeremi on a variety of university initiatives, I know听students will benefit greatly from her scholarly expertise, mentorship and gifted ability to create a warm and welcoming environment.鈥澨�听
An expert in听mechanical engineering and听engineering education, her work has explored听topics听such听as the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering and the听impact of virtual reality in engineering听education, particularly听in听design and construction.听
London鈥檚 research has been widely recognized. She has received the NSF CAREER Award, best paper awards for her articles, and she has delivered keynote addresses at academic conferences and universities. London has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Vanderbilt students learn from her expertise in courses such as Thermodynamics and Probability and Statistics with Engineering Applications. 听
As听an听associate provost听in听the听Office of听Undergraduate Education, she directs the听,听听for听first-generation听students听and other initiatives that听broaden student听academic听success.听Her experience in听academic听leadership and student success initiatives positions her to further strengthen the living-learning environment at Memorial House.听
Castilho鈥檚 contributions to Memorial House over听six years have helped build an听intellectually engaging听and supportive听community for students.听
听鈥淢y time working in residential colleges has been transformative in understanding the university听and,听most importantly, in understanding the students鈥攈ow they experience their highs, lows and everything in between,鈥� Castilho said. 鈥淚鈥檓听grateful to have听collaborated with听the wonderful teams in Residential Colleges, Facilities and听Housing and Residential Experience in Student听Affairs who听pour themselves into creating a unique academic-residential environment for first-year students. Long live the s鈥檓ores tradition at Memorial!鈥�听
Tung acknowledged Castilho鈥檚 positive impact on student learning experience in The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. 听
鈥淚 am听grateful听that many cohorts of students听benefited听from a year with such an incredible scholar and听mentor.听Celso鈥檚 leadership and dedication to students听in and outside the classroom are what make Vanderbilt听the听ideal place听for students听to听learn,听grow听and find听their path听to contribute听meaningfully to society,鈥� Tung said.听听
About the faculty head role
Faculty heads are among the most exceptional faculty who creatively cultivate a vibrant intellectual climate as they integrate learning from classrooms, labs and studios into everyday life. They play a vital role in shaping the residential college experience at Vanderbilt, serving as faculty leaders who guide student-driven initiatives that promote intellectual exchange, community engagement and leadership development. Faculty heads live among students in their residential colleges and challenge and support them, so students thrive academically and beyond.听
For more information about residential colleges and faculty leadership positions, visit the听.听
