# Bonnie Talbert and David Elmer Faculty Deans ![Bonnie, David, Rosie, Nat and Noodle](/sites/g/files/omnuum6761/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/eliot/files/120823_eliot_deans_06077_1_0_0.jpg?itok=y0v590hK) email We are truly delighted to be able to serve the Eliot community as Faculty Deans. Eliot is not just a house but a home to a welcoming and supportive ‘family’ of residents and associates. We are overjoyed to be part of this family and make Eliot our home, too. We want to get to know everyone who lives or works in Eliot. So you can get to know more about us, here is some background about our family of five (four humans and one canine): David (he/him), a College alum (Class of 1998), is the Eliot Professor of Greek Literature (a different Eliot than the Domus’s namesake). He has fond memories of living in a modest, red-domed building a little farther down the river, but always dreamed of the view from Eliot’s teal-topped tower. As an undergraduate, he played trumpet (without any particular distinction) in the Harvard Jazz Band and hosted a jazz program on WHRB. His scholarship centers on the Homeric poems (the *Iliad* and *Odyssey*) and the ancient Greek and Roman novels, but he also has research interests in the oral traditions of Balkan Slavs and Albanians, interests that stem in part from a personal connection to the Balkans. He is also an avid amateur film photographer and a poor but enthusiastic surfer. Bonnie (she/her) came to Harvard in 2009 following the completion of her Ph.D. in philosophy at Columbia University, where she specialized in the philosophy of psychology. She comes from a long line of educators and has always been interested in “high-impact” educational practices that promote deep learning and critical engagement both inside and outside the classroom. In graduate school, she taught in the “Core Curriculum” at Columbia and in the Academic Success Program (an FGLI, pre-matriculation program). At Harvard, she served as an Associate Director in Social Studies, and she has also taught in the First-Year Seminar Program, the Engaged Scholarship Program, and (with David) a study abroad course in Croatia and Bosnia. Bonnie believes that all questions are ultimately interesting philosophical ones and has interests in many areas ranging from existentialism to logic to political philosophy and more. Beyond her academic pursuits, she serves on the Public Service Committee at Harvard, as a Peace Commissioner for the City of Cambridge, and as a volunteer for Communities for Restorative Justice. In her free time, she has tried to get better at various hobbies, including contact juggling, ice skating, and the piano, though admittedly, she is focusing on the effort more than the outcome. Rosie (she/they) is in the sixth grade at the Darby Vassall Upper School and enjoys playing the banjo, the piano, the trumpet, and drums. Rosie loves all things related to nature and especially leopards. Mastodons, too! Nat (he/him) is in the second grade at the Graham and Parks School. While his interests change frequently, he enjoys soccer, playing the electric guitar, and video games. Noodle, our adopted canine, is about five years old in human years. He is a rescue—a feisty and very friendly mix of Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, and Schnauzer—and enjoys chasing balls and chewing things. With enough treats, he can also ‘play’ the piano. All of us are looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you! Please do not hesitate to reach out. We are thrilled to be a part of the Eliot community. Floreat domus! Bonnie, David, Rosie, Nat, and Noodle - ## House Staff [Faculty Deans](/who/faculty%20deans)