Colgate University’s Dart Colegrove and Brown Commons are set to welcome new co-directors for the 2025–2026 academic year. Isla Globus-Harris, assistant professor of economics, will assume the role of faculty co-director for Dart Colegrove Commons, and Title IX Coordinator Amy Gordon will step in as staff co-director for Brown Commons.
Globus-Harris will succeed Engda Hagos, professor of biology, and will be working with Lou Kaminski, assistant dean of student conduct, who continues in his role as Dart Colegrove staff co-director. Gordon will take over the position previously held by Laura Festine, director of university grants and sponsored research. She will work alongside David McCabe, Richard J. and Joan Head Chair in philosophy, who continues his tenure as faculty co-director of Brown Commons.
“I want to thank Engda and Laura for their service to the University and to the Residential Commons,” says Vice President and Dean of the College Paul McLoughlin. “As Residential Commons co-directors, they have gone above and beyond in their efforts to ensure that all Colgate students feel that strong sense of community that makes Colgate such a remarkable place to live and learn. I thank Isla and Amy for carrying that work forward.”
Established in 2015, the Residential Commons system serves as a cornerstone for Colgate’s distinctive approach to residential liberal arts education. Brown, Ciccone, Dart Colegrove, and Hancock commons are each named in honor of distinguished members of the Colgate community and are guided by a collaborative leadership team made up of staff, faculty, and students. These teams work together to foster an enriching residential experience and provide a support system for students from the moment they arrive on campus and through their first two years in residence.
Globus-Harris earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a PhD in economics from the University of California-San Diego, where she specialized in interdisciplinary environmental research. She joined Colgate’s economics department in 2017.
“I’m looking forward to engaging with students while bridging residential life and academics,” Globus-Harris says. “Colgate and its students are such a special community to me, and participating in the commons seemed like a great opportunity to connect with our students and contribute to the campus community.”
Before joining Colgate in the summer of 2023, Gordon previously worked as a Title IX and equal employment investigator at Drexel University. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Michigan and her juris doctorate from American University Washington College of Law.
“I love creating community, and an opportunity to do that with students is particularly exciting,” Gordon says. “A place where there will always be something for you to do or people you want to chat with — that’s what I want to continue creating for students.”
The completion of the commons system is a focus of the Third-Century Plan, culminating in the future construction of a new fifth commons on the hill. As Colgate continues to invest significantly in enhancing residential education as part of the Third Century Plan, the University will continue to prioritize its mission of providing students with a strong sense of belonging on campus and meaningful connections with both peers and faculty.