An opportunity!

Our governance is that of a New England Town Meeting, which occurs every other week.  Each student has an equal voice to bring his or her ideas to the House, or to recommend change.  We find that this structure puts new ideas on the table all the time and efficiently puts resources in the hands of people who want things to happen quickly.  There are no sub-committees through which proposals must filter -- things happen fast in Simmons.

The Housemaster team at Simmons consists of Ellen and John Essigmann as well as  Associate Housemasters.  We love to host big events - study breaks, Resident Scholar programs, Sunday brunches, arts & crafts workshops, . . . . . We also enjoy informal dinners with students in the Simmons Dining Hall. As Housemasters, we help the house government achieve its community goals, we advise students on academic and personal issues, and we are a liaison between students and the MIT faculty and administration.

We truly enjoy what we do. While Simmons is new, the Simmons Housemasters are old hands at MIT.  John and Ellen did their doctoral work at here, and John is now Professor of Chemistry and Biological Engineering. Ellen has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years.  They were the Housemasters at New House for seven years and have two children: Amy, who graduates from Dartmouth this year, and Nolan, a Cambridge 8th grader interested in science and anime.

We all look forward to our fourth year at Simmons Hall and to meeting you!

- John and Ellen Essigmann

Special Note: At Simmons having dinner together will be an important part of the community. Specifics are still in development but all residents will pay a dining hall subsidy. The subsidy will entitle Simmons residents to an approximate discount of 50% on most items in the dining hall and night cafe. Translation - a hearty meal will cost you around $3 or $4.