When Kiran Gajwani and Stephen Chong became faculty deans earlier this academic year, they most looked forward to mentoring students.

As the new Faculty Deans of Winthrop House, they hoped to provide students with a home away from home. With their previous experience in departmental advising, both Gajwani and Chong were excited to connect with Winthrop students in meaningful ways.
 
“After being at Harvard for more than 10 years and realizing how central the Houses are to the student experience, we were thrilled at the opportunity to engage with students in a broader context than we do in our departmental roles,” Chong said. “Now that we are here, we are also so appreciative of the chance to work with our amazing House tutors, scholars, and staff.”
 
Gajwani and Chong met while studying at Cornell University, where Gajwani received a Ph.D. in Applied Economics and Chong received a Ph.D. in Computer Science. The pair moved to Harvard in 2009 and found their respective roles in the Economics and Computer Science departments. 
 
As a Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, Chong teaches and researches topics related to computer information security and programming languages. In his role as a Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, Chong appreciates the opportunity to interact with a broad range of students. Gajwani, a Lecturer/Advisor and Associate Director of Undergraduate Advising in Economics, loves her role because of its emphasis on student mentorship and interaction. In her teaching and research, Gajwani focuses on the economics of developing countries.
 
Outside of their work at the College and in the House, Gajwani and Chong enjoy spending time with their one-year-old son Bodhi and their beloved dog, Annie. Gajwani plays piano and has recently started to learn the ukulele. Chong enjoys running and has found a few chances to run with Winthrop students. In pre-COVID times, they often travelled to visit their family and friends around the world.
 
“We're fortunate to have family and friends in many parts of the country and the world. Steve is from New Zealand. I was born in the U.S., but my father is from India. I went to school in London for a little bit, and both Steve and I went to graduate school at Cornell, where we found an incredible, international mix of friends,” Gajwani said. “We deeply value different cultures, traditions, and people, and we love the breadth of backgrounds, interests, and experiences that make up the College and the House communities.”
 
Gajwani and Chong have been consciously trying to maintain and create community amongst students and staff. They plan to keep old traditions, create new ones, and do their best to support students in finding their passions in and beyond college. They hope to bring programming and traditions to the House that encourage students to think about the community and world around them more broadly.
 
“We have found community to be extremely important during this time. We look forward to when House life returns to something more normal and the physical Winthrop community returns; but for now, we are doing what we can to encourage students to bring their ideas to our community, and to get to know our students on an individual level,” Chong said.