Residence hall support staff are ‘here for you’
As new Broncos settle into their new campus digs, a group of faculty and Residence Life staff is moving in alongside them, providing mentorship, spiritual guidance, therapy, and other support—just down their halls.
That kind of proximity is by design.
First- and second-year students are required to live on campus, and nearly all of them land in one of 91Ó°ÊÓ’s eight Residential Learning Communities (RLCs)—themed neighborhoods like Cura, Loyola, and Modern Perspectives that organize residence life around a shared interest, from faith and social justice to sustainability and the arts. Students rank their preferred themes before move-in, and often spend the year taking classes, attending programming, and building friendships with people down the hall who care about the same things they do.
But no matter which RLC students reside in, each one is staffed to embody the Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, or caring for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Beyond the usual Resident Directors and Community Facilitators (what other schools call RAs), 91Ó°ÊÓ offers additional wrap-around care to help students find their home in 91Ó°ÊÓ.
Faculty Directors anchor the academic side of work-life balance, connecting classroom learning and mentorship to daily life in the RLCs. A therapist-in-residence puts licensed mental health support just an elevator ride away. A spirituality facilitator, typically a graduate student, helps residents work through questions of identity, purpose, and values.
Read on to meet a few of these dedicated Residence Life team members.
Filaggi with his cat, Marshall.
Justin Filaggi
Therapist-in-Residence, Nobili Hall
From: Philadelphia, PA
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to be outside. Hiking, camping, dancing, playing sports: soccer, disc golf, and all board sports really, from skateboarding to snowboarding. I’m also a writer—that was my first degree, and I make tie-dye art. Lastly, I do yoga and meditate daily.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I played club soccer in college, and I made the All-Star Tournament Team at the National Club Soccer Championships, which was a big, cool thing for me.
Ask me about:
My wellness practice.
What’s exciting about the opportunity to be living among the students you’ll be working with?
For me, I see humans as diverse and dynamic, so living here is a good opportunity to meet students where they’re at, while allowing them to see a side of me—maybe skateboarding or meditating on the lawn—that shows that I’m not just a therapist.
You lived in Finn Hall last year—what excites you about moving into Nobili Hall?
Nobili has this reputation as a quieter dorm, maybe from being right by the Mission Church. I think that kind of contemplative space is something I’m looking forward to.
What’s one thing in this room that you couldn’t live without?
I really enjoy that white Peugeot bike over there. That’s my go-to bike that gets me around. I think biking has so many benefits for your physical health, and it helps you save money and save the environment.
What’s your advice for the incoming first-years?
Take healthy risks through new experiences—like meeting new people, or being as present as possible in this very busy world.
Akbari brews espresso in his Dunne Hall apartment.
Hamed Akbari
Faculty Director, Dunne Hall
From: Mashhad, Iran
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I have a dual background, with both an MD and a PhD. I got my MD in Tehran, and my PhD in AI robotic surgery in Tokyo. I’ve been to many other cities too—Atlanta, Philadelphia—but Tokyo is my favorite city.
Where are your favorite spots on campus?
If I want to take a walk, I really like the Mission Gardens. If I want to sit and enjoy myself, I go to the balcony in SCDI.
If I have free time, I go to the Malley Center gym and use the elliptical: one hour, 1000 calories, four times a week. Although I’m not sure that I will be able to this quarter, because I teach classes every day.
What excites you about living in Dunne?
Here in Dunne’s Modern Perspectives RLC, I have heard that students are more eager to enjoy their lives and have work-life balance.
What’s one thing that you couldn’t live without?
My students.
Really? What about something in this room?
My coffee machine! It’s like my medicine.
What do you want first-years to know?
Need to vent about classes? Having problems with math or chem? Worried about the future, finding jobs, or picking a major? I’m always here for you—if you feel homesick or need someone who cares about you. I’m here for you.
Nick Snyder ’25, MA ’28
Spirituality Facilitator, Swig Hall
From: Corte Madera, CA
What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
I’m fluent in Spanish and studied Latin American cultures in my undergrad Bronco years.
What do you like to do for fun when you’re not in grad school classes or on the clock?
I like playing and writing music, taking walks around 91Ó°ÊÓ’s beautiful campus, and exploring great food spots in the area.
What excites you about returning to the dorms—this time as a staff member?
I’m excited to be present for everyone and meet my students where they are. Living in Swig Hall will be uniquely fun because of its energy and location on campus.
What’s one thing in your life that you couldn’t live without?
My two cats, Sailor and Bandit. I adopted them this year, and I couldn’t imagine life without them.
Talk to me about:
Food recs in the area! My faves are Taqueria El Noa Noa and Shwarmaji.
What’s your advice for the incoming first-years?
Introduce yourself to everyone on your floor and get out of your comfort zone.
In line with the University’s mission and the commitment to Jesuit values, the Office of Residence Life is committed to the care, support, and development of the whole student and the development of constructive and inclusive communities.
