Though everyone at Vassar gets to experience the College’s abundance of beautiful buildings, professors each get to claim a small piece of one as their own. A peek into a diverse collection of their offices reveals stunning windows, towering bookshelves, charming personalizations and a universal sense of workspace pride.

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Photographs by Juliana Halpert

1. Rockefeller Hall

2. Professor Peter Stillman; Political Science
Rockefeller 204
Years teaching at Vassar: 30
Years in current office: 20

“It’s big, it’s bright; this is definitely one of the best faculty offices in the college,” Stillman boasted.

3. Stillman’s dog, Webster, is a frequent office companion.

4. Professor John McCleary; Mathematics
Rockefeller Hall 303A
Years teaching at Vassar: 30
Years in current office: 3.5

5. When you’re around for thirty years, you get to be the first to pick your office,” said McCleary. “I got first dibs. This one is certainly the best on campus.”

6. Professor Yvonne Elet; Art History
Taylor Hall 307
Years teaching at Vassar: only one month!

Professors who have not been at Vassar for decades also seem quite contented with their offices. Elet just moved in this summer, yet feels quite settled.

7. “I love these gothic tracery windows–between them and the view of Main building it’s pretty glorious,” Elet said. “You can’t stick an A/C in there, though.”

8. Professor Maria Hantzopoulos; Education
Old Observatory
Years teaching at Vassar: 1/2
Years in current office: 1/2

The Old Observatory was recently renovated, right before Hantzopoulos arrived at Vassar.

9. “It’s a really beautiful facility, just a humanizing space overall,” she commented. “Good for the psyche.”

10. Professor Lydia Murdoch; History, Women’s Studies
New England 205
Years teaching at Vassar: 9
Years in current office: 0

As the new program director for Women’s Studies, Murdoch recently moved into this office while keeping her other space in Swift Hall. “I like it,” she said. “There’s nice light, and I love the starfish.”

11. Professor James Steerman
Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film 306
Years teaching at Vassar: 42
Years in current office: 6

“Every office I’ve been in, I’ve always spent a lot of time there,” Steerman said. “I like this one, I ended up with a nice big office this time.”

12. “There’s plenty of space for all my stuff.”

The ’09/’10 school year will be Steerman’s last two semesters teaching at Vassar.

13. Professor Erica Crispi; Biology
Olmsted 325
Years teaching at Vassar: 5
Years in current office: 5

“In here there’s a never-ending attempt at organization. But I like it, because it’s the one place where I get to be in total control of my space,” Crispi mentioned.

14. Professor Lynn Christensen; Biology and Environmental Science
New England 103

Christensen has been a visiting assistant professor for two years, and has occupied this office since she started.

15. “I’m happy here,” Christensen said. “I love to look outside and see trees. But you have to be careful that squirrels don’t come in through the windows!”

16. Professor Bryan Van Norden; Philosophy
Rockefeller 207
Years teaching at Vassar: 15
Years in current office: 5

Van Norden’s office used to be on the fourth floor of Rockefeller Hall, and he appreciates the increase in traffic that he experiences two levels down. “I feel more in touch with students and colleagues here,” he remarked.

17. “It’s definitely a great space,” Van Norden added. “Probably one of the best on campus.”