New Faculty-in-Residence Joins North Area
Your home should not be another source of pressure. It should be a site to rest, process and have fun. Through my role as the FIR, I can curate spaces where students can meet new people, try different things and show up comfortably as themselves.”
Raymond San Diego
Assistant Professor of Instruction in Asian American studies
Raymond San Diego, assistant professor in Asian American studies, lives alongside students to provide community, support and mentorship
Each of Northwestern’s four residential areas includes an apartment for an active faculty member to live alongside the student community. These individuals, known as Faculty-in-Residence or FIRs, support students in their academic and social transitions through college. As leaders within the Residential Areas, FIRs host events, share meals and foster the culture of their respective communities.
This year, Northwestern welcomed Raymond San Diego, assistant professor of instruction in Asian American studies, as the new FIR to the North Area. Student Affairs talked with San Diego about the role and what he’s looking forward to in the year ahead:
What are you most excited about for the role?
I’m excited to connect with students outside of the classroom and learn what inspires them, whether they are athletes, artists, musicians, gamers, leaders, plant lovers, bakers or deltiologists.
I’m also keen to share my enthusiasm for all types of games: Board games, puzzles, riddles, scavenger hunts, escape rooms, video games, bingo, trivia, cards and more. I look forward to building community with the North Area and hope to learn new games!
Why did you want to become a FIR?
I know the vibe on this campus can be intense: the quarter system is relentless, courses are demanding, and even student organization recruitment can feel competitive. Your home should not be another source of pressure. It should be a site to rest, process and have fun. Through my role as the FIR, I can curate spaces where students can meet new people, try different things and show up comfortably as themselves.
How do you plan to engage your residents with your scholarship and disciplinary area?
Asian American Studies is for everybody. Many key themes in my field—from honoring self-determination, building community, practicing solidarity and exploring the transformative possibilities of joy and care—are always present in what I do.
Also, in the winter of 2027, I am teaching a Weinberg College first-year writing seminar and hope to see some North Area residents in class.
What benefits do you see from the FIR program for yourself and for students?
The FIR program humanizes students and faculty. It will make me a better professor in the classroom, and students will be able to get linked to resources and receive mentorship in a less formal, less intimidating environment.
Read more about the Faculty-in-Residence, including two who joined in 2025.