Faculty In Residence

Professor Mindelyn Buford II, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

I received my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA and my Ph.D. in Sociology from The Johns Hopkins University.  I joined the Northeastern University Department of Sociology and Anthropology in 2010.  I teach courses on immigration, inequality, and research methods including an Honors Freshmen Seminar in the Spring semester titled Boston: From Irish Need Not Apply to the New “Desirables” and “Undesirables”.

I look forward to interacting with students inside and outside of the classroom.  I enjoy travel, international cuisine, outdoor activities, cultural events, exploring the city, and  the company of good people.  Look out for information about events on the INV Facebook page and on my door at INV #225.

Professor Rifat Sipahi, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

I received my BSc degree from Istanbul Technical University in Turkey, and have completed my MSc and PhD degrees at the University of Connecticut, all in mechanical engineering. After having spent a year in France as a researcher, in 2006 I joined the faculty of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Since the first time I started teaching, I have always enjoyed the interactions with students, whether it is related to teaching, research, or encouraging students for graduate school. To further continue my interactions with students, even outside the classroom, I have decided to be a part of the faculty-in-residence (FiR) program. In 2010, I and my wife moved in International Village (INV), where I currently run academic programs for the residents of INV.

I and my wife love spending time with our little baby boy, the youngest resident in INV, and enjoy traveling, cooking, and getting to know different cultures, languages, and cuisines. I like playing soccer, basketball and ping pong, and I am passionately working on improving my French. As a scientist, I so much enjoy living in Boston – one of the cities in the world where the heart of science beats. I blend my hobbies, passion, and excitement into the FiR programs I run for the INV residents. Some of them include attending scientific seminars at Harvard Medical School, visiting the Museum of Science and MIT museum, holding egg-drop and paper-plane-design competitions in INV, giving lectures to students on how to be successful in college, and opening our apartment to INV students for cooking food together and discussing contemporary topics.

You can follow my upcoming events either through the INV Facebook group, or via the postings at my apartment door at INV #275. And please feel free to approach me, and/or contact me if you need academic advise!!