Transcript

I am Joanne Roberts, the third and final president of Yale-NUS College. The President’s Apartment is a special place to me. It is an unusual space within the Singaporean context, although common at colleges in North America.

It is a hybrid space. Half a private apartment where I live with my family and puppy in the centre of our bustling and busy campus; half a public space where I host frequent events and College activities. It means that for me, like the students here, living and learning or working are truly intertwined. I bump into students, faculty and staff while walking my dog, rushing my kids to school, or picking up deliveries. These are simple moments but precious to me. They remind me that we are a community, living together.  

I open this apartment as much as possible to the community, hosting Student Government, the RCAs [Residential College Advisors], Chess Club, parents of our students, the Governing Board, Yale Club, our alumni, our faculty, conference receptions, and many other events. Although we have had fancy parties in the apartment, my favourite moments tend to be the less formal. Having the Chess Club adopt my son as a member. Having students up to visit with our dog Isabel. Having the table tennis team pop up for a practise session on the patio. Inviting everyone to trick or treat at Halloween. Hosting numerous Pizza and Ping-Pong on the President’s Patio sessions for the community. And many more….    

The apartment is a treasure, a perfect architectural jewel box of a space, with windows all around, looking out to a small pond that has been built into the roof, surrounded on all sides by a rooftop garden. It is filled with an amazing collection of Southeast Asian art that has been loaned to the college by its friends and donors. This space was created to foster community, and it does just that. Although it is my home, it is a space that belongs to all of us, and I hope to open and share it as much as possible with everyone.