The House Assistant Dean (HAD) serves on a team responsible for developing, optimizing, and implementing operational policies and procedures for the West Campus House System in cooperation with other units and departments that support the West Campus House System. The HAD works in close partnership with the House Professor-Dean to realize the House mission. The HAD works to advance the educational mission of the West Campus House System through effective partnerships with faculty, University departments, and community organizations, and s/he directs the multiple functions of one House within the West Campus House System.
Perdita Das-Humphrey
House Assistant Dean
106 Hans A. Bethe House
607-255-7019
Perdita grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and immigrated to the U.S. in 2008. While her family settled in Chicago, she attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and earned her B.S. and M.B.A degrees in International Business and Accounting. After college, Perdita served as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), spearheading campus-community partnerships in Connecticut, North Carolina, and New York. She joined Cornell as the Residence Hall Director of Balch Hall in 2017, where she also advised and coordinated the CORE RA program, which focuses on sexual violence prevention education within residential communities. She joined Bethe in July 2020 with her husband and two cats.
Perdita’s passion lies in working with students of diverse backgrounds, helping them grow as leaders, and bridging their classroom and extra-curricular experiences. She is excited to bring this passion to Bethe and work collaboratively with staff and students to continue to foster an inclusive, engaging, and curious community here.
Perdita loves all things Harry Potter and Doctor Who, is fond of eating and cooking spicy food, and absolutely adores animals- especially cats, dogs, and elephants. She is fluent in Bengali and Hindi, and loves Bollywood music and movies. While a city girl at heart, Perdita has fallen in love with the Ithaca landscape, immensely enjoys exploring the many trails and gorges, and has become quite the avid hiker.