About Us

News & features about The Commons at Vanderbilt from the students who live here.

For more information, to send a question for the Q&A with the Dean segment, or to become a member of the MCL team, email mycommonslife@gmail.com.

My Commons Life Staff

Maria Balhara lives in Davie, Florida, but tells people she is from Fort Lauderdale. She loves long walks and has been known to walk extraordinary distances uphill to secure berries for her dorm fridge. She also likes to do yoga and discuss cats, even though her cat is a total jerk. Check in with Maria weekly to see if her major is either Philosophy, Anthropology, or Molecular and Cellular Biology, depending on the mood.

Sofia El-Shammaa is a communications and political science major. She enjoys hanging out with her cat Mochi, falafel gyros, reading novels and newspapers, as well as watching horrible movies and defending them as high art (Friday the 13th VI is a perfect end to Tommy Jarvis’ arc you simply do not understand–). If you’re looking for something to read, she recommends “The Stepford Wives,” “God Bless You, Mr Rosewater,” or “Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.”

Alaina Harris is from Nashville, Tennessee. She is currently majoring in HOD and looking to minor in business. She hopes to pursue a future career in marketing. Alaina enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and making bracelets. She is also very addicted to iced coffee (specifically an iced vanilla latte with oatmilk).

Sofia Healy, I am from Los Angeles, California. I am currently majoring in Cinematic Media Arts and plan to double in HOD and add a business minor. I have been interested in film and media since I was a kid and am excited to be more involved in VSC. I love good food and hanging out with friends. Can’t wait to be a Dore for the next four!

Jayden Henry will tell you that he’s from Atlanta, but actually lives 30 miles to the west. He plans to major in political science and hopes to pursue a career in either constitutional law or journalism. He loves to read, watch trashy, low-budget movies, and play a downright shameful game of racquetball at the rec center.

TaMyra Johnson is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is currently double majoring in communications and public policy with a minor in cinema and media arts. She hopes to pursue a career in investigative journalism. TaMyra enjoys reading, writing, going on walks, and watching Netflix. She also loves smoothies and making podcasts.

Lauren Lamson is from Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently majoring in CSET and looking into either medicine or science journalism. Besides writing, Lauren enjoys going on runs, watching movies and NOVA documentaries, and attempting The New York Times crossword. She misses her dog, her parents, and even the cheese back home, although Jeni’s ice cream has filled the void (not of her family, but her diet), becoming her predominant source of quality dairy.

Micah Mayborn is from Framingham, Massachusetts. He is planning on majoring in biology or neuroscience depending on what time of the day you ask him. Micah enjoys reading novels, running with friends, and watching movies. He is currently attempting to eat at every dining hall on campus.

Spencer McKee is from Fernandina Beach, Florida. He is currently majoring in piano performance at the Blair School of Music, and has played for 14 years. He enjoys watching baseball (Go Yankees), finding new music, procrastinating, and going to Disney World. He has two dogs back home, and absolutely loves the walking required to get to all his classes.

I’m Sariha Mohammed and I’m from NYC. I’m currently majoring in chemical engineering and looking to minor in history with some type of concentration in public policy. I hope to have a career in a cosmetic chemical engineering field. I love to play badminton, watch all kinds of international dramas, read novels but my favorite genre has to romance, and I’m always down to try all sorts of food. I’m down to talk long walks if someone ever feels the need to.

Chloe Whalen is from Herscher, Illinois (which is pretty much just a cornfield). She is currently planning on majoring in CSET and possibly Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Chloe enjoys going on long runs, reading novels, and making a complete fool of herself for the sake of having a good time. She misses her dog, Bella, back home, so seeing dogs walking around campus is one of the best parts of her day.