Tom C. Conley and his wife Verena A. Conley are about to begin a new phase in their lives: They've raised two children, canoed and hunted for mushrooms in the Midwest, and taught for many years as professors "distanced from the students."

Now, the couple say they are ready to get closer to students as the new masters of Kirkland House.

"We very much enjoy teaching here, we thought it would be great to join the community in a more sustained way," said Verena Conley, a visiting professor in literature, who will serve as co-master. Her husband will serve as master. "Living in a House has to do with building community and this will be a wonderful community."

The College announced their appointment on Friday.

For Conley, assuming the position of Kirkland House Master is a challenge in furthering community.

"We would love to see a sense of community missions--academic, cultural, ethical mission," he said. "It's crucial when people look at each other and their peers for models, that they find an ethic for living well."

The pair will bring two pets--a Bernese Mountain dog and a cat--with them to the Kirkland masters' residence.

Tom Conley, professor of romance languages and literature, is involved with research in French literature and film studies. He taught Foreign Cultures 21: "Cinma et culture franaise, de 1896 nos jours" on French film theory in the fall, and is teaching several other classes in the Romance Languages and Literatures department this semester.