house mother
Sorority residence overseer
A house mother is a woman who supervises a residence hall, sorority, fraternity, or other group living situation—typically at a college or boarding school.
She maintains order, enforces rules, and provides a maternal presence for residents: The house mother caught them sneaking in after curfew.
The role has become less common as institutions have moved toward professional residential staff.
- dormitoryStudent living building
- college dormOn-campus student lodging
- matronFemale institutional supervisor
- sororityWomen's collegiate social organization
- caretakerOne who maintains property
supervisor · in loco parentis · residence · boarding school · chaperone · counselor · girls · curfew · lights out · rules · nurturing · dorm · fraternity · resident advisor · guidance · authority · residential · students
- Momsmom, mama, mommy, mummy, mamma
- caretakerscaretaker, caretakers, caregiver, guardian, minder
- LGBTQ+gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- Greek lifefraternities, fraternity, sorority, sororities, frats
- orphanagesorphanage, orphan, foundling, foundlings, waif
- Queer Culturegay, drag culture, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
house motherdean
Senior academic administrator
dean of students · president · headmaster · principal · headmistress