This Is Who We Are

This Is Who We Are is a series featuring Columbia School of the Arts’ professors, covering careers, pedagogy, and art-making. 

Started in Fall 2020 by alumna Amanda Breen '21, 2021-2022 interviews were conducted by student Willam Hutton, and 2022-2024 interviews were conducted by student Carlos Barragán. 2024-2025 interviews were conducted by students Andrew Scott and Cristóbal Riego.

“Between coronavirus and politics, so much is frightening about the world right now that it almost feels like escapism to lose myself in the pages of a 100-year-old novel.”

Associate Professor Susan Bernofsky, Writing, Director of Literary Translation (LTAC)
art installation in room with many windows
Visual Arts

This Is Who We Are: Nicola López

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Visual Arts Nicola López about her recent installation Haunted, her new course Basic Drawing: New York City as Muse, and how finished projects can seed new ones, especially in this time of isolation. 

Peter Jay Fernandez
Film

This Is Who We Are: Peter Jay Fernandez

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Theatre Peter Jay Fernandez about COVID-19’s impact on film, theatre, and his teaching; the inspiring projects that excite him the most; and the importance of empathy and patience for the artist. 

Susan Bernofsky
Writing

This Is Who We Are: Susan Bernofsky

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Writing and Director of Literary Translation at Columbia (LTAC) Susan Bernofsky about her translation of Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, how a single word can illuminate important artistic tendencies, and her approaches to teaching translation. 

"There's no Zoom-substitute for seeing work in person...there's the part about not only the interaction, but the access to materials, facilities, things like that, and I worked really hard to try to make it the best possible and was also blown away by the students, and how they stepped into it and were really ready to commit one hundred percent to making it work."