Her Story
About Nicole
Nicole Bonino serves as a professor at the University of Virginia since 2020, following her doctoral studies there. She completed her BA and first master's degree in Italy before moving to the United States for a second master's and PhD in Latin American Studies at the University of Virginia, along with a professional certificate in Afro-Latin American Studies from Harvard. Prior to her faculty role, she worked as a research fellow for Columbia University and the University of Manchester, conducted field research in Buenos Aires, and taught in Valencia, Spain. At UVA, Bonino teaches courses in Spanish, English, and Italian, participates in national and international committees focused on visual culture and AI in second language acquisition, and leads the Global Artivism Project, which invites international artists for collaborations, exhibitions, workshops, and public talks open to the broader community. She has developed innovative courses including The Art of Noticing, emphasizing art and meditation without technology, and a course on visual literature and art that reinterprets Latin American literature beyond traditional texts. Bonino holds a double appointment teaching both Italian and Spanish, a first in her department, and is currently up for promotion to associate professor.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nicole
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to really giving importance to my passion over everything. I would have always chose my passion over how much money you were gonna make, or if you need to leave your family and friends. Always my passion was always number one. And then, human contact, because I like to surround myself with smart people, and artists, and people who can give me something that I can learn from it. And then, yeah, a driven to learn, that's for sure. Curiosity.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
No matter how much the job is gonna pay you, and how many opportunities it seems that they are available to you, and no matter how far you need to go to make that happen, if you really find your passion and really focus on it, and capitalize on that, and you don't get distracted, that no matter what job you want to do, it will pay off, and you will find out that you can be successful doing that.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Adopt the patience and determination as the two base factors. Because it can be very hard, and very frustrating. Sometimes you don't feel your voice heard at all. Learn to say no, and voice out your frustration and find the person in charge of something that you don't like, and have a conversation.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges in terms of the discipline, since it's humanities, it's always a second choice when it comes to getting founded, or having opportunities, or being recognized. But jobs related to humanities are probably going to survive AI. We might assist to a switch, where humanities become again strong and recognized. The challenge coming from an international background is the pressure of the American system when it comes to work and career. It can be dangerous sometimes. Put in your work before everything, and you always need to look for a balance.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Human connection. I value human connection a lot. Because I think, humans are the best resource. And they can really open up new doors. I like to work with my door open, because I like when people interrupt me, because it's annoying and enlightening at the same time, because even if you think that you got something, they can always open up new opportunities, new connections.
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