To celebrate Valentine’s Day and the upcoming 30th anniversary of CU being coeducational, we interviewed some of the faculty couples on campus: Dean Valentini and Prof. Barolini, Profs. Quigley and Denison, and Profs. Wennerlind and Miller. The responses were quite heartwarming.

Who: Da Ponte Professor of Italian Teodolinda Barolini and Deantini

Where and when did you two meet?
We met at Columbia in May 1994, when we were both elected to the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

How long have you been married?
Eleven years this month.

How did the fact that you were both in academics impact your decision to start seeing each other?
It was not a factor. We just liked each other right away.

What is it like to both work at Columbia?
Well, we get to see each other a lot, we understand each other’s work and work life, and we have a lot more of life to share. But, sometimes at Columbia we get viewed just as a couple when we want to be and should be treated as individuals.

Who: Senior English Lecturer Patricia Denison and Dramatic Lit Professor / Dean Emeritus Austin Quigley

Where and when did you two meet?
We met at a University of Virginia social event—a mixed doubles tennis tournament for which names were drawn from a hat. We were paired together by chance, won the tournament, and were obviously meant for each other.

How long have you been married?
We have been married for 33 years and have raised four daughters, of whom we are very proud.

How did the fact that you were both in academics impact your decision to start seeing each other?
The fact that we were both very interested in studying and teaching drama and theatre was an initial common ground, and we have shared that interest ever since. Our professional and social lives are closely linked in this respect, but we also have a shared commitment to academic governance and college service, to being involved in the larger life of the University. As we both love working with students, and often some of the same students, we also attend student performances together and share student gatherings in our home.

What is it like to both work at Columbia?
It is very rewarding to be working together at Columbia and Barnard. We have sufficient distance between us in our day to day responsibilities so that we can enjoy independent careers, but there is sufficient overlap between Barnard and Columbia for us to be able to work together, on occasion, to help strengthen the ties.

Who: English Professor Monica Miller and History Professor Carl Wennerlind

Where and when did you two meet?
At Barnard’s New Faculty Orientation Program in September of 2000. At the time, a low-tech version of an academic Match.com.

How long have you been married?
We’ve been together since then and married in 2004. We have two children: Langston, who is 5 years old, and Selma, who is 2.

How did the fact that you were both in academics impact your decision to start seeing each other?
Prof. Miller: Academics, especially those on the tenure track, do not have a lot of free time. I was extremely lucky to meet Carl at a dinner in Sulzberger Tower. I am thankful for the fact that Carl is also a professor almost every single day. He understands exactly what the local and global challenges and pleasures of the profession are—he is sympathetic and also a true partner in life and work.

Prof. Wennerlind: As a non-native speaker (I’m Swedish), it’s great to have an English professor nearby to finesse my written work. Seriously, it is just amazing to share my life with a brilliant person with whom I can talk about ideas, history, and texts—and what to have for dinner.

What is it like to both work at Columbia?
Many academic couples spend years trying to find jobs in the same region or city—we are really lucky to be at the same institution. Because we teach in two of the biggest departments at Barnard and are affiliated with 3 others, we also benefit from shared knowledge of many other scholars; we also have a better sense of how the institution works. This has been extremely helpful to us and also important in helping both of us to feel invested in this community. And, we get to have lunch together a couple of times a week—this is a privilege because we really enjoy each other’s company.