By now everyone knows the stellar credentials of our new provost. In a chat with The .PE.N., we get to meet the down to earth person behind those credentials.

A self-proclaimed bibliophile, new Purchase College Provost, Damian Fernandez, contends that with a good book, one is never alone. For recreational reading, he prefers fiction. Damian’s all-time favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Colombian-born Gabriel Garcia Márquez. More recently he has been enjoying an exploration of contemporary American fiction that includes Beautiful Children by Charles Bock; The History of Love by Nicole Krauss; Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl; as well as The Gathering by Irish author, Anne Enright. Although fiction may be his preferred literary genre, Damian is quick to note that his two favorite poets are T.S.Eliot and Cesar Vallejo.

He is also inculcating a love of literature in his 51/2 year-old son, Julian, when they savor a reading of that great literary work, The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers.

Born in Cuba and raised in Puerto Rico, Damian relishes a diversity of locales. Of all his European travels, Sweden stands out because of its proximity to water and the welcome of surrounding islands that greets visitors. Motivated by his love of seafood and prompted by an article about mussels, Damian undertook a trip to Prince Edward Island in Canada. The laidback, earthy, and peaceful ambience of the place was so appealing that he bought property there. He also owns a small home in the southern climes of Melbourne, Florida near a wildlife preserve. On his travel “to do” list are the Canary Islands, where his grandfather Damian lived, and Iceland. Since coming to Purchase, Damian makes his new home in Scarsdale.

In the past, Damian has enjoyed semi-competitive, community-based volley ball as well as tennis. He is also an avid art collector who likes to patronize young emerging artists on the cutting