Office Hours is a series focusing on unique artifacts that BYU employees display in their offices.
When you first think of a law professor’s office, you might imagine large stacks of legal textbooks, a heavy wooden desk, or a framed diploma. But that is not the case for Professor Carolina Núñez, who teaches immigration law and citizenship at BYU’s law school.
Walking into Núñez’s office, you might notice her turquoise couch with Frida Kahlo pillows, or maybe her historic furniture once owned by J. Reuben Clark and Brigham Young Academy, but what captures most people’s attention is her large picture wall above her desk.
Over 60 square photographs placed in neat rows fill her wall with colorful images of her family and their travels. Images include posing at the top of a mountain, beautiful views from the places they’ve stayed, or her kids in front of a historical building.
“When my husband and I got married, people told us, ‘Too bad, you won’t be able to travel anymore,’” she said. “So we made a pact that we would visit one new country every year.”
When they began having children, the comments continued, but instead of stopping, they kept traveling and brought their kids along.
These photos represent more than memories of travels but share an ongoing family tradition.
“Being exposed to different people, different culture, different architecture, different food, I think it's eye opening and good education,” she said. “This is for my education, and for my kids' education.”
Núñez never wanted to stop learning, and her travels allow her to live that dream by broadening her perspective, making her more open to other cultures and a better teacher.
Her travels live on in her office through these photos and souvenirs she’s gathered along the way as a constant reminder of this fun family tradition.
“I love my office. Everything here is on purpose. Everything means something in here.”
