At the front of Dean Carlos Alonso’s desk sits a “vejigante.” It’s a figurine from Puerto Rico, from where Alonso hails. Vejigantes, “roam the streets during carnaval and other festivities on the island.”

The dean of Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences told Columbia News that he keeps the vejigante on his desk to keep “evil spirits away from the office of the dean.”

“So far, so good,” he joked.

For more on Carlos Alonso, watch his Meet the Dean video.
   • Meet Carlos Alonso, Dean of Columbia’...  

“My Favorite Things” is a Columbia News series featuring the inspirational, joyful, and often surprising objects found in the offices of Columbians.