Interview with Danila Andreev, graduate Ph.D. in Philology from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences

On June 5, the 155 researchers who defended their thesis at the University of Navarra during the 2025–26 academic year attended the doctoral graduation ceremony. Of these, 18 are from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Alejandro Martínez Berroterán, Wagner Augusto Moraes, Guillermo Celaya, Alfonso Aparicio, Nicolás de Navascués, Gloria del Carmen Balderas, Guillermo Navarro, Thomas Pillion, Rafael Pou, Carlos Piana, Juan Diego Molina, Manuel Zafra, Pau Monzón, Doménica Ariel Argenzio, Priscila S. Guerra, Martín Cuevas, Carmen Nagore, and Danila Andreev.

We spoke with him to hear about his personal, academic, and professional journey that has brought him to where he is today. A native of St. Petersburg, and knowing barely a few words of Spanish, he came to Pamplona thanks to his mother’s determination and the financial aid the university’s representative in Russia, Magdalena Gaete, at a time when studying abroad seemed unlikely for financial reasons.

Since then, he has balanced programs of study work a teacher, translator, interpreter, and illustrator—while pursuing his passion for research. His thesis explores the poetics of time and the future in the work of Russian poet Joseph Brodsky, one of his reference letter.

Q. How did you first hear about the University of Navarra, and how did you end up here?

A. My mother met the university’s representative in Russia, Magdalena Gaete, through a mutual friend. Back then, I wasn’t particularly interested in studying, and instead of worrying about the future, I spent my own “class hours” in the library and at the Hermitage (one of the perks of being from St. Petersburg). Besides, given our status , it was unlikely that I would be able to study in a degree program of Russia, let alone at a private university. But Magdalena wanted to meet me and thought it was worth a try. And here I am, graduate a Ph.D. in Philology

My mother’s dedication and work are hard to put into words. But I also can’t overlook the tremendous effort made by the university itself—from the administrative staff to the faculty and students: there are many people without whom I wouldn’t be here today.

Q. You studied Philology . Did you know Spanish before coming to Spain? How did you adjust and learn the language once you were here?

A. I knew a little Spanish. When I was fifteen, my parents used my grandfather’s inheritance to send me to Madrid to study Spanish for a week. Some friends of ours lived there, and the inheritance was only enough to cover the course. When I returned to Russia, I spent half a year in vocational training to become guide and chose Spanish as language . But I never really clicked with the teacher. So, when I arrived here, I only knew the verb conjugations and a few words like “table,” “chair,” “ham,” “check, please”...

Naturally, many people are surprised that I studied Philology . The answer is that I didn’t care which Philology : I’ve always loved language general. Every language a precious, living organism. I was good at languages, and even in high school I wanted to dedicate myself to language literature; the specifics mattered less. The ideal choice for me at the time was to study Philology , but it wasn’t offered at the University of Navarra.

The adjustment process wasn't exactly easy. Not so much because of the language because of the culture. But Spaniards, in my experience, have a great quality: they are extremely welcoming and understanding. And while the former is more or less common in other cultures, I was really surprised by how hard people tried to understand me, to put themselves in my shoes. Naturally, I tried to return the favor.

Q. What has your career path been like since you graduated?

A. During my degree program to work and did a little bit of everything: private tutoring, teaching assistant the library, and working as a translator and interpreter. After graduating, I first worked for a year on a scholarship at the University of Navarra, in the development Admissions area the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. After that, I pursued a Master's Degree faculty, focusing on teaching . Meanwhile, I worked teaching Spanish as language and as an artist (I did some commissioned portraits and even illustrated a book). But my goal to write my thesis that would have been impossible without the scholarship (association Friends) scholarship they awarded me. No amount of gratitude can fully express my appreciation for the trust and generosity of the donors and the Faculty.

Q. Why did you decide to write your thesis

A. During my final year of degree program, while workingwork Degree(TFG), I realized just how much I enjoyed research. Well, actually, I just put a name to something I’d been doing my whole life. While I was studying for my Degree,researchwas just one part of the learning process; I didn’t associate it with pathway . grade : I don’t like to think of studying the humanities as a degree program , which implies a pathway , set lanes like those found in other more “secure” majors. In fact, what I like most is precisely the “human” breadth one gains by studying the humanities. But while working on that final project, I said to myself: “Wow, I could actually do this for a living!” And from then on, it became increasingly clear to me: making a living by reading, thinking, and writing—what could be better? There’s also teaching, of course, but I feel that comes naturally, out of a pure desire to share.

Q. Could you briefly tell us what your thesis is about thesis why you chose that topic?

A. The thesis the future as a category of meaning in Joseph Brodsky’s poetry. Brodsky is one of the most important Russian poets of the last century, famous above all for having been sentenced to internal exile and then to exile by the communist regime, and for winning award in 1987. But as a poet, his main “contribution” to culture is his poetic treatment of time.

That said, most readers of Brodsky (including scholars) emphasize the past in his poetry: nostalgia for his homeland, the past as the only source of security, and so on. They focus on his “emigrant poetics,” on exile. To me, this reading has always seemed incomplete. Brodsky is one of my favorite poets, and I’ve been reading him since I was a teenager, and I’ve always felt the opposite: that the future is his primary concern. The “exodus” and the “poetics of meetingcarry equal weight here, and the future is his main driving force: hence, it is a “category of meaning.”

The thesis figure out whether I was right or not, and I think I am. And why did I return to Russian after studying Philology ? I suppose I wanted to take this opportunity to broaden my programs of study: to delve deeper into my native Philology and touch on other subjects, even if only briefly, such as philosophy, programs of study , Anglo-Saxon poetry, etc.

Q. What is the most important lesson or achievement you’ve taken away from this phase of PhD student? And what about a mistake?

A. The best decision was choosing Gabriel Insausti as director. Without a doubt. The biggest lesson… In ahumanities thesis , you learn a lot of interesting things. You could answer something like “I know that I know nothing” or “I know myself better now,” or “it’s about serving”; I also like the idea that “I’ve accepted my limitations,” but you don’t need to write a thesis for that thesis Soft skills? I suppose planning tasks, teaching classes, dealing with students: all of this is useful, but not central either (in the case of my thesis at least). I think I’ve relearned how to read. Yes, above all, it’s about reading. And the mistake is not having read more.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

A. That’s easy: reading and writing. Continuing to “research” and share knowledge—as a teacher, a translator, or publisher.