Tik Tok Influencer and Rutgers Alum Nicolas Nuvan Shares His Motto: Curiosity is Love

Tik Tok influencer Nicolas Nuvan, a Rutgers alum known for his on-the-street interviews with everyday Black and brown people–encounters that often revolve around food–revealed how and why he forms connections wherever he goes at an Express Newark event.    

Sponsored by the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America, Nuvan’s visit was  part of Rutgers-Newark’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. In a conversation with center director James Jones, Nuvan explored his motto, “Curiosity is love.’’

Before introducing Nuvan, Jones described him as an artist who “invites us into other people’s stories,” one conversation and one meal at a time. “With Nicolas,” he said, “food is never just food. It’s history, its identity, it’s recipes passed down for generations — dishes seasoned not only with spices, but with memory, survival, and love.”

“This evening is about how we see each other fully — how we celebrate laughter, empathy, and joy. When the heaviness feels overwhelming, I sometimes scroll through TikTok looking for an escape. And that’s where I find Nicholas. I never know where he’ll take us next, but wherever it is, it’s full of life.”

Born in Colombia and raised in Asbury Park, Nuvan grew up surrounded by immigrant families from all over the world. “Even though I was Colombian, my neighborhood was full of kids from everywhere–Pakistans, Ecuadorians, El Salvadorans, Russions,” he recalled. “What I learned early is that we all have a lot in common. People in my neighborhood loved me because they loved themselves — and that taught me how to love myself, too.”

The trade secret for his videos, which have garnered millions of views, is approaching people with love and a sense of openness.

“I just go around and talk to people,” said Nuvan, who graduated from Rutgers New Brunswick  in 2017. “It’s simple. The mission is to get to know people’s stories and share them with more people.”

What looks effortless is rooted in empathy and discipline. “People can tell when you’re really interested and you’re not trying to take something from them. People can feel when you’re truly curious. That’s the key — curiosity is love,’’ he said. “If you don’t have a real interest in someone’s story, don’t ask.’’

Before social media, which has morphed from a side hustle to a career, Nuvan--who majored in Human Resources and Labor Relations--worked in real estate and other fields he described as “boring.’’

His mother, he said, showed him how to persist. 

“She and my grandmother cleaned houses where people didn’t always treat them well,” he said. “But they never missed a day of work. My mother turned pain into purpose, and she taught me to do the same.”

As a young man, Nuvan, who is now a citizen, was undocumented, which he called “hella stressful.” But it also deepened his connection to immigrant resilience and joy. “People in my community, they just keep at it,” he said. “A woman I met once told me, ‘My joy is revolutionary.’ That stuck with me. You can still be angry or sad, but joy — that’s how we resist.”

Nuvan credited Rutgers with helping him remain true to himself.

“This university has given me so much,’’ he said. “Rutgers was one of those places where I was able to structure my thoughts and see these professors that stuck to their values to the core. The world has a way of wanting you to veer from your values. I have values and I stick to them.’’

“You’re going to a great school,’’ he reminded the students in the audience. “You’re going to be alright.’’

Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson linked Nuvan’s work to Rutgers-Newark’s recent national recognition for supporting Hispanic students. “Rutgers-Newark has earned the Seal of Excelencia because we’ve built an institution where Hispanic and Latino students belong and thrive — as much as every other student,” she said.

Nuvan’s instinct to connect across cultures reflects the university’s strengths, said Smith-Jackson.
“Our success comes from valuing who you are, your stories, and the communities that shaped you,’’ she said. “Nicolas embodies that inclusive excellence.”