This Is Who We Are

This Is Who We Are is a series featuring Columbia School of the Arts’ professors, covering careers, pedagogy, and art-making. 

Started in Fall 2020 by alumna Amanda Breen '21, 2021-2022 interviews were conducted by student Willam Hutton, and 2022-2023 interviews are conducted by student Carlos Barragán.

“Between coronavirus and politics, so much is frightening about the world right now that it almost feels like escapism to lose myself in the pages of a 100-year-old novel.”

Associate Professor Susan Bernofsky, Writing, Director of Literary Translation (LTAC)

Here, we talk with Visual Arts Lecturer João Pina about his career as a photographer, his new project, Tarrafal, and why failure i

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Writing Matthew Salesses about writing myths, how to properly conduct a workshop and why

Here, we talk with Film Professor and alumna Anocha Suwichakornpong '06 about her career, the secrets behind a good character and

Here, we talk with Theatre Associate Professor María José Contreras Lorenzini about her career as an artist, the perks of blending

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Mynette Louie about crashing NYU student film sets, green-lighting

Here, we talk with Adjunct Associate Professor of Film and alumnus Shrihari Sathe '09 about world cinema, what it takes to be a pr

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies Racquel Gates about taking pop culture seriously, her academic wo

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, Director of Graduate Studies, and alumna Adama Delphine Fawundu '18 about g

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Visual Arts and Photography Concentration Head Naeem Mohaiemen about the future of photo

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Film Jack Lechner about his diverse career, the innovative web series Group, and helping

Here, we talk with Associate Professor and Acting Co-Concentration Head, James Calleri about Calleri Studio, casting’s modified co

Here, we talk with alumna and  Assistant Professor of Writing Rivka Galchen '06 about teaching her hybrid seminar