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 2022-2024 interviews were conducted by student Carlos Barragán. 2024-2025 interviews were conducted by students Andrew Scott and Cristóbal Riego.

“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 Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Mynette Louie about crashing NYU student film sets, green-lighting projects as a film financier, and the future of the festival circuit.

Here, we talk with Adjunct Associate Professor of Film and alumnus Shrihari Sathe '09 about world cinema, what it takes to be a producer, and his directorial debut, Ek Hazarachi Note (1000 Rupee Note). 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies Racquel Gates about taking pop culture seriously, her academic work on Hollywood and the invention of Blackness.

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, Director of Graduate Studies, and alumna Adama Delphine Fawundu '18 about getting her start in the golden era of hip-hop, studying for an MFA at Columbia University and finding her voice as a visual artist.

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Visual Arts and Photography Concentration Head Naeem Mohaiemen about the future of photography, the path of unlearning, and his journey to becoming an Anthropologist in the Visual Arts. 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Film Jack Lechner about his diverse career, the innovative web series Group, and helping students unlock a story’s full potential. 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor and Acting Co-Concentration Head, James Calleri about Calleri Studio, casting’s modified comeback, and the importance of staying true to one’s artistic path. 

Here, we talk with alumna and  Assistant Professor of Writing Rivka Galchen '06 about teaching her hybrid seminar last fall, her forthcoming novel Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch, and the fluidity of her writing practice. 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Theatre and Playwriting Concentration Head David Henry Hwang about his most recent projects, the challenges of collaboration in the Zoom era, and the power of authenticity in art. 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor of Writing Deborah Paredez about COVID-19’s impact on her writing practice, the kinesthetic challenges in Zoom classrooms, and the pleasure in process over product. 

Here, we talk with Associate Professor and Fiction Concentration Head Victor LaValle about his forthcoming novel Lone Women, how Zoom has changed the classroom dynamic, and how routine can be more important than talent. 

Here, we talk with Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Film and Theatre David Klass about the recent Netflix adaptation of his thriller novel Out of Time, what inspires him to write, and how COVID-19 has affected his teaching. 

"There's no Zoom-substitute for seeing work in person...there's the part about not only the interaction, but the access to materials, facilities, things like that, and I worked really hard to try to make it the best possible and was also blown away by the students, and how they stepped into it and were really ready to commit one hundred percent to making it work."