Student & Alumni Affairs

A Welcome Message from Laila Maher

Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs

Now more than ever it is crucial for artists to be supported as they pursue their craft. The life of an artist as well as that of a student involves much more than the classroom and the work itself, and this is where the Office of Student Affairs comes in. In addition to guiding new students through the process of transitioning to the School of the Arts, we plan the School-wide orientation, School of the Arts Convocation, and support student groups, events, and activities. 

We also play a critical role in connecting School of the Arts students to the larger university and necessary services, and help students navigate many of the central offices including Health Services (which houses the Office of Disability Services, Insurance, Immunization, and Counseling and Psychological Services), Columbia Residential, Public Safety, University Life, the International Students and Scholars Office, and the Registrar's Office. Our office also helps to uphold many of the School and University-wide policies and we manage the School’s disciplinary procedures.

The Artists’ Resource Center, also part of our Office, maintains information on funding opportunities and career resources for students and alumni at the Columbia University School of the Arts, and provides consultations to students and alumni to help them look for professional development opportunities and more.

After graduation, the Office of Alumni Affairs provides more than 7000 alumni artists, creators, and leaders with opportunities to stay connected with the School of the Arts, the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA), and one another through alumni programming, benefits, a monthly newsletter, and collaborations with CAA Arts Access.

Our ultimate goal is to support our students and alums while they pursue their education as valued members of our dynamic community and as they navigate their time after graduation.
 

Student & Alumni News

The NBC TV Writers Program has announced its newest cohort of eight writers, which includes Film alum Neda Jebelli '21 and Theatre

She discussed her work, the importance of dialogue with others, and the essentiality of the arts.

Moving Pictures, a solo show by Visual Arts alumna Nora Griffin '11, is currently on view at Fireman Gallery on the Lower

Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm(Knopf, 2024), a debut essay collection by Writing alumna Emmeline Clein ’22

Winners of the 96th Academy Awards were announced last night, and projects by Columbia filmmakers took home awards. 

Visual Arts alumna Anna Ting Möller ’23 is currently showcasing her solo exhibition,

Several projects from Columbia filmmakers are headed to the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, which will take place March 8-16, 202

Ghina Fawaz is an MFA student in the Theatre Program at School of the Arts.

Writing alumna Terese Svoboda '78 has recently published The Long Swim (MIT Press, 2023), a compelling collection of stor

Climate change has been in our cultural discourse for decades, with artists often wielding their work to bring people’s attention to the state of t

Winners of the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards were announced last week, and several Columbia filmmakers brought home major awards. 

 

Rankine read from her new work-in-progress ‘Triage’ and discussed the current political moment.