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
Writing Program Alumna Forsyth Harmon ‘13 (‘01 CC) was recently featured alongside fellow authors Melissa Febos and Lilly Dancyger in BOMB Magazine’s virtual series, A Room with a View.
The 2021 Williamstown Theatre Festival will feature an outdoor season of works, all of which include Columbia alumni and faculty.
On May 1st, alumnus Baris Gokturk'20, who is currently a guest artist at the ELM Foundation unveiled his monumental piece at The Boiler.
The 33rd Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) concluded on May 3 with its annual Awards Night ceremony.
'La Bailarina', a short film written and directed by alumnus Samuel Harwood '19 and produced by alumna Arlene Fernandez '19, runs virtually at the New York International Film Festival from April 21 to May 5 2021.
Eyimofe (This is My Desire), a feature film co-directed and co-written by alumnus Arie Esiri '19 and edited by alumnus Andrew Stephen Lee '18, will screen virtually from May 7 to 12, 2021 as part of the Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center's New Directors/New Films series. The film, which Esiri co-directed with his brother Chuko, previously premiered at the Berlinale Forum in 2020.
Behind the D4 is an interview series about the D4 films made by Film MFA Program students.
Poetry alumnus Christopher Bakken '92 has been granted a Fulbright award for the 2021-22 academic year.
Alumna Marie Jamora '05 is set to direct a forthcoming episode of the sixth season of the show Queen Sugar, which will premiere on OWN this fall.
Release the Horses the newest performance work by alumnus Phoebe Osborne‘18, recently premiered via a live-streamed event right here on the Columbia University campus.
Stars Behind The Stars is a bi-weekly series featuring theatre makers behind the scenes.
Constellations of Eve, a new novel by alumna Abbigail Rosewood '17, will be released through a collaboration between Texas Tech University Press and the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network in Spring of 2022.