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
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers.
The Four Humors, a debut novel by fiction alumna Mina Seçkin '18 (CC '15), will be released by Catapult on November 9, 2021.
Uncovering the Heritage Silhouette is a bi-weekly series diving into how tradition influences the creation of art. We interview artists heavily influenced by their heritage.
The University of Texas at Austin recently announced that alumnus Aaron Aceves '20 will be one of two early career fellows in Creative Writing.
Visual Arts alumnus Vikram Divecha ’19 has work on display in the Out of Place exhibition at Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde in Dubai, UAE. The show runs from March 22, 2021 to May 22, 2021.
Visual Arts alumnus Cy Gavin ’16 has a self-titled solo exhibition on display at Aspen Art Museum (AAM) in Aspen, Colorado.
The Visual Arts and Sound Art MFA Programs at Columbia University School of the Arts recently showcased the Class of 2021 in their postponed First Year MFA Exhibition.
The Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) will present its annual Andrew Sarris Award to Palestian-American filmmaker and Film Program alumna Cherien Dabis ’04.
Uncovering the Heritage Silhouette is a bi-weekly series diving into how tradition influences the creation of art. We interview artists heavily influenced by their heritage.