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
Three Columbia alumni have had their projects selected for Torino FilmLab’s 2021 Scriptlab.
Stars Behind The Stars is a bi-weekly series featuring theatre makers behind the scenes.
Kaiser Gallery presents Sugar (Chapter II), a solo exhibition featuring alumnus Derick Whitson’s ’17, in Cleveland, Ohio. This follows after Whitson’s show Sissy Boys Only (Chapter I).
Playwriting alumnus Max Mondi ’18 writes and produces RIGHT NOW! as part of as digital programming.
An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, written by Theatre alumna Jocelyn Bioh ’08 and directed by alumnus Saheem Ali ’07, will open the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park 2021 season on July 5, 2021.
Theatre alumnus Carl Cofield ’14 will serve as the Chair of Graduate Acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts beginning in September of 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.
Two projects by Columbia filmmakers are set to show at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival (CPH:DOX) from April 21 to May 2.
'Dalia' a short film directed by alumnus Brúsi Ólason '20, written by alumna Leticia Andrea Akel Escárate '18, and produced by alumnus Kári Úlfsso '20, won the Special Jury Prize at the Euregion Film Festival in the Netherlands, where it screened in February. Ólason was also interviewed about the film by CineSud. You can watch it here.
Abundance, a debut novel by alumnus Jakob Guanzon '17, was released on March 2, 2021 by Graywolf Press to great critical acclaim.
Lurkers, a novel written by film alumna, author, and director Sandi Tan '00, will be published by Soho Press on March 30, 2021.
Visual Arts alumna Midori Curtis ’89 was recently featured in a solo printmaking exhibition at Yoseido Gallery. The exhibition ran from March 10, 2021 to March 27, 2021.