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 Palo Alto Art Center presents Where the Heart Is: Contemporary Art by Immigrant Artists featuring the work of alumna Susan Chen ’20 and fourteen other visual artists.
Sophie Jones, executive produced by alumna Nicole Holofcener '88, is now playing in theaters and on VOD.
The Playwright’s Room is a series featuring the newest cohort of Columbia Playwriting students.
Thin Mints by Playwriting alumna Ellen Steves ’17 will play in Sideshow Theatre Company’s House Party series.
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers.
Alumna and Adjunct Professor Katrine Øgaard Jensen '17 recently published her latest translation of Ursula Andkjær Olsen's poetry, Outgoing Vessel, from the Danish through Action Books.
The LeRoy Neiman Gallery’s current online exhibition showcases the 2016 collaboration between Visual Arts mentor Michael Joo Professor Nathan Catlin ’12 and students at the Neiman Center to realize his groundbreaking series of silvered printscreens, entitled 7 Sins.
Alumna Julia Solomonoff '00 was named Chair of the Graduate Film Program at New York University.
Black Prom, a short film produced by alumna Avril Speaks '03 and Home, a short film written and directed by alumna Ellie Foumbi '17, are now available to watch on the Netflix Film Club channel on YouTube as part of a showcase co-presented by Netflix and Film Independent.
Behind the D4 is an interview series about the D4 films made by Film MFA Program students.
Make Room Gallery presents the first solo exhibition by Yuri Yuan ’21, Moments of Being, in Los Angeles, CA. The show features paintings made during her first and second years of graduate school at Columbia.
Out of the Past, Into the Future is a bi-weekly series that aims to chronicle a limitless scope of work by Columbia filmmakers representative of the past, present, and future.