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
Reign is Over, a debut chapbook by Poetry student Emily Simon, was published on February 14, 2021 by Choo Choo Press, a small Risograph press co-founded by student Taylor Zhang and NYC-based designer Emily Bluedorn.
Directing Student Rebecca Miller Kratzer was recently named the Resident Stage Director & Chief Engagement Officer at Helios Opera.
Soon After First Light is a series where we talk craft, process, and pandemic with Columbia's accomplished writing professors.
For George on His 30th Birthday, written, directed & featuring music by alumna Ursula Ellis '17 is now available to view on Directors Notes and Film Shortage.
The Body Scout, a debut novel by alumnus and adjunct faculty member Lincoln Michel '09, will be released by Orbit Books on September 21, 2021. Read the first chapter of this near-future dystopian tale here.
Visual Arts alumnus José Delgado Zuñiga ’17 will display his painting series Noises at Central Fine in Miami Beach, Florida from February 7, 2021 to March 10, 2021.
The Writing Program welcomed Mei-mei Berssenbrugge '73 and Campbell McGrath '88 to their Fifth Annual Alumni Poetry Reading Series. This marked the Poetry Concentration’s third reading of the 2020-21 academic year and was again hosted by Professor and Poetry Concentration Head Timothy Donnelly.
Something New Under the Sun, the second novel by alumna Alexandra Kleeman '12, will be published by Hogarth Press and released on August 3, 2021.
The final season of, a series co-created, co-executive produced and written by alumnus Francisco Angones '11 and written by alumni Robert Snow '10, Christian Magalhaes '10 and Rachel Vine '06, will come to an end with a 90-minute series finale which will air on March 15, 2021.
The Playwright’s Room is a series featuring the newest cohort of Columbia Playwriting students. These playwrights study under the tutelage of David Henry Hwang and Lynn Nottage.
Stars Behind The Stars is a bi-weekly series featuring theatre makers behind the scenes. This week, we sat down with Alumna Annie Jin Wang ’20.
Writing alumnus Lytton Smith ’07 has published two books: The Square, a chapbook of poems about protest movements (New Michigan Press) and On Time and Water, a translation of a groundbreaking Icelandic book about climate change (Open Letter).