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
Columbia filmmakers celebrated another successful year at the 26th Annual DGA Student Film Awards for African American, Asian American, Latino and women directors. After taking home prizes in the past editions, Columbia filmmakers won four of the eight eastern regional honors of the prestigious award.
Seven films by Columbia filmmakers have been longlisted for the 2021 EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). They are The White Tiger The Mauritanian, The Truffle Hunters Becoming, Dick Johnson is Dead, Athlete A All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Assistant, and 'm No Longer Here.
Last year, Columbia Alumni established Apocalyptic Artists Ensemble AAE), a theatrical company dedicated to empowering young people to be creative and think outside the box.
Empirical Nonsense Daily (END) is an online art project that features a different artist daily.
Five projects by Columbia filmmakers have been shortlisted at this year’s 93rd edition of the Academy Awards.
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers.
HarperCollins India recently announced that their prestigious Fourth Estate Imprint would be publishing a debut novel by alumna Naheed Phiroze Patel '16.
Nonfiction Alumna Kao Kalia Yang '05 recently published two books, Somewhere in the Unknown World (Metropolitan, 2020)—a collective refugee memoir—and The Most Beautiful Thing (Carolrhoda Books, 2020)—a picture book based on Yang's own experience as a young Hmong refugee.
Hesse Flatow in New York City presents alumna Annette Hur’s ’19 solo exhibition Willful Unknowing.
As we observe Black History Month, Columbia News looks back at Black Columbians who made history through their activism.
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 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has commissioned a poem by Writing alumna Tracy K. Smith 97 for its COVID-19 memorial, which honors the more than 100 MTA employees who have lost their lives to the virus.