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
Two films by Columbia filmmakers took home major awards at the 2025 New Hampshire Film Festival.
Writing alum Jean Kyoung Frazier '18 has joined the writing room for HBO’s newest show, I Love LA.
Columbia theatremakers work on Lincoln Center Theater's latest production, the political thriller Kyoto.
Read more from the Columbia Spectator.
Grow, a new feature film produced by Joe Capotorto '18 and co-produced by Fernando Morrett Garza '25, was released in theaters across the United States on October 3, 2025.
Writing alum Hannah Kauders '20 will publish a new translation of Fátima Vélez’s novel, Galapagos this December with Astra House, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Writing alum Aaron H. Aceves '20 was awarded the 2025 Judith A. Markowitz Award for an Exceptional New LGBTQ Writer from Lambda Literary, a non-profit dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ stories for over thirty-five years.
Theatre alum Nadia Foskolou '08 has recently translated Declan Donnellan's seminal text, The Actor and the Target, which has been published in Greece by the prestigious Patakis Publishers.
On October 17, Netflix premiered The Twits, an animated retelling of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book, co-directed and co-written by Film alum Phil Johnston '04.
Writing alum Eduardo Martinez-Leyva '15 has been awarded the 2025 Lammy Award for LGBTQ+ Poetry for his book Cowboy Park (University of Wisconsin Press, 2024).
Film student Çağla Demirbaş, an award-winning filmmaker, flexed her chops behind the camera at 212 Photography Istanbul, which sprawled across the city this autumn from September 29 to October 12.
Columbia Filmmakers Champion LGBTQ+ Stories at NewFest2025; Nana Duffour '25 Takes Home Three Prizes
The 37th edition of NewFest wrapped on October 21, 2025 and Film alum Nana Duffour '25 emerged as one of the night’s brightest stars, sweeping three top honors across the Jury, Audience and Emerging Black LGBTQ+ Filmmaker categories.