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
Recently The Sewanee Review announced the winners of its annual contest, awarding the prize in Fiction to alumna Becky Shirley '19.
Four projects by Columbia filmmakers have been chosen as finalists for this year’s renowned SFFILM Raining Grant.
Distance, written and directed by Grace Swee '18 and produced by Apoorva Charan '18, is now streaming on Vidsee, as part of the Viddsee Juree Awards Singapore 2020, Out Of Competition program.
Alumni Nana Dakin ’18 and Keenan Tyler Oliphant ’21 join Clubbed Thumb’s 2020/2021 Directing Fellowship, held at the Obie winning theatre and mentored by Anne Kaufman, Daniel Aukin, Niegel Smith and Laurie Wooler.
Three films, written and directed by students and alumni, premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, running September 25 to October 30. They are, Lonely Blue Night, written, directed and edited by alumnus Johnson Cheng '20, produced by alumna Apoorva Charan '18 and associate produced by alumnus Ewing Luo '18, Death of Nintendo, written and produced by alumna Valerie Castillo Martinez '16 and edited by alumnus Cyril Aris '17, and Mirror, written and directed by student Christina Yoon and…
Entre tú y Milagros, a short film directed by Mariana Saffon '19, written by Saffon and alumna Nathalie Álvarez Mesén '19, produced by Saffon and student Jorge Granados Ross, associate produced by alumnus Saim Sadiq '19 and edited by alumnus Andrew Stephen Lee '18 continues to make waves on the festival circuit by taking home the Best Narrative Short Film award at the Oscar-qualifying 28th Hamptons International Film Festival.
Theatre Alumnus Marc Atkinson ’16 was recently awarded the 2020 Gate Bursary from The Gate Theatre, Dublin. The award facilitates the development of new work both at the theatre and remotely. Atkinson will receive institutional support during a year-long residency.
Visual Arts alumni Baris Gokturk ’20, Bradley Pitts ’20, Cara Lynch ’20, Catalina Antonio ’20, Clare Koury ’20, Eric Brittain ’20, Erica Mao ’20, Henry Anker ’20, James Mercer ’20, Jenn Hassin ’20, Joan Hacker ’20 Joanna Cortez ’20, Julian Day ’20, Mónica Félix ’20, Roni Aviv ’20, Lau Wai ’20, Yi Sa-Ra ’20, and Yifan Jiang ’20 are showing work in the Minorly Magical exhibition curated by alumna Annette Hur ’19 at K&P Gallery.
Alumnus Grant Bergland '15 was recently awarded the Excellence in Filmmaking Award at the 2020 Anthem Film Festival for his short narrative film, Metrics.
Tiny Nightmares, a collection of horror-themed flash fiction stories co-edited by Adjunct Assistant Professor and Alumnus Lincoln Michel '07, was released by Catapult on October 13, 2020.
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.