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
Dramaturgy student Yibin (Bill) Wang is the Associate Director of the Artistic Department for the inaugural B·O·N·D International Virtual Live Performance Festival.
Columbia Stage Managers are working on exciting artistic projects on Broadway, off Broadway, on tour, and internationally.
The documentary, Totally Under Control, chronicling the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, co-directed and produced by alumna Ophelia Harutyunyan ’15, with Alex Gibney and Suzanne Hillinger also directing, will be released by NEON this month.
Theatre alumni Shayok Misha Chowdhury ’16, Celine Song ’14, and Mei Ann Teo ’14 will be guest speakers in The Path Forward Virtual Conference, which aims to teach artists new tools for success in the pandemic era.
This week, the Center for Fiction announced that Adjunct Assistant Professor Hilary Leichter '19 has been shortlisted for the 2020 First Novel Prize for her novel, Temporary (Coffee House Press, 2020).
Theatre Acting alumnus Neil D’Astolfo ’13 voices characters on CBS All Access’ Tooning out the News and on Showtime’s Our Cartoon President. Both shows are executively produced by Stephen Colbert.
The Catch, a short film directed by alumna Thais Drassinower '18 and written by alumna Camila Zavala '19, screened virtually at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles's (NFMLA) Latinx & Hispanic Cinema Festival. NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences teamed up for the annual NFMLA Film Festival InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema Festival, presented virtually, in collaboration with the streaming platform Seed&Spark.
I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí), a film written and directed by alumnus Fernando Frías de la Parra '15 and produced by alumnus Gerry Kim '11 won big at the Ariel Awards for Mexican Cinema, sweeping the trophies in 10 categories including the Best Film and Best Director sections.
Stars Behind The Stars is a bi-weekly series featuring theatre makers behind the scenes.
Alumnus Duy Hoàng '17 is featured in a group exhibition, Art Off-Screen, in New York and in The 2020 Festival Images Vevey in Switzerland.
“You’ve seen vaudeville acts. You’ve seen comedies where fat people fall. Now come and witness a daring vaudeville comedy act starring a Fat person. Enter, if you dare,” warns playwriting student Greg T. Nanni who stars in his one man show FAT.
Film alumni Shukree Tilghman '12 and Sherman Payne '09 recently started the Diversity Hires Podcast on listennotes.com.