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
Four Columbia alumni had their films screened at the Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF & ASIA) in Tokyo. Greenhouse, a short film written & directed by Xixi Wang '19 and produced by Haichao Fang '19, screened on Monday.
Conversations with Artists in Art Getting Art is a bi-weekly series and a play on Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. We interview artists about their art and 'getting art'.
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality, the new documentary by Professor Trey Ellis won an Emmy at the 41st News & Documentary Emmy Awards last night.
The Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School has awarded theatre alumna Anna Rebek ’20 the 2020-2021 Opera Directing Fellowship, a nine-month program.
Alumna Nadja Marcin ’10 is showing in a group exhibition Even the rocks reach out to kiss you at Transpalette - Centre d'art Contemporain in Bourges, France.
Feature Documentary, Dick Johnson is Dead, co-produced by Associate Professor and Chair of the Creative Producing Concentration, Maureen A. Ryan, and Adjunct Assistant Professor Marilyn Ness, assistant directed by alumnus Michael Toscano ’12, and with alumnus John Wakayama Carey ’14, as Director of Photography, and production managed by Adjunct Assistant Professor Sarah Seulki Oh, will have its premiere on Netflix on October 2, 2020.
Fidelio Films, a production company co-founded by alumni David Figueroa García '13, Mauricio Leiva Cock '13 and Mauro Mueller '13, has signed a development and co-production deal with Stories, the film and TV subsidiary of Spain-based publishing giant Editorial Planeta.
Alumna Ashley Tata ’12 directs Out of the Silence: A Celebration of Music, Program One as a part of the Bard Music Festival.
At this years’ 45th Annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the Toronto International Film Festival International Critics’ Prize, currently known as the FIPRESCI Prize, was awarded to alumna Déa Kulumbegashvili '18, for her debut feature film, Beginning. In 1992, FIPRESCI launched an award at TIFF to honor the best film by a first-time director, as selected by an appointed jury of eight international film critics.
Unorthodox, a Netflix Original show created by undergraduate Film Studies alumna Anna Winger '93, won an Emmy for Best Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama Special at last night’s 72nd Emmy Awards.
