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
Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars by alumna Kate Greene ’20 is a memoir about Greene’s time living in the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), a long-duration Mars exploration analog study run by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA.
Every year, the Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition recognizes new and innovative television pilots and connects a select few television writers with production companies, agencies and managers.
Theatre Alumna Ayvaunn Penn '18 and Alumnus and Staff member Clarence Coo '10 have been named finalists for the 2020 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference for new play development.
Two films by Columbia alumni and current students showed at the Maryland Film Festival from June 12 until June 21.
The Chautauqua Theater Conservatory has announced its class of 2020 with five Columbia actors on the list.
The Public Theater has announced its 2020-2022 Emerging Writers Group with recent alum Julián Mesri '20 listed among the ten new playwrights to be part of the prestigious program.
Nothing Can Hurt You, the recent debut novel by alumna Nicola Maye Goldberg ’18, was published to very positive reviews in June.
The Kilroys are a collective of playwrights, directors and producers in LA and NYC who are, they say, “done talking about gender parity and are taking action.”
Soy Sola, a short film written and directed by current student Natalia Luque and co-produced by current students Aliza Brugger and Cecilia Otero, will have its European premiere at the Brussels Short Film Festival in September
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'.
Recent alumnus Francisco González ’19 won the prestigious 2020 Gulf Coast Prize for his short story “Clean Teen.”
It Cuts Deep, a feature horror-comedy written and directed by alumnus Nicholas Payne Santos '19, produced by Kristy Richman '19, and assistant directed by Rtusha Kulkarni '19, was picked up for North American distribution by Dark Sky Films and is being repped by their parent company MPI at the virtual Cannes Market.