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
Father, a short film written and directed by current student Gleb Osatinski, will have its international premiere at the 60th edition of the Krakow Film Festival in Poland in June. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the festival will take place online between May 31 and June 7. The film will show three times with the final showtimes being announced online on May 10.
Iron Hands, written and directed by alumnus Johnson Cheng ’19, was released on Vimeo Staff Picks last week. The film was produced by current student Tianqi Zhuo, co-produced by alumna Xixi Wang ’18 and associate produced by current student Yachi Yang. Current student Shipei Wen served as Director of Photography.
On April 23, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences announced its newest members of 2020. Among the 276 artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders inducted include Columbia University’s Visual Arts Professor Sarah Sze and Writing alumna Claudia Rankine ’93.
On A Global Scale is a bi-weekly series about international co-productions by Columbia filmmakers. Welcome to another edition of On A Global Scale. This series celebrates the international spirit of the Columbia University film program and the incredible global collaborations coming out of it.
In the modern age of streaming, the international film community has grown more global and vital than ever. This has led to an increase in foreign language films leaving their marks on mainstream movie culture, emphasized particularly with Parasite being the first non-English speaking…
Beauty, a novel by alumna Christina Chiu '00, is being released this Friday, May 1, from 2040 Books/The Santa Fe Writers Project. The book follows Amy Wong, an up-and-coming designer in the New York fashion industry who is derailed again and again by the chauvinist workforce and familial expectations.
Paintings by recent alumna Annette Hur ’19 are on display in Columbia University’s Café Nous, located in Philosophy Hall. This solo exhibit was curated by Jennifer Mock, who is the Associate Director of the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Gallery.
Alumnus Adam O. Davis ’06 will promote his forthcoming poetry debut Index of Haunted Houses with a hotline that allows curious readers to interact with the book, which itself is concerned with old telephone technologies. The collection is the winner of the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, from Sarabande Books.
Diversity in Film is a bi-weekly series covering underrepresented groups in Film.
The 65th annual Drama Desk Award nominees include productions featuring Columbia Faculty, alumni, and current students.
Stars Behind The Stars is a bi-weekly series featuring theatre makers behind the scenes.
This week we sat down with Stage Management student Kelley Lynne Moncrief ’21 and discussed her work on Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol. Moncrief is a Virgo who worked on the inaugural MTI Senior production of Into The Woods Senior and the Broadway bound musical Becoming Nancy.
Soft Power by Barnard alumna Jeanine Tesori ’83 and Professor David Henry Hwang, launched its cast recording featuring the Off Broadway cast of the New York premiere production at The Public Theater.
Alumna Nadia Foskolou ’08 translates The Viewpoints Book by professor Anne Bogart and recent adjunct Tina Landau into Greek.