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
A large number of Columbia Theatre alumni are involved in the upcoming Global Forms Theatre Festival, a virtual event co-produced by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and New York Theatre Salon happening between June 22 and June 28 2020.
The Change: My Great American, Postindustrial, Midlife Crisis Tour, a book by alumna Lori Soderlind ’97 was released on June 10. This is her second book.
Directing alumnus Saheem Ali ’07 directs the upcoming production of Richard II as a part of the annual Shakespeare in the Park series with The Public Theater. Free Shakespeare in the Park has been a pinnacle of New York City artistic endeavors for more than 60 years. The annual productions celebrate the vision of the Public Theater’s founder Joseph Papp, to create theatre that is of, by, and for all people.
Tres Noches Y Una Cabra (Three Nights and a Goat), directed by alumnus Nicolás Becerra '18, written by alumnus Ben Gottlieb '19 and produced by alumna Jennifer Sciarra '18, was selected to screen at the Panorama Colombia Film Festival in Germany, which has been postponed currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Writers in Collaboration is a series covering writers involved in two art mediums and/or working with other artists. This week we sat down with recent nonfiction alumna Brianna Sophia Scalesse ’20 whose literary background has helped deepen her imagination and work as a fashion model.
Salt (Sabras), a feature film project written and to be directed by current student Sushma Khadepaun, has won a SFFILM's Spring 2020 Westridge Grant.
Something to Believe In (Algo en lo que creer), a short film written and directed by alumna Fany de la Chica '18 and produced by alumnus Luca Marcovici '18, screened at the Cinequest Film Festival in March as part of the Life Lessons program, and will be shown at the San Diego Latino Film Festival in October. The film will also be presented at the 4th edition of the Latino Film Market in New York from July 17 to August 2, 2020 in New York City.
The Margot Affair, the debut novel by Alumna Sanaë Lemoine ’15, will be published on June 16 through Hogarth Press.
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'.
Two books by members of the Columbia community are featured in Buzzfeed’s ”29 Summer Books You Won't Be Able To Put Down”.
Visual Arts Alumna Xiaoshi Vivian Vivian Qin ’15 currently has works in two galleries: How Do We Begin at X Museum in Beijing, China, and Next Act: Contemporary Art from Hong Kong at Hong Kong’s Asia Society.
Chosen, a pilot directed by alumnus Daniel Fermín Pfeffer '18, written and produced by alumnus Michael Goitanich '18, and produced by alumna Ewing Luo '18, was selected to screen as part of the Independent Pilot Competition at SeriesFest's Virtual Film Festival. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the festival has shifted to a virtual edition taking place from June 18 to June 24 2020.