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
The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, established in 1978, is given annually to recognize women who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre.
Longreads announced their Best of 2019 in Arts and Culture recently, which asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories across the web. For Arts and Culture, Longreads columnist Soraya Roberts picked “The Artist Who Gave Up Her Daughter” by nonfiction alumna Sasha Bonét ’16.
The New York Stage And Film Company 2020 Winter Season will feature the writing and composing talents of Columbia alumni Kareem Fahmy ’07 and Christina Quintana ’13 alongside adjunct associate professor Leslie Ayvazian.
Alumnus Soriya K. Chum ’17 is the first Executive Director of The Consortium of Asian American Theatres and Artists (CAATA). Chum began serving the organization last January.
Facebook Watch’s new series Limetown, directed by alumna Rebecca Thomas '13, premiered late last year to rave reviews.
This past year, alumna Tanya Paperny ’11, won the 2019 Tusculum Poetry Chapbook Prize for & OTHER VALUABLES that deals with sexual violence, intergenerational trauma, and resilience, a work available for publication.
Dominated by conversations about inclusivity, this year’s Oscars ceremony were attended by several Columbia filmmakers.
Two films by Columbia filmmakers have recently been added to the prestigious National Film Registry.
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 current nonfiction student, Vera Carothers, whose work as an oral historian deeply influenced how she tells her own story.
Alumnus Sherman Payne '10 wrote two episodes of the 10th season of the Golden Globe nominated and Emmy-winning Showtime show Shameless.
The Alumni Spotlight is a place to hear from the School of the Arts alumni community about their journeys as artists and creators.