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
South Mountain, written & directed by faculty member Hilary Brougher, made its world premiere in the Narrative Feature Competition at the South By Southwest Film Festival last March.
Three Columbia filmmakers have been nominated for 2019 BAFTA Awards in Television.
Visual Arts alumna Patrice Aphrodite Helmar '15 is in a solo exhibition at The Skirt presented by Ortega y Gasset Projects located in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Helmar’s site-specific installation, Feeling Good About Me, will be in exhibition until April 28, 2019.
Visual Arts alumna and Adjunct Assistant Professor Heidi Howard '14 is in exhibition at the Queens Museum in New York until August 2019.
The Historical Range of Ursus Americanus is the next Directing Thesis premiering at Lenfest Center for the Arts tomorrow.
Paper Chase, co-written and directed by Angela Tucker ‘15 and co-written by former staff member, Lauren Domino, will be produced by Queen Latifah through her Flavor Unit production company.
The Student Spotlight series aims to highlight the work of current MFA students, asking them to share thoughts on their practice by answering curated and peer-submitted questions. Katie Miller '20 is a first-year student in the Visual Arts Program
Kudzu, written & directed by current student Connor Simpson and produced by alumnus Carver Diserens '17, won the award for Best in Show at the George Lindsay UNA Film Festival in Alabama.
The Alumni Spotlight is a place to hear from the School of the Arts alumni community about their journeys as artists and creators.
Acting alumna Ito Aghayere ’12 joins the cast of CBS’ Patricia Heaton comedy pilot Carol’s Second Act. The series centers around Carol Chambers (Heaton), who after raising her two children and retiring from teaching, embarks on a unique second act: she’s going to become a doctor. Aghayere will be playing Dr. Maya, the Chief Resident in charge of Carol and the other three interns. A type-A, high-achieving disciplinarian, Dr. Maya is all business. She’s instantly annoyed because Carol is a chatty maverick who hates authority — and Dr. Maya and her authority are…
Wunderland, a new novel by Fiction alumna Jennifer Cody Epstein '03, will be released April 23, 2019 through Penguin Random House's Crown Publishing. The book is an intimate portrait of a friendship severed by history, and a sweeping saga of wartime, motherhood, and legacy.
Panopticon, a feature length screenplay written by George Sikharulidze '17, has been selected for the TorinoFilmLab's 2019 ScriptLab, an initiative focused on the development of fiction feature film scripts in early development stage. Participants get an opportunity to develop their screenplays over three week-long workshop residencies and two online sessions with collaboration and guidance from international filmmakers, script consultants and story editors. With this screenplay, Sikharulidze was also selected to participate in Cannes Film Festival's Cinéfondation residency earlier…