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 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.
Six School of the Arts alumni have once again received Guggenheim Fellowships this year: Gregory Pardlo ‘16 and Claudia Rankine '93 in Poetry; Brian Seibert '05 in Dance Studies; Antonio Méndez Esparza '08 in Film/Video; Rogelio Martinez '96 in Drama & Performance Art; and Leigh Ledare '08 in Photography.
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. Rebecca Warlick is a first-year student in the Visual Arts Program.
Columbia University’s School of the Arts has an extraordinary presence at the Tribeca Film Festival this year with films from current students, alumni, and faculty all represented.
Writing Program alumna Crystal Hana Kim ‘14 has won a 2017 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.
Numerous Columbia faculty, students, and alumni join with other New York theater-artists for an event at the Martin Segal Theater Center celebrating Arab Classic Plays on April 19. The day will consist of readings of plays by Yusuf Idris, Issam Mahfouz, and Sa’dallah Wannous—three celebrated Arab writers whose work is not yet widely known in America—followed by a panel discussion.
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.
Writing Program alumni Gregory Pardlo '16 and Karolina Waclawiak '10 have been announced as two of the judges of the 2017 National Book Awards. Pardlo, who won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, will judge in the Poetry category alongside poets Nick Flynn, Jane Mead, Richard Siken, and Monica Youn. Waclawiak, who has published the novels How to Get Into the Twin Palmsand The Invaders, will judge in the Fiction category, alongside Alexander Chee, Dave Eggers, Annie Philbrick, and Jacqueline Woodson.
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. Phoebe Osborne is a first-year student in the Visual Arts Program.
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.