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
Theatre alum Matt Barbot ’17 is debuting his new play the beautiful land i seek (la linda tierra que busco yo) at The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in its world premiere.
Columbia students, alumni, and faculty are making their presence known at this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the world’s premiere art fairs. Upwards of twenty Columbia affiliates will have their work presented in connection with the fair’s wide array of platforms.
Sutura, a new medical thriller series created and written by Film alum Fabio Montanari '16, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on November 22. The series follows two medical professionals who become entangled in a dangerous double life.
Lin King ’22 has won the 2024 National Book Award in Translated Literature for her work translating Yáng Shuang-zi’s Taiwan Travelogue to English from its original Mandarin Chinese.
A Woman Among Women by Playwriting alum Julia May Jonas ’12 was recently selected as a New York Times Critic’s Pick. The show's debut on October 15, 2024, opened The Bushwick Starr’s new location at 419 Eldert Street.
Film alum Greg Mottola ’91 is set to direct and executive produce The Miniature Wife, an adaptation of the short story of the same name by Writing alum Manuel Gonzalez '03. Mottola will direct the first two episodes of the comedy series for Peacock, in a straight to series order.
Simon Kinberg ’03 has punched his ticket to a galaxy far, far away, signing a deal with Lucasfilm to write and produce a new trilogy of Star Wars films for Disney. Producing with Kinberg will be longtime Lucasfilm President, Kathleen Kennedy.
Alum Baris Gokturk ’20 discusses their journey as an artist and creator.
Several Columbia alums are screening films at Lincoln Center this weekend as part of this year’s Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (DIFF). This year’s festival includes numerous industry panels, sponsored parties, and premieres for attendees.
Film and Media Studies alum Alexandra James Salichs ’18 is part of the curatorial team behind Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema, a new exhibition that opened October 6 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
Visual Arts alum Kambui Olujimi '13 is taking a deep dive into questions of race, history, and the universe in his new exhibition, North Star at the San Jose Museum of Art (SJMA) in California.
Visual Arts alum James Holl ’77 is being celebrated with three new exhibitions in the Hudson Valley this fall. The exhibits, opening at TurnPark Art Space in Massachusetts, Athens Cultural Center, and The Lockwood Gallery in New York, are in tandem with the release of Holl’s new publication, The Landscape Painter 1972-2023, from publisher Edizioni Grifo.