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
Film alumna Mariana Saffon ’19 has been awarded the prestigious Baumi Script Development Award for her first feature Mar de Leva.
Film alumnus Jacob Jaffke ’10 is a producer on MaXXXine, an American slasher film written and directed by Ti West. This film marks another collaboration between Jaffke and West and is the third installment in West's X film series.
An interdisciplinary team of School of the Arts alumni has launched Welcome to My Room, a one-woman show comprising a dynamic blend of musical concert, poetry, and personal narrative. The ensemble recently presented a workshop performance in the East Village Basement, a multipurpose theatre/art space, before heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August, where the play will run from August 2 to 10.
Writing alumnus John O’Connor ’03 has published The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster (Sourcebooks, 2024). The nonfiction book is a heartfelt exploration of a cornerstone of American folklore, unpacking why we believe in the things that we do, what that says about us, and how it shapes our world.
Visual Arts alumnus Vikram Divecha ’19 recently had his first major survey exhibition, titled Short Circuits, at Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The show retraced the Dubai-based artist’s practice since 2013.
On July 8, the juries of the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival announced the winners of festival awards and commendations, with two Columbia alumni among them.
Nonfiction alumna Padya Paramita ’22 has sold her debut novel, Appetite, to Dial Press.
Theatre alumna Tatiana Pandiani '16 will direct Doménica Feraud's new play, Someone Spectacular, making its world premiere Off-Broadway this summer at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center.
War Game, a docu-thriller co-directed by Film alumnus Tony Gerber '95, has been picked up by Submarine Deluxe and Decal Releasing, who've set dates for the film's theatrical release.
Visual arts alumna Alison Nguyen ’23 unveils her first major live-action project in her solo exhibition, history as hypnosis V03, at murmurs, an art space in Los Angeles. The exhibition, which runs through July 6, 2024, includes sculptures, prints, and photographs that originate from the video production process.
In The Secret History of Bigfoot, journalist John O’Connor ’03 explores the mystery and legacy of the North American sasquatch.
Poetry student Calleja Smiley Welsh has been awarded the inaugural Richard Howard Memorial Prize in Poetry, named after late Writing professor and beloved mentor Richard Howard.