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 Independent has announced fellows for the 26th edition of their Screenwriting Lab, and Film alumnus Juan Paulo Laserna '20 is among the newly selected fellows.
From March 1, 2024 until April 22, 2024, the sprawling installation works of Visual Arts alumnus Barış Göktürk ’20 are on view in a solo exhibition at Subtitled NYC, a gallery in the heart of Greenpoint known for its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to art curation.
Writing alumna Christine Calella ’18 has recently published her new novel, The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray, with Page Street YA.
Undergraduate Film and Media Studies student Atish Saha recently worked as director of photography on the Bengali film Peyarar Subhash (The Scent of Sin), which premiered last year at the Moscow Film Festival and recently had its New York premiere.
Undergraduate Film and Media Studies student Tina Wang, recently worked as a co-producer on the thriller Asphalt City, starring Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan.
In The Glittering Maw, a translation by writing alumna C. Francis Fisher ’23 of Syrian-Jewish surrealist poet Joyce Mansour, will be published by World Poetry in May 2024.
Gatsby: An American Myth, yet another production directed by Theatre alumna Rachel Chavkin ’08, begins preview performances at the American Repertory Theater’s Loeb Drama Center next month, with an official opening set for June.
The 2024 Writers Guild Awards were held on April 14 at the Hollywood Palladium, where several Columbia filmmakers were named winners for their incredible work.
Directing alumnus Shayok Misha Chowdhury ’16 has received the Whiting Award in the category of drama. He joins a select group of ten emerging writers recognized in the fields of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.
Pleasure Principle, a debut poetry collection by writing alumna Madeleine Cravens ’22, will be published by Scribner in June, 2024.
The Guggenheim Fellowships for 2024 have been officially announced, and several School of the Arts alumni across various disciplines have joined the ranks of this prestigious program.
Visual Arts student Youngmin Park recently presented fifteen works on paper, canvas, and wood at the prestigious Make Room Gallery in Los Angeles California.