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 and Media Studies alum Majorca Bateman-Coe '24 has published an article in Architecture_MPS, the official journal of the international research organization, Architecture, Media, Politics, Society (AMPS).
I Want to Know, I Need to Know, Eli Klein Gallery's first solo exhibition of work by interdisciplinary artist Andrius Alvarez-Backus '25, opened on Saturday, February 21, and will be on view through May 9, 2026.
Vladimir, a novel by Playwriting alum Julia May Jonas '12, has recently been adapted into a Netflix limited series.
Several works by Columbia filmmakers will make their mark at the 40th edition of the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW); Two filmmakers take home awards.
Harrison Hill '19 has recently published his debut work of nonfiction, The Oracle’s Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult with Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
The two renowned artists performed and then talked before a full house at the Lenfest Center for the Arts.
Dramaturgy alum Annie Jin Wang '20 will serve as the dramaturg on the world premiere of Professor Emeritus David Henry Hwang’s updated version of Flower Drum Song, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from 1958.
Theatre alums Julián Mesri '20 and Meropi Peponides '13 are part of the creative team bringing to life the World Premiere of CANCIONES, an immersive theatrical experience to take place inside an apartment in Flatbush Brooklyn May 2–24, 2026.
Writing alums Alice Evelyn Yang '22 and Hannah Lillith Assadi '13—who is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Writing—are on the longlist for the 2026 Women Prize for Fiction for their novels A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing (William Morrow, 2026) and Paradiso 17 (Knopf, 2026), respectively.
Acting alum Anya Banerjee '20 is on the big screen as Nurse Kett in Song Sung Blue, a new film about a Neil Diamond tribute band starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.
Karlee Rodrigues '20 played a key role in the film’s success through her work in acquisitions and distribution at Kino Lorber. Read more from the School of General Studies.