Student & Alumni Affairs
COVID-19 Resources
Additional Resources for those in need of support during this time:
- Counseling and Psychological Services: Can be reached 24/7 at 212-854-2878 & additional resources at https://health.columbia.edu/content/counseling-and-psychological-services
- Office of the University Chaplain: [email protected]
- Office of Religious Life: Can be reached at 212-854-2184 & at [email protected]
- Support for staff, instructors: 24/7 Employee Assistance Program at 888-673-1153 & worklife well-being resources at https://worklife.columbia.edu/content/mental-emotional-well-being
A Welcome Message from Laila Maher
Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs provides a wide range of services. In addition to guiding new students through the process of transitioning to the School of the Arts, we plan the School-wide orientation, graduation ceremony, and many events and panels in between. We assist students with registration, billing, and co-curricular requirements and activities. We support student groups and manage student events and activities, and we help students navigate many of the central offices across the University, including Health Services (which houses the Office of Disability Services, Insurance, Immunization, and Counseling and Psychological Services), Career Services, Housing, Public Safety, University Life, the International Students and Scholars Office, and the Registrars 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 (ARC), also part of our Office, is a portal containing specially curated funding opportunities and career resources for students and alumni at the Columbia University School of the Arts. Available exclusively to School of the Arts students and alumni, the ARC is host to a database of more than 1,100 grants, scholarships, residencies, and other funding opportunities for artists. The ARC also contains resources for professional artists, from financial and legal services to grantwriting tips and information about joining guilds and unions.
After graduation, the Office of Alumni Affairs provides more than 7000 alumni artists, creators, and leaders with meaningful 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.
We are also the best place to go when you’re not sure what to do or whom to ask your question. Ultimately, the most important thing we do is support and advocate for our students during their time at the School and into their lives as alumni.
Student & Alumni News
Playwriting alumnus Julián Mesri ’20has co-conceived a new musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors alon
The Sundance Institute has announced its fellows for its acclaimed Screenwriting Lab and Intensive for the upcoming year, and two Columbia alumni w
Acting alumnus Dave Klasko ’12 joins the cast of Anna Ziegler’s The Wanderers alongside Katie Holmes, Sarah Cooper, Lucy Freyer, and Eddie

The nominations for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced, and several projects from Columbia filmmakers are among the honorees.
Anonymity Is Life, by alumna Sola Saar ’19, is among the finalists for The Novel Prize from Fitzcarraldo Editions, Giramondo and New Direc
Directing alumnus Shayok Misha Chowdhury ’16 was awarded the 2022 Mark O’Donnell Prize in December.
Film student Anika Benkov was named a Sloan Student Grand Jury Prize Honorable Mention for their original feature screenplay,
Joyland, the stunning award-winning feature from Saim Sadiq '19, has partnered with Oscilloscope for the film’s US distribution.
Several Columbia filmmakers took home awards when the winners at Sundance 2023 were announced this past weekend.

Mian’s art practice is equal parts ritual and performance, plan and chance.
Dramaturgy alumna Arminda Thomas ’96 joins the creative team for Lorraine Hansberry’s The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window at the Brooklyn