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
David Pastor ’04 is the co-writer and co-director of Bird Box Barcelona, a new thriller that will be released by Netflix on July 14, 2023.
Adjunct Assistant Professor and Writing alumna Hilary Leichter ’12 is set to launch her second book, Terrace Story (HarperCollins, 2023), a novel based on the National Magazine Award-winning story published in Harper’s in 2021.
Sound Art alumnus Nolan Lem ’15 has landed a post-doctoral fellowship at the prestigious Chalmers Institute of Technology, where he will conduct innovative research in a field that connects with his previous work based on computer and generative music.
Swim Class (48" x 60," oil on canvas, 2021), a painting by Visual Arts alumna and Adjunct Assistant Professor Yuri Yuan ’21, is featured as part of the Columbus Museum of Art’s PRESENT ’23 exhibition.
James Mangold ’99 is the the director of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the upcoming fifth and final installment of the iconic Indiana Jones franchise. The film will open theatrically across the US on June 30, 2023.
Visual Arts alumnus Uri Aran '07 is currently featured in a solo show titled I’m a Restaurant at the Andrew Kreps Gallery in New York City.
Sound Art alumnus Chatori Shimizu ’16 will be part of the ensemble for Woman at Point Zero, a new multimedia opera premiering at London's Royal Opera House from June 28–30, 2023.
Theatre Management & Producing Alumna Natalie Gershtein ’15 has been named Executive Artistic Producer of New York Stage and Film (NYSAF).
Elzie Williams III '22 is making their solo exhibition debut with Politics As Usual. The show, which opened on June 1, 2023, is on view now through July 16, 2023 at M 2 3 gallery in New York City.
The 29th annual Palm Springs International ShortFest will take place June 20–26, 2023. The festival is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, and Columbia filmmakers have had excellent success placing in past years.
Acting alumna Laura Campbell ’08 is currently starring in an innovative new performance piece, Molly Bloom: Redux.
Writing Alumnus Tyler Parker ’16 has published his debut novel A Little Blood and Dancing (Penguin Random House, 2023).