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
Directing alumnus Marc Atkinson Borrull ’16 will direct the Irish premiere of Nick Payne’s Constellations at Dublin’s historic Gate Theatre.
Columbia University School of the Arts celebrated the winners of the ninth annual Blue List screenwriting competition on March 16, 2022, in an online mixer that demonstrated the capacity of Columbia’s network to foster new screenwriting talent.
Two Columbia Film alumni have been selected to participate in the 51st iteration of the New Directors/New Films (ND/NF) festival from Film at Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art. They are: Ricky D’Ambrose ’12 and Jasmin Freitas Tenucci ’20.
A Poet’s Life is a series where we talk with Columbia poets about everything from living as a poet to making a living as a poet.
Here, we talk with alumnus Baba Badji '15 about poetic resistance, recovering the archive, and how privacy holds a poem together.
Acting alumnus Marcel Spears '15 will star in an upcoming co-production of Fat Ham by James Ijames, produced by The Public Theater and National Black Theatre and directed by Saheem Ali '07. Starring alongside Spears in the production is Nikki Crawford as Tedra, Chris Herbie Holland as Tio, Billy Eugene Jones as Rev/Papp, Adrianna Mitchell as Opal, Calvin Leon Smith as Larry, and Benja Kay Thomas as Rabby. Marcel Spears will be playing the character of Juicy.
Several Columbia University alumni have teamed up to create a new original series of digital shorts, entitled Marta Nesspek Presents. They are: Logan Reed ’21 (director), Kate Pressman ’20 (writer, illustrator, and hands performer), Elizagrace Madrone ’20 (producer and dramaturg), and Josh Brown ’20 (soundtrack composer).
Writing Research Arts Student Laura Green recently placed first in the Story Foundation Prize for her short story, "Stuck."
Sound Art alumnus Nolan Lem ‘15 is featured in a solo show, Surface Song, at Eks-Rummet Gallery in Copenhagen, Denmark.The show runs April 1 to April 10, 2022.
Acting student Anita Abdinezhad ’22 will make her Broadway debut this spring in Selina Fillinger’s new play, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
The 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Seven films from Columbia filmmakers have received nominations. They are: The Lost Daughter, written and directed by alumna Maggie Gyllenhaal '99 (CC), Encanto, executive produced by alumna Jennifer Lee ’05, Raya and the Last Dragon, also executive produced by Lee, West Side Story, executive produced and written by Tony Kushner '78 (CC), House of Gucci, co-written by alumnus Roberto Bentivegna ’10, King Richard, which…
Alumnus and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Creative Writing Joseph Fasano '08 recently embarked on a creative project through Twitter titled "Poem for My Son."
Alumna Tamera Tomakili ’19 stars in the new sports drama Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty currently streaming on HBO Max.