Student & Alumni Affairs

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

In this Encounters interview, we speak with Sound Art alumnus Kamari Carter ’19 about the minimalist conceptual sculptor Fred Sandback.

Film student Nimisha Misra recently wrote two episodes of a brand new Netflix series, Kaala Paani (Dark Waters).

Ghost Pains, a short story collection by Writing alumna and Adjunct Assistant Professor Jessi Jezewska Stevens ’18, will be published on M

Under the Radar Festival, New York City’s foremost festival of experimental theatre, will return on Janurary 5, 2024 under the leadership of festiv

For Visual Arts studentSasha Fishman, artmaking is found both in nature and in the laboratory. Until October 21, 2023, Below Gran

Invisible Beauty, a feature length documentary about fashion pioneer Bethann Hardison co-directed by alumnus Frédéric Tcheng ’07, has been

Lojman, a novel by Ebru Ojen, co-translated from the Turkish by Writing

Wandering In All Directions of This Earth, a poetry collection and two-time Tupelo Press Berkshire Prize finalist by Writing alumna Loisa

Transit Books, a Bay Area-based publishing house founded by Writing alumni Adam Levy ’12 and Ashley Nelson Levy ’12, is largely responsible for the

Visual Arts alumna Kelsey Shwetz ’22 creates paintings that are hyper realistic and full of tenderness, which is entirely fitting for A Lamp is