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
Leylak has been named Best Drama at the 2021 New York Shorts International Film Festival. This win comes amidst the film’s sparkling screenings on the film festival circuit, where it was recently named the winner of the 2021 Special Jury Mention Award in the shorts category of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.
For her thesis production, student Rebecca Miller Kratzer directs the thrilling new opera The Trojan Women.
Paradise Highway, a new thriller written and directed by alumna Anna Gutto '16, was recently acquired by Lionsgate for North American distribution and international sales.
Acting alumna Anya Banerjee ’20 and Playwriting alumnus Steven Gaultney ’11 both participated in The Will of the City, a public art piece going up alongside Theatre for a New Audience's upcoming season from September 27 through November 21.
When it comes to Dante, acclaimed poet and translator Mary Jo Bang ’98 is all about being as vernacular as possible.
Berkley Imprint under Penguin Random House will publish The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher ‘04 on January 11, 2022. The book is now available for pre-order.
A debut nonfiction essay collection, The Way You Make Me Feel: Interracial Love in Black and Brown, by Nina Sharma ’16 was recently bought by Juli Kyan at Penguin Press.
The work of Brooklyn-based artist Joeun Kim Aatchim ’17 is available for viewing until November 10, 2021 at Harper’s East Hampton site.
“I wanted to go deeper than the intellectual mind,” Directing student Rakesh Palisetty said of his thesis production, Hedda Gabler.
Students of Columbia’s Sound Art MFA program presented installations in the Music and Arts Library. Staff Writer Celia Bernhardt learns what sound art is and describes a few beautiful pieces from the show.
A new body of work by Visual Arts alumna Patrice Renee Washington ’14 is available for viewing at Marinaro Gallery, New York.
Alumna Nicole Holofcener '88 is set to write and direct the feature film Beth and Don, which will begin filming in New York City in early spring 2022.