Look Who Came to Columbia’s Campus in 2025
Director, actor, and producer Robert Townsend was one of many creatives who visited campus to share their expertise with Columbia students in 2025. At Columbia College Chicago, we welcome some amazing heavy hitters to our campus thanks to the many events hosted here. These include creatives from a wide range of disciplines, including our loyal alumni and representatives from the companies our students partner with on class projects to gain those hands-on experiences that distinguish Columbia.
Here are just some of the creative leaders who brought their own unique energy to campus, sharing their expertise, their experience, and their talents with our community.
Robert Townsend Pops by for a Masterclass
Film legend and friend of Columbia, Robert Townsend returned to his hometown for a pop-up film festival and fundraiser. He took time out of his busy schedule to share his expertise with students and film buffs alike.
Dance Center Spotlights Solo Artists
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago proudly presented the Chicago Solo Spotlight Festival. This festival celebrated the power of the solo performance with two world premieres by acclaimed Chicago-based artists Jenn Freeman | Po’Chop (photographed left) and Nora Sharp. Read more.
Broadway Star JJ Niemann Inspires Columbia Students in Voice Masterclass
Columbia College Chicago students experienced an unforgettable afternoon of mentorship and musical theatre this October when Broadway performer JJ Niemann led a voice masterclass on campus. Niemann, a social media darling among theatre lovers, made his Broadway debut in “The Book of Mormon” and later joined the original Broadway cast of “Back to the Future” and appeared as Charles Lee in Hamilton on Broadway. Read more.
GRAMMY-Winning Alum Jonathan McReynolds Takes Residence
Columbia welcomed back to campus two-time GRAMMY winner Jonathan McReynolds ’11 as one of its artists-in-residence. In this role, McReynolds participated in workshops with students and took the stage with them in a concert. McReynolds has once again been nominated for a Best Gospel Performance/Song GRAMMY. This time, it's for "Still (Live)."
Genius Grant Winner Tonika Lewis Johnson ’03 Returns to Campus
Artist and activist Tonika Lewis Johnson ’03 made big news in 2025 when she was named one of the MacArthur Foundation’s Fellowship winners. But the honor, known by many as “the Genius Grant,” didn’t keep her from taking time to visit campus and talk about the award and the work that helped earn it. Read more.
Alumni Inspire the Next Generation of Theatre and Dance Students
Eight graduates of Columbia’s School of Theatre and Dance returned to campus to share their journeys. Moderated by Jimmy Noriega, PhD, the panel included Kaiser Ahmed ’08, Paul Deziel ’14, Audrey Kleine ’17, Phillip “Lip” Lewis ’14, Michaela Petro ’03, Marvin Quijada ’06, Alex Rhyan ’15, and Vershawn Sanders-Ward ’02. Read more.
Chance the Rapper Stops by to See Students
Chance the Rapper is no stranger to Columbia; he performed at the Manifest Arts Festival in 2013, the same year he dropped his hit mixed tape “Acid Rap.” In 2025, he made a visit to share his music industry wisdom with Columbia students.
Columbia Students Learn From Industry Leaders
Leaders from global communication powerhouse Edelman, John Edelman (photographed here), Renée S. Edelman, and Kendall Schaffner, visited Columbia communication students to share their expertise.
Festival Brings Filmmaker to Columbia
Columbia has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the Chicago International Film Festival, who brought award-winning James Choi (photographed on left) to campus for a masterclass. The filmmaker, who produced “Made in China,” inspired and shared stories about overcoming obstacles with students.
Star Power Comes to Columbia Commencement
Columbia awarded honorary Doctor of Arts degrees to acclaimed actor Joseph Sikora ’98 (“Ozark,” “Power”; in photo, second from left) and GRAMMY-nominated producer Marcos “Kosine” Palacios ’06 (in photo, far right) at the 2025 Commencement. Both alumni addressed graduates, families, faculty, and guests during the ceremony. Photo by Alexis Ellers. Read more.
Students Get an Inside Look at Artist’s Process
Acclaimed painter Phyllis Bramson, whose work combines historical and pop culture influences to explore themes of love, intimacy, and human connection, talked to students and art enthusiasts about her process, inspirations, and the evolving nature of her work. Read more.
Writers Share With Writers
The Efroymson Creative Writing Reading Series at Columbia attracts prestigious, award-winning fiction writers, poets, and nonfiction writers who perform, engage, and educate on a myriad of topics and traditions. In fall 2025, the series welcomed Michael Leali as well as John Counts (in photo, right) and James Steward II (in photo, center).
Alums Discuss Career Change in Uncertain Times
Deana Lewis ‘05, who works in Marketing at the Mather Group, and Shawn Sayeed ‘17, UX Researcher at Altera Digital Health, participated in the Close Connections Series in Spring 2025. The series connects current students and alumni with industry professionals for an interactive exchange, featuring speakers from a variety of creative industries.
Zipper Manufacturer Partners With Fashion Students
Students in Columbia’s Fashion Design BFA program partnered with global fastening leader YKK, a Japan-based global manufacturing company that produces about half of the world’s zippers, on a closure-focused project. YKK was embedded into the learning experience, with students designing with real hardware, real limitations, and the understanding that their work would be reviewed by industry professionals. Photographed here: Devin Tolbert (left) and Ayumi Hall (right), representatives from YKK. Read more.