MAM Alum Alissa Klaus on Art, Community, and Career Fulfillment
May 08, 2023How centering professional growth on arts institutions led one Columbia College Chicago MAM alum to a rewarding career in museums.
Fine and Performing Arts Stories
Dance Senior Tristen Sanborn on Tap, Teaching, and Taking on Life After Columbia
May 01, 2023How navigating opportunities in Dance had led to happiness.
Fashion Studies Alum's Internship Launches Career in Apparel Design
Apr 24, 2023Alum and Designer Rebecca Martin BFA ‘19 now works in New York City on brands seen at Walmarts and Targets across the country.
Professor Susan Imus on the Therapeutic Impact of the Arts
Apr 17, 2023Columbia College Chicago Professor Susan Imus shares how the healing power of art and performance led to a fulfilling career with a global impact.
Alum George Chen on Building a Life in Development
Apr 10, 2023How supporting the arts became a calling and a passion for one #Columalum.
Students Get to Work in the Music Business at SXSW
Apr 10, 2023Columbia College Chicago students go to Austin, Texas, to produce a live showcase featuring Chicago artists.
Columbia Faculty Reveal Keys to the Trade in New Book on Music Marketing
Apr 03, 2023How experience and partnership inspired two BUSE faculty members to write the book they wished they saw in the world.
Music Alum Performs With Beyoncé and Lizzo to Uplift Audiences
Apr 03, 2023Columbia College Chicago Alum D’Zhari Bolden ’17 describes her experiences working with two of music’s biggest superstars and her passion for making music that makes people feel good.
Dance and Cultural Studies Alum Brianna Heath '17 on the Importance of Listening to Your Genuine Self
Mar 20, 2023Creating the space she needed to thrive led Columbia College Chicago Alum Brianna Heath on the adventure of a lifetime.
Art History Assistant Professor Onur Öztürk on Architecture, Decolonization, and Our Intertwined World
Mar 20, 2023How new ways of thinking about art and art history inform our world.
SXSW: Columbia College Chicago Students Experience the Ultimate Field Trip
Mar 20, 2023Columbia students go where tech, film, music, education, and culture converge and benefit from real-world experiences in the entertainment and media industries.
MAM Alum and MFA Student Erica McKeehen on Choosing the Artist’s Life
Mar 13, 2023How a purpose-driven approach has transformed McKeehen’s happiness and her future.
Alum Ashley Brown '10 on Live Events, Tour Managing, and Business Building
Mar 06, 2023How staying true to a love of events led to incredible success and her own production company.
Instructor and Alum Vanessa Wright '02 on Filmmaking, Marketing, and Success at Cannes
Feb 20, 2023How intention and community led to a life of advocacy and change-making.
Dancer Vi McMahon on Art, Activism, and Thriving (Not Surviving)
Feb 20, 2023How creating art in space has the potential to transform our world.
Ellen Winters Reynolds' Second Act as Professional Vocalist and Teacher
Feb 20, 2023A love of music leads to a life-changing career shift for Ellen Winters Reynolds, an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago.
Business and Entrepreneurship Student Hunter Meisel Carves Her Own Path
Feb 13, 2023Sophomore Hunter Meisel on the importance of connection, community, and taking the leap.
Fashion Studies Associate Professor Justin Dougan-LeBlanc Pushes Boundaries
Jan 30, 2023Trained as an architect, Columbia College Chicago’s Justin Dougan-LeBlanc takes on challenges in both fashion and art.
Columbia Alums Meet With Students at NRF 2023 in New York City
Jan 23, 2023Columbia College Chicago alums working in fashion, advertising, PR, and marketing communication share their experiences and insights with current students
Theatre Alum Brings Columbia Learned Skills to Center Stage
Jan 23, 2023Michael Kurowski ‘16 stars in production of “Big Fish” at The Marriott Theatre.
Columbia Holds Sixth Annual Hip-Hop Festival
Dec 19, 2022The Fresh Connect festival at Columbia College Chicago celebrated the school and city’s rich hip-hop history for the sixth year
5 Questions with Columbia Alum and Trustee Staci R. Collins Jackson
Dec 19, 2022The road to leading publicity for ‘Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever’
Fashion Design Alum Shaquita Reed ’18 Expresses Herself Using Different Mediums
Dec 12, 2022Shaquita Reed shares her journey as a mixed media artist, fashion designer, teacher, and graduate student
Alum Calid Bowen ’10 on Building a Creative Life
Dec 12, 2022How a Master of Arts Management in the Music Business set the stage for a successful multidimensional career
Nine-Time GRAMMY Nominated Music Producer Alum Marcos Palacios ‘06 on Living His Dream
Dec 12, 2022How the multi-platinum artist carved his own path
Transfer Student Trisa Colon on Building a Future as a Returning Learner
Nov 28, 2022How strategy and scholarships led one student to reinvent her career path and follow her dreams.
Student Event Producer Iridian Fierro on Scholarships and Achieving Her Dreams
Nov 28, 2022Iridian Fierro is an Arts Management graduate student on two activation teams for the 2022 Scholarship Fundraiser.
Student Finds Inspiration and Motivation Through Event Collaboration
Nov 28, 2022Partnering with other creatives to plan Columbia’s upcoming “Unleashed 2022” scholarship fundraising event presents new possibilities for Senior Sean Miller.
Singer and Music Instructor G. Thomas Allen Celebrates Second GRAMMY Nominated Project
Nov 21, 2022“When you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work,” says Allen.
Tips for Musicians From Music Alum Parris Fleming
Nov 14, 2022Having toured with numerous artists, including Harry Styles and Tony Allen, Alum Parris Fleming ‘14 knows how to play the trumpet and much more. He recently shared his lessons learned with Columbia students.
Joseph Sikora: From Stage and Screen to Behind the Scenes
Nov 07, 2022Columbia alum Joseph Sikora ’98 on acting, performance reviews, and fostering safe spaces to create
Finding the Right Fit
Oct 17, 2022Aspiring to help build a more inclusive-fashion industry on the business side, senior Miranda Prater discovers her perfect fit at Columbia.
Columbia Interior Architecture Students Reimagine Chicago
Oct 17, 2022Columbia courses use Chicago as a focal point for students studying Interior Architecture.
Kate Apostolacus Knows Where She’s Going
Oct 04, 2022New Jersey native Kate Apostolacus sets out on the path to find herself and does just that at Columbia College Chicago.
Dance Over Everything
Sep 26, 2022Columbia student tells us why she chose Dance over a pre-med education and how it’s paying off.
Remembering Jazz Great Ramsey Lewis
Sep 19, 2022Scott Hall, professor and coordinator of contemporary musicianship and jazz at Columbia, reflects on his collaborations with Ramsey Lewis and the legacy Lewis leaves behind.
Music Instructor and Saxophonist Sharel Cassity on the Transformative Magic of Jazz
Apr 04, 2022Making bold choices in music transformed Cassity’s life. Here’s how.
Columbia Longtime Faculty Member Talks Olfactory Art, Teaching and Practicing Art and Art History
Apr 04, 2022Dr. Debra Riley Parr on her Columbia experience and latest projects
Practitioner-in-Residence Typhanie Monique Coller on the Beauty of Imperfection
Mar 21, 2022Typhanie Monique Coller knows firsthand how passion and drive can take projects from humble beginnings to the world stage.
Columbia College Chicago Announces Spring 2022’s B-Series Dance Festival
Mar 14, 2022Columbia’s underground dance festival to take place March 18-19.
Kate Schaefer Leads Fashion Students Through Roads Less Traveled
Mar 14, 2022Associate Professor Kate Schaefer ensures students stay on top of the fashion industry’s latest advancements to help ensure their professional success.
Music Instructor G. Thomas Allen on Mastering the Craft
Feb 28, 2022GRAMMY-nominated vocalist and Columbia instructor G. Thomas Allen builds student skill and fosters the growth of community.
Art and Art History Faculty Member on Art, Papermaking, and the Unique Columbia Experience
Feb 07, 2022Melissa Potter tells us about papermaking at Columbia, connecting with students, and her most recent projects.
Columbia’s Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Marketing Campaign Features the Artwork of Two Alums
Jan 26, 2022Columbia highlights the artistry of its alums in a marketing campaign that features an alum’s illustration work, commissioned by the college, and an alum’s public art installation.
Yulia Yrkoski on Illustration and Staying True to Yourself
Nov 30, 2021Illustration student Yulia Yrkoski talks about their Columbia experience, revolutionizing the industry
Fashion Studies Student Ben Sill on Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Nov 08, 2021Since his second year at Columbia, Fashion student Ben Sill has been dedicated to making the most of his time with experts in the field.
Elsa Brydalski on How Graphic Design Keeps Her Sharp and Creative
Apr 12, 2021On the road to self-discovery, Columbia student Elsa Brydalski finds that Graphic Design was exactly what she was looking for.
Sheryl Williams on Performing, Intimacy for the Stage, and Eliminating the Stigma of Mental Health in the Arts
Mar 30, 2021Columbia College Chicago student Sheryl Williams tells us about the joys of working on stage and the importance of mental health in theatre.
Dance Department, Fashion Studies Faculty Member Win Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Teaching Activism Awards
Mar 15, 2021Columbia College Chicago announces awardees for its first ever DEI Teaching Activism Awards.
Community at the Heart of Columbia: Musician Hannah Pope Takes the Plunge
Feb 18, 2021How mentorship, a community support, and a healthy dose of courage helped one student leap from her small town to big stages in Chicago.
Assistant Professor Guy Villa Jr. on Design, Teaching, and His Latest Award-Winning Design Projects
Feb 15, 2021Columbia Assistant Professor of Instruction tells us about how he got into Design, his latest projects, and how those projects inform his teaching.
From a Kids Camp at Columbia College Chicago to a BFA in Dance
Feb 08, 2021Dance student Kennedy Ward tells us how an art camp and a fateful invitation to Links Hall brought her to Columbia.
Teena Sloane-Hendricks ’20 Continues Legacy at Columbia With Her Children
Feb 08, 2021The first time Teena was on campus, in 1984, she knew that she would return – and encourage her future children to do so too.
Darby Gustafson Tells Us How a Few Elective Courses Changed His Trajectory
Feb 01, 2021Art and Art History student Darby Gustafson talks about moving into the Fine Arts program and his current projects.
Tomas Videla, MFA ’19, on Building a Life from His Love of Music
Jan 03, 2021For Tomas Videla, music was always a part of his life, but he never imagined that he’d be scoring the soundtrack for the upcoming HBO documentary about Tiger Woods.
Music Transfer Student and Pianist Brooke Wyatt is Welcomed into the Fold
Dec 02, 2020Brooke Wyatt is a Music Performance student working towards her BA. As a transfer student, she has a unique insight into the opportunity for both academic and professional advancement at Columbia. Here, she shares her journey thus far.
Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Member Inspires Students to Redefine Marketing, Become Creative Change Agents
Nov 23, 2020Jennifer Sadler’s experience as a critical race scholar and marketing professional helps students turn a critical lens toward marketing
Oula Yassine '20 and the Advent of the Culture Collection
Nov 06, 2020Fashion alum Oula Yassine discusses how her time at Columbia helped her develop her unique style and advance her career.
Alumna Sets Up Columbia Scholarship in Honor of Parents
Apr 10, 2020Columbia College Chicago alum sets up scholarship for Marketing students in honor of her parents
We Will Survive: Paria Izadmehr on Art, Resilience, and COVID-19
Apr 03, 2020Columbia graduate student talks about science, design, and turning to art during a time of global crisis
At the Forefront of Fashion Studies
Nov 13, 2018Lauren Downing Peters and Justin LeBlanc join the Fashion Studies Department to advance the department’s mission toward a curriculum focused on innovation and inclusion.
Red Clay Dance Collaborates Across Continents
Nov 06, 2018Led by alum Vershawn Sanders-Ward ’02, the TransAtlantic Project brings Chicago’s Red Clay Dance and Uganda’s Keiga Dance Company together at the Dance Center Nov. 8-10.
Highlights from Theatre Reunion Weekend
Oct 23, 2018Columbia welcomes alumni and supporters for a reunion celebration at the newly renovated Getz Theater Center. Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaims October 19, 2018, as Columbia College Chicago Theatre in Chicago.
Cultivating a World of Dance
Oct 09, 2018The Dance Department’s Practitioner-in-Residence Qudus Onikeku brings a global and anti-disciplinary approach to Columbia students.
What is the ‘Collective Impact’ of Making Art for a Community?
Sep 25, 2018Inaugural Series brings artists to Columbia for a year of art-making and discussion.
Graphic Novel Captures a World on the Brink
Sep 18, 2018Illustration alum Nick Drnaso’s "Sabrina" is the first-ever graphic novel to be longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
2017 Year in Review
Apr 25, 2018A look back at the achievements, highlights, and innovations of faculty, students, and alumni of Columbia College Chicago in the past year.
The Origins of Joan Giroux’s 'eco monopolies'
Apr 17, 2018Joan Giroux discusses her ongoing 'eco monopolies' project, the focus of her residency in the Commons at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
How Would You Define Chicago Hip-Hop?
Apr 03, 2018With the launch of Columbia’s Hip-Hop Studies minor, members of Columbia and the Hip-Hop community share their perspectives on what makes Chicago Hip-Hop unique.
Haystack and Columbia Craft a Community
Apr 03, 2018Haystack Mountain School of Crafts partners with Columbia to offer fellowships for students of color exploring the haptic arts.
Hidden Treasures in Columbia’s Archives
Mar 06, 2018The College Archives and Special Collections finds and shares Columbia’s legacy of art, activism, and everything in between.
A Dancer and Her Tools: Onye Ozuzu’s “Project Tool”
Feb 06, 2018Onye Ozuzu performs at the Chicago Cultural Center with award-winning work and a plan for survival.
Focusing in on a Movement
Jan 23, 2018Photographer for the Hillary Clinton campaign, and most recently the Women’s March in Chicago, Sarah Matheson ’16 is always ready with her camera.
Launching the New Hip-Hop Studies Minor
Dec 12, 2017The Fresh Connect event brought communities together to celebrate the launch of the new Hip-Hop Studies minor.
Here's the Score: Showcasing Alumni Compositions
Nov 14, 2017Hot off the heels of being named a top music program in the country for the second year in a row, a Masters in Music Composition for the Screen alumni showcase reveals the collaboration process between composers and filmmakers.
Crafting the New Activism
Oct 31, 2017Faculty member Shannon Downey’s viral embroidery balances traditional crafts with internet activism.
90s Pilsen Through Akito Tsuda's Lens
Oct 17, 2017After more than two decades, the Pilsen community welcomes back Photography alum Akito Tsuda ’93 to celebrate his book and exhibition, "Pilsen Days."
Scoring for the Screen
May 09, 2017Composer-in-Residence Miriam Cutler and Kubilay Uner, director of the Music Composition for the Screen MFA, discuss how they prepare student-composers for their industry.
Celebrating the Dammeyer Fellowship
May 09, 2017Ervin Johnson’s Dammeyer Fellowship culminated in a weekend-long exhibition at Ravenswood’s Gallery 19.
Care Package
Jan 27, 2017ColumbiaCares is a fund created by and for students to provide assistance during financial emergencies.
Campus Spaces 2.0
Oct 04, 2016The Getz Theatre is set for a major makeover while Columbia completes renovations on two campus spaces.
Onye Ozuzu on Undoing Racism
Oct 04, 2016"If race is a drama that human beings wrote, what part do I play in the performance of it?"
Space Odyssey
Sep 06, 2016Director of Graduate Studies for Art and Art History and Associate Professor Paul Catanese’s "Visible from Space" is on view at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The Musicology of Rosita Sands
Sep 06, 2016Newly appointed Chair of Music, Rosita Sands, EdD, shares her personal journey with music and education, and connects that experience with Columbia’s path ahead.
Lighting Up the Steppenwolf Stage
May 10, 2016Columbia College Chicago alumna Caroline Neff joins the Steppenwolf Theatre acting ensemble.
Diane Dammeyer's Generous Pledge Funds Photography Fellowship Focused on Social Issues
May 10, 2016Fellowship creates new partnership between Columbia College Chicago and Heartland Alliance.
New Music Technology Program to Launch Fall 2016
Feb 02, 2016Columbia College Chicago’s newest interdisciplinary degree synthesizes technological know-how with research and aesthetic inquiry.
Two Faculty Members Nominated for Grammy Awards
Jan 26, 2016Associate professor Ilya Levinson and adjunct faculty member Jonathan McReynolds recognized in classical and gospel music categories.
Sabina Ott Recognized for Exceptional Work as Artist, Educator
Jan 12, 2016Professor and Guggenheim Fellow Sabina Ott built her life around her artistic philosophy—and she’s having a great year.
Theatre Plays Itself
Nov 03, 2015Theatre Department launches a new Devised Performance MFA in partnership with the London International School of Performing Arts.
Two Columbia Artists Take Home 3Arts Awards
Oct 27, 2015Associate Professor Fo Wilson and alumnus Frank Waln each receive unrestricted $25,000 arts award.
Sustainable Fashion Takes to the Skies
Oct 20, 2015Fashion Studies Department partners with United Airlines to design recycled banners into fashionable carry-on bags.
A Job, a Gerbil, and The Second City
Jul 28, 2015Theatre Directing student Makena Metz (BA '17) talks about her experience at The Second City.
Theatre Students Selected to Showcase Work at International Student Art Festival
May 20, 2015Students from Columbia College Chicago’s Theatre Department have been selected to perform in the prestigious international NEU/NOW Festival 2015.
In Celebration of Sheldon Patinkin
Jan 26, 2015Columbia College Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre and Second City host "A Celebration of the Life of Sheldon Patinkin"
Heriberto Quiroz Selected for Emerging Lens Program
Jan 13, 2015On January 14th, Columbia College Chicago Photography senior Heriberto Quiroz will debut a series of photographs for the exhibition Sustenance: Chicago and the Food Chain at ART WORKS Projects for Human Rights.
Alexander Knox: A Project Runway Favorite
Oct 02, 2014Fashion Studies senior Alexander Knox shares his journey from Columbia College to Season 13 of Project Runway.
Columbia College Chicago Exhibition: Papercuts
Sep 09, 2014With 31 works by artists from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France and the United States, Papercuts transforms the ancient technique of paper cutting from 6th century China into bold, contemporary statements on international historical, cultural and personal identity.
Enduring Style: Practice Makes Perfect
Jul 24, 2014Columbia College’s Fashion Studies program is partnering with Willis Tower for its Enduring Style: Practice Makes Perfect exhibition on display throughout the building’s ground-floor lobby through Sept. 5.
Art + Design Students Create Condom Dispensers for Chicago Public Schools
May 05, 2014What does it mean to design a product, packaging and public health campaign that could potentially change social behavior?
Tyler Bradley MAM ‘18 Takes Her Dreams to Infinity and Beyond
May 22, 2023Since completing Columbia's Arts Management (MAM) program, Bradley has continued to grow her business, found success in various roles at Disney, and now has advice for students with the same determination.
Photography Student Erica McKeehen Tests the Limits of Our Assumptions
May 22, 2023McKeehen, MA ’21 MFA ’23 on how photography can combat the vilification of femme- presenting people.
- To Be Replaced