Stay out of the cold by coming to campus this November. Join us for theatre, dance, arts, and more ⤵️

We 🩵 our Columbia College Chicago alums. Joseph Sikora '98, HDR '25, appeared on the Tamron Hall Show this week and discussed his inspiring speech to Columbia grads and the art of the pivot.

Columbia College Chicago alum Jess McDermott ’24 had a full circle moment recently when she returned to campus as a music industry professional promoting her client, the rising artist GUNNAR. The musician met with students for a Q&A masterclass thanks to McDermott.

Yesterday alum @aayisharubygold.bsky.social ’13 returned to NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” She sat down to reflect on the craft, courage, and connections that shape her work ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hC4ucH

Columbia College Chicago is #18 on The Wrap's recent ""Top 50 Film Schools of 2025" list! The list highlights the college's flexible curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4oGfFmO

Thanks for joining us at Open House on Saturday! Couldn't make it here this weekend? Join us for our Virtual Open House on November 15 or take our new virtual tour. RSVP for Virtual Open House ➡️ https://bit.ly/4qxJwQl Take our virtual tour ➡️ https://bit.ly/3JBljro

Columbia College Chicago celebrated National and International Media Literacy Week last week with a series of global and campus-wide initiatives highlighting the importance of media literacy and responsible engagement with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Happy Halloween, Columbia! 🎃 Halloween is the artist's holiday, and creatives from across the college celebrated as a part of the Arts in the Dark parade and afterparty. Read more about the participants and how they harness their Columbia creativity 🕸️ https://bit.ly/47MjIZ8

Next month the iconic musical "Grease" will show in Columbia's Getz Theatre. Students previewed the show with a tribute performance at the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to honor creator Jim Jacobs HDR ’14.

A new book by Columbia College Chicago Professor Carmelo Esterrich takes a deep dive into the influential, Spanish-language album “Re.”

Get your tickets now because you don't want to miss this year's School of Theatre and Dance season ⤵️

Broadway actor, Chicago native, and Arts Management #ColumAlum Aaron Nelson ’12 starred as Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway. Now on the national tour, Nelson talks about his Columbia experience and the importance of falling in love with the process.

Columbia College Chicago Professor Stephen Asma reaches new audiences through his YouTube series “Professor Asma’s Guide to Unusual Knowledge,” extending classroom conversations to a wider audience. Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4qbV8bz

Congratulations to Columbia alum Precious Brady-Davis ’13 for being named OUT magazine’s 2025 OUT100 list! This list honors her as one of “the LGBTQ+ people making the world bolder and brighter in 2025.”

Explore the new exhibition “135 Years in Art and Objects.” In recognition of Columbia College Chicago’s 135th anniversary, students collaborated with the school’s archivists and the Hokin Gallery to tell Columbia’s story.

Columbia College Chicago faculty impact education down under 🦘 Associate professor of Interior Architecture Dave Broz presented at the researchED Education Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

Take a sneak peek at how some Columbia College Chicago students are preparing for his weekend's Arts in the Dark parade 👻 Be on the lookout for Columbia students at Saturday's parade!

We are proud to share that President Shantay N. Bolton has been selected for the Chicago Leadership Circle, a fellowship convened by Crain’s Chicago Business and the University of Chicago Graham School. The program brings together business, civic, and nonprofit leaders shaping Chicago’s future.

Columbia will be well represented at this year’s 61st Chicago International Film Festival. Catch new work from faculty member Missy Hernandez and alum Miguel Silveira ’05 as well as alum Shiloh Tumo Washington ’22.

Columbia alumni teach our students to create with purpose. Recently alumni from the School of Theatre and Dance shared their stories of resilience, artistry, and activism with the next generation of creative professionals.

Columbia College Chicago is a partner in the 2025–26 Chicago Architecture Biennial, the largest architecture and design exhibition in North America. Across multiple projects, Columbia students and faculty are responding to the Biennial’s theme “SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change.”

Columbia College Chicago alum Tonika Johnson ’03 was named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow, a prestigious honor that recognizes creative individuals who demonstrate the ability to impact society in a significant way. Johnson studied journalism and photojournalism.

Make sure you have some trips to Columbia on your calendar this October. See some of the exciting events on the agenda for this month ⤵️

Jas Dunigan, a Film and Television major at Columbia College Chicago, was one of only five students selected for the Television Academy Foundation’s Fall 2025 Internship Program. https://bit.ly/4nXcrea

Kevin Christophersen, an associate professor from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, took home the Silver Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago. The PCC recognized his media relations consulting work with BevLedge.

Lucas Stall, a junior at Columbia College Chicago, took home the Heart Award at the Flint Youth Film Festival for a film about his struggles caring for his father with Alzheimer’s disease.

Sunny Youm, an MFA student at Columbia College Chicago studying Music Composition for the Screen, won the New Talent Grand Prize at the 21st Jecheon International Music and Film Festival in South Korea. Youm won for his score of the short film “The Game of Sisyphus.”

Columbia alum Chase Infiniti '22 plays Willa in the box office hit film "One Battle After Another." She shares how Columbia put her on the path to early career success and offers advice for current Columbia students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzu7l_vpYhs

Columbia hosted a Black Theatre Day gathering focused on legacy, community, and future possibilities. Learn how the experience served as a reminder of how theatre connects people across generations and across the globe ➡️ https://bit.ly/42SmtVU

Associate Professor Loren Wells, who teaches in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, has been named to "Variety's" list of Music Legal Elite. These are the attorneys behind the music industry’s biggest stars, deals, and court cases.

Columbia is excited to announce a partnership with St. Augustine all-male Catholic High School in New Orleans. The partnership will provide up to ten full-tuition scholarships to graduating seniors between 2026 and 2030.

Recent grads Hayden Myers ’25 and Brennan Rosser ’25 are headed to the 26th Annual Chicago Horror Film Festival with their BFA thesis short film “Stained.” The film, which screens at the Logan Theatre in Chicago on Sept. 27, at 11:30 p.m., has been nominated for Best Student Film at the festival.

“Goober Madness,” an animated short from Columbia College Chicago’s Advanced Production Studio, is earning international recognition with festival selections, nominations, and awards.

Tonight freshman Keith "Kash" Smith competes in the finals of "America's Got Talent" with the Leo High School choir. Congratulations and good luck from Keith's Business of Music class and the rest of the Columbia College Chicago community!

This class is a Riot 🤘 Students at Columbia College Chicago learn the art of developing successful sponsorship partnerships by working with Riot Fest, one of Chicago’s major music festivals.

#ColumAlum Chase Infiniti '22 is making her big-screen debut this week in the much anticipated Paul Thomas Anderson film "One Battle After Another." She told us how her time at Columbia prepared her for this big career moment ➡️ https://bit.ly/3VspzvR

Columbia’s windows at 618 S. Michigan Avenue feature work from the World Fashion Festival that, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and showcase global creativity.

Faculty member and illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara worked with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on a new children’s book. "Just Shine!: How To Be A Better You" encourages readers to discover their inner glow and recognize beauty in everyone.

Congratulations to all of this year's Emmy winners, including #ColumAlum John Zuiker '05! Zuiker was the art director for "The Oscars," which won the Emmy for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special.

Freshman Keith "Kash" Smith is a part of the Leo High School Choir that performs in the semifinals of "America's Got Talent" on Tuesday. Learn more about his journey and how to vote for the choir ⤵️

Senior Graphic Design student Angela Kalish turned a connection from the Adobe Creative Retreat into a high-profile commission, creating an illustration for Adobe’s back-to-school social media campaign.

Associate Professor Elio Leturia was recognized for addressing the challenging issue of artificial intelligence through creative teaching. He received the Innovations in Teaching Award from the Visual Communication Division of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Dance Center's 52nd season will honor founder Shirley Mordine with world and Chicago premieres, faculty and student performances, international artists, and the launch of the Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Fund in 2026.

Columbia alum, honorary degree recipient, and board of trustees member Len Amato '75, HDR '15 is set to executive produce HBO's series based on the book "The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces." Amato is the former HBO Films, Miniseries, and Cinemax president.

Week one done ✅ Great job on a fantastic first week of the fall semester, Columbia College Chicago community!

Happy first day of school, Columbia College Chicago. Let's make the fall semester a great one 🩵

Happy Labor Day, Columbia! We are wishing you a safe and restful holiday and look forward to starting the fall semester tomorrow.

Incoming student Keith "Kash" Smith has talent. He is a recent grad of Leo Catholic High School and a member of the school's choir that just made the semi-finals of "America's Got Talent." Smith will study music business at Columbia.

Educators like Andre “Add-2” Daniels, an adjunct professor of instruction at Columbia, use hip-hop in the classroom. Daniels sees hip-hop as a confidence builder and a universally welcome culture. Read more in USA Today ⤵️

Award-winning vocalist and Columbia College Chicago voice faculty member G. Thomas Allen will perform on the main stage of the Chicago Jazz Festival on Sunday, August 31, 2025, in Millennium Park.