About Arts Initiative
Mission
The Arts Initiative at Columbia University was created in 2004 by President Bollinger to re-invent the role of the arts in the university and the university’s role in the arts. This effort now spans the campus, unconstrained by venue, department, field, or program, and reaches out into a diverse international culture. Among its aims are to make the arts part of the experience of every Columbia student's education and to promote a life-long involvement in the arts.
This enterprise rests on three pillars. The Initiative nurtures the vast artistic energy – nearly 150 groups, departments, and programs - on Columbia’s campus. It creates and strengthens links between Columbia and the wider culture. It connects the arts with other ways of understanding – and acting in – the world.
History
The Initiative, directed by Gregory Mosher, was launched by Columbia's President Lee C. Bollinger in 2004. From its inception, the Arts Initiative has nurtured a strong and creative relationship with Columbia's students, faculty and staff. In addition to our ongoing programming, special past projects have included:
Václav Havel residency
Aga Khan Music Initiative
The New Yorker Nights
Rolex Mentor/Protégé Initiative
Peter Brook production of Tierno Bokar
Cinema from China 4.12 - 4.15
CU Night @ Lincoln Center
The Staff
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
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Gregory Mosher, Director
gm2127@columbia.edu
Before coming to Columbia in 2004, Gregory Mosher served as Director of Lincoln Center Theatre (1985-91) and Artistic Director of the Goodman Theatre (1977-84), and was a producer and director on Broadway, the West End, and in film and television. Many of his nearly 200 stage productions were premieres of work by emerging and established writers, among them Samuel Beckett, Leonard Bernstein, Spalding Gray, David Mamet, Arthur Miller, Richard Nelson, Wole Soyinka, Julie Taymor and Tennessee Williams. He is the director of the films The Prime Gig (Ed Harris, Vince Vaughn), A Life in the Theatre (Jack Lemmon, Matthew Broderick), and produced the film of American Buffalo (Dustin Hoffman). He has received every major American theatre award, including two Tony’s for his work on Broadway. |
STUDENT, FACULTY RELATIONS AND PROGRAMMING
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Caralyn Spector, Program Manager
Chs2104@columbia.edu
Ms. Spector (BC ’94), in addition to her 2 years at the Arts Initiative, has been working in producing, managing and marketing Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre including: Chicago, Riverdance, The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, The Donkey Show and The Karaoke Show. She is a Philly native and has lived in New York (with a few stints in LA) for 17 years. |
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Chad Miller, Events and Outreach Coordinator
cam2015@columbia.edu
Chad (GS '07) is no stranger to the arts world. A Texan transplant, Chad has been performing in and writing for theatre for the past thirteen years. He has appeared Off-Broadway, in national tours, and national commercials. He stepped off the stage most recently to pursue a degree in Religion - a discipline he is using to support his own science fiction/graphic novel writings and research. He is currently pursuing an MS in Fundraising Management.
Chad will have office hours this semester in Lerner - Piano Lounge:
Fridays, 2p-4p
To set up an appointment, please email him at cam2015@columbia.edu
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Abigail Santner, Adminstrative Coordinator
ats2130@columbia.edu
A native New Yorker, upstate that is, Abigail is happy to return to the Empire state after studying French & Sculpture and obtaining a Masters in Arts Management at Carnegie Mellon University. In Pittsburgh she co-directed Future Tenant, an arts laboratory for artists and students and enjoyed the abundance of hills and Yuengling beer.
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ALUMNI RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
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Malwina Łyś-Dobradin, Associate Director for Alumni Relations and Development
mel2001@columbia.edu
Malwina Łyś-Dobradin received two degrees from Columbia University. She is an alumna of Columbia College where she majored in Political Science and Creative Writing and has a Master of Science in Fundraising Management and Nonprofit Administration. She joined the Arts Initiative in 2006 after working for the American Enterprise Institute's New Atlantic Initiative and in the United States District Court. Apart from all things Columbia Alumni Arts League-related, she enjoys traveling and playing tennis (former member of the women’s Varsity team).
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Lindsay Dorrance, Alumni Relations and Development Coordinator
ld2282@columbia.edu
Lindsay received her MA from the Modern Art and Curatorial Studies program at Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Her MA thesis was on the Kara Walker exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum called After the Deluge. Before coming to the Arts Initiative, Lindsay worked in the Education Department at the Metropolitan Museum for several years. She received her BA from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
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David Harrington, Alumni Relations and Development Researcher
dwh2103@columbia.edu
David is an MFA candidate in the Writing Division at Columbia University's School of the Arts. His masters thesis, a novel set in his hometown of Hartford, CT, will be finished one of these days. In addition to working at the Arts Initiative, David teaches a section of University Writing, a freshman writing course. He attended college in Grinnell, IA, and lived in Chicago before moving back to the East Coast. |
ARTS INITIATIVE OFFICE
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Eleanor Milburn, External Relations Coordinator
ejm2026@columbia.edu
Eleanor Milburn is an alumna of Columbia College where she majored in Music and Mathematics. Before college, she studied instrumental music at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts and attended the School of American Ballet. In her free time, she plays the flute in the 92nd Street Y’s chamber music program. |
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Rudy Scala, Ticket and Information Center Manager
ras2187@columbia.edu
Mr. Scala is an alumnus of New York University (Steinhardt '02) where he studied Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre under the direction of Jack Allison, Michael Ricciardone, and Greg Ganakas. For six years he was the Box Office Manager for Tilles Center for the Performing Arts before joining the Arts Initiative in January 2008. Aside from his managing duties he currently sings with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus. |
ARTS INITIATIVE OFFICE - STUDENT STAFF
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Julia Bloch, Student Staff
jb2758@barnard.edu
Julia Bloch will receive a BA in Dance and Religion from Barnard College in February of 2010. After that, she will have a big party, and everyone from the Arts Initiative is invited. You can find her in her new home-borough of Brooklyn, searching for unusual spaces to stage or improvise dances.
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Becky Clark, Student Staff
rbc2111@columbia.edu
Becky (CC '11) hails from the mountain climes of Denver, CO and is glad to be returning to the Arts Initiative. She was back in Denver this summer working at the Democratic National Convention. Currently searching for a major, she enjoys painting, reading, and eating and would love to have shared a meal with Rene Magritte. |
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Leigh Huffine, Student Staff
lah2144@columbia.edu
Leigh Huffine (CC '11) is a likely-to-be English major from Wilmington, NC. She spent most of the summer reading (and working) in an old book store in the home state. Besides working for the Arts Initiative, she enjoys adventuring in the city and promoting sustainable development. She has little life direction and is therefore open to most everything. |
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Arnold Mwanjila, Student Staff
am2642@columbia.edu
Arnold just graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Film Studies and Economics. He is originally from Kenya and claims that his life is uncannily similar to President Barack Obama’s. When pushed to elaborate on these findings, Arnold is quick to say, “Don’t get lost in the details.” Arnold is a budding writer and filmmaker and is glad to express himself creatively at The Arts Initiative. “I am all about the grass roots,” he adds.
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Grant Porter, Student Staff
egp2103@columbia.edu
Grant is pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Columbia where he studies American politics and is writing a dissertation on Medicaid. Despite his scholarly interests and a decade of living south of the border he is still a proud Canadian. Grant feels he has an ignorant appreciation for the fine and not-so-fine arts, and is quite comfortable with that. He thought Mark Morris' production of Gluck's Orfeo ed Eurdice was incredible and Arcade Fire's Harlem show was AMAZING. His favorite play was a production of Pinter's, The Betrayal at Donmar Warehouse and recently discovered Oscar Wilde's to be most clever. He'd more likely select an action film over an art flick and a fantasy novel over 'literature'. |
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Darcy Zacharias, Student Staff
drz2105@columbia.edu
Darcy Zacharias (CC '10) has been involved in theatre for most of her life, from several years of performing to her current roles stage managing, producing, and directing. She is an English major, but is just using that as a devious cover to study theatre. She likes ice cream, getting mail, and baking, and she is very excited to begin working at the Arts Initiative this semester. |
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