Get Involved

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GSAS Alumni Association

Students automatically become members of the GSAS Alumni Association upon receipt of a master’s or doctoral degree from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Alumni may write to [email protected] with any questions about the GSAS Alumni Association.

GSAS Alumni Association Board of Directors

The Board of Directors, the governing body of the GSAS Alumni Association, strives to enhance the GSAS student and alumni experience by contributing to the development of the alumni network and promoting development efforts on behalf of the School and in support of the mission and priorities of the Dean.

GSAS Alumni Association Committees

The Board of Directors works with the GSAS Office of Alumni Relations and Development, the GSAS Office of Student Affairs, GSAS Compass, and the Columbia Alumni Association to support the priorities of GSAS Dean Carlos J. Alonso. The work of the GSAS Alumni Association includes engaging students and alumni, celebrating the achievements of GSAS alumni, and stewarding generous donors to GSAS. These efforts are divided among the committees detailed below.

We invite alumni to assist in advancing the vision of Dean Alonso by joining one of the following committees, or simply by being an ambassador of GSAS, attending GSAS and Columbia events, and supporting the Board’s efforts. 

Alumni Engagement Committee

The Alumni Engagement Committee works in collaboration with the dean and the GSAS Office of Alumni Relations to foster connections among GSAS alumni locally and around the globe. It provides outreach to the broader GSAS alumni community and serves as a conduit between the board and all GSAS alumni. The committee finds ways for the school and the board to strengthen ties with alumni in order to mobilize support of current GSAS priorities. While this is not a fundraising committee, it aims to engender loyalty to encourage alumni support for GSAS.

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee, composed of GSAS alumni across varied disciplines and occupations, oversees a careful review of all nominees for the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award, culminating in the Dean of the Graduate School’s selection of awardees. Additionally, the committee makes nominations to the dean of potential recipients of the Dean’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Dean's Award for Distinguished Service to the GSAS Alumni Association, and the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) Alumni Medal, and recommends individuals from the pool who could serve as volunteers or development prospects for the school.

Governance Committee

In consultation with the dean, the Governance Committee is responsible for maintaining the governing documents of the board and overseeing the membership of the board and its committees.

Recent Alumni and Students Committee

The Recent Alumni and Students Committee works in collaboration with the dean, GSAS Compass Graduate Career Development, the GSAS Office of Student Affairs, and the GSAS Office of Alumni Relations to build programs that develop student awareness of the GSAS alumni network, provide students with professional development opportunities, and serve as a conduit between students and a broad base of alumni. The committee helps to execute the dean’s vision for alumni engagement by creating connections between current GSAS students and recent graduates, building awareness of resources available to graduate students, and assisting with students’ transition to the alumni community.

Stewardship and Engagement Committee

The Stewardship and Engagement Committee is charged with assisting GSAS administration with planning and executing a strategic approach to stewardship, constituent relations, and development programs.

Columbia Alumni Association

Every graduate of Columbia University is a member of the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA), a global network of over 425,000 alumni which offers over 200 programs around the world each year. Join one of the CAA's 100 regional clubs and shared interest groups here, and find events near you on this calendar.