The United States Senate voted to confirm Eric Holder '73, '76L as attorney general.

Thousands packed the chilly steps of Low Library on January 20 to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama '83, the first College graduate to lead the United States.

Jisung Park '09 has won a Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a M.Sc. in nature, society and environmental policy at Oxford University in England.

Celebrating his 14 years of service as Dean of Columbia College, Austin Quigley was honored on November 13, when the Columbia College Alumni Association presented him with the 2008 Alexander Hamilton Medal at the American Museum of Natural History.

The dinner, attended by almost 700 alumni, students, faculty, family members and friends, also served as a fundraiser for The Columbia Campaign for Undergraduate Education, which funds financial aid, faculty support and student services. University Trustee Chair Bill Campbell '62 announced at the dinner that the event had raised more than $2 million.

View a photo gallery of the festivities!

Barack Obama '83 became the first College alumnus to be elected President of the United States. On November 4, Obama defeated his Republican challenger, Sen. John McCain P'07, ending a marathon campaign that saw Obama rise from a first-term senator to the nation's first African-American president.

On Saturday, October 4, nearly 1,200 alumni, parents, students and friends came out on a beautiful fall day to celebrate Homecoming as the Columbia Lions took on the Princeton Tigers.  Families took part in the annual Homecoming Carnival, enjoying face painting, balloon making, magic, games and prizes. In the football game, Princeton held off a spirited fourth-quarter rally by Columbia to win 27-24.

View a photo gallery of the festivities!

Fernando Perez '01 was called up to the major leagues on August 31 and helped the Tampa Bay Rays go from worst to first as the team won baseball's American League East Division title after finishing in last place a year ago. Perez, a switch-hitting outfielder with great speed, appeared in 23 games during the regular season, batting .250 with three home runs and five stolen bases.

Columbia College alumna Donna MacPhee '89 has been named as Columbia's vice president for alumni relations and president of the Columbia Alumni Association.

Double Discovery Center, Columbia University's program for low-income, college-bound students in New York, has named Muriel A. S. Grimmett as its new executive director.

Columbia College Alumni Affairs & Development is pleased to announce the launch of the newly redesigned Alumni website.  The website features news from Columbia College Today, as well as information on upcoming alumni events and volunteer opportunities. The new Tools & Services section enables alumni to easily access the Alumni Directory and other online tools.

Please let us know your feedback at ccalumni@columbia.edu.