Thursday, May 29
MORNING & EVENING SESSIONS
Alumni Welcome Receptions and Class Events
Find more information about milestone class-specific events by using the class year buttons at the bottom.
Friday, May 30
MORNING SESSION
Uncovering the Past: A Journey Through Columbia’s Judaica Collection
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Butler Library, Rare Book Room, 6th Fl.
Explore the history of Columbia’s Judaica collection with Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies Michelle Margolis. Delve into the archives in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
Then vs. Now: What’s It Like on the Other Side? – Alumni Panel
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Cinema, 2nd Fl.
This lively panel features alumni from the 1990s who have returned to the classroom, this time as educators. Hear their reflections on how teaching compares to learning, what’s changed (and what hasn’t) through the decades and how today’s students stack up the panelists’ former selves. A nostalgic and insightful look at education through the eyes of those who’ve seen both sides.
A Beautiful Response to Adversity: Lessons from Jazz — Faculty Lecture
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 555
The lecture explores how jazz offers valuable lessons that extend far beyond music performance. It examines how jazz musicians use improvisation to create their art and how these improvisatory processes can translate into daily life, enriching our experiences. Additionally, it highlights how jazz fosters creativity, enhances interpersonal interactions and strengthens survival skills. Ultimately, jazz is a powerful strategic model for resilience.
MoMA Guided Tour: “Collection 1950–1970s”*
10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Museum of Modern Art | 11 W. 53rd St.
Vertical Tour of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine – Morning*
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
1047 Amsterdam Ave.
Study, Eat, Sleep: A History of Everyday Student life at Columbia
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Butler Library, Rm 523
For 270 years, Columbia students have followed a similar routine: study, eat, sleep, repeat. With the University Archives staff as your guide, discover (or revisit) the everyday experiences of Columbia students at the three campuses: Park Place, 49th Street and Morningside Heights. We will explore how and where Columbians studied, what their dining options were and what kind of accommodations were available.
*Additional cost to attend
AFTERNOON SESSION
Sympathy for the Devil: How Dante Invented Hell to Make Us Question Moral Absolutism — Faculty Lecture
1:00 p.m–2:30 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 555
Dante’s Divine Comedy is arguably the most influential work of medieval vernacular literature in the European Middle Ages. Without fully realizing it, modern Christianity, and even popular culture, are heavily reliant on Dante for their understandings and depictions of Hell, as well as for their sense of how divine justice might work to punish sin. But it’s important to remember that Dante wasn’t blindly following contemporary theology; he was rethinking, reinventing and reimagining baseline Christian beliefs. If you read the Inferno closely, you find a vision of God and a vision of Hell that are radical, shocking and far more critical of the idea of divine justice than we might imagine.
Rousseau, Revolution and Repetition Compulsion — Faculty Lecture
1:00 p.m–2:30 p.m.
Pulitzer Hall (Journalism), Pulitzer Lecture Hall
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s relationship to the French Revolution has obsessed scholars and political actors since 1789. For some, the self-styled citizen of Geneva heralded the dawn of a new age of freedom. For others, his pernicious influence led directly to the horrors of totalitarianism in the 20th century. This lecture offers a reading of Rousseau in dialogue with interlocutors known to students of Contemporary Civilization, from Augustine of Hippo to Frantz Fanon, to challenge this belief.
Vertical Tour of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine — Afternoon*
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine | 1047 Amsterdam Ave.
Morningside Heights Campus Tour 1
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Meet at Alma Mater
Lincoln Center Guided Tour
2:00 p.m.–3:15 p.m.
David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center | 10 Lincoln Center Plaza
Museum of the City of New York Guided Tour: “New York at Its Core”
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Museum of the City of New York | 1220 5th Ave.
Morningside Heights Campus Tour 2
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Meet at Alma Mater
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Technologies of Trust — Faculty Lecture
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Pulitzer Hall (Journalism), Pulitzer Lecture Hall
Frank Lloyd Wright has been a longstanding component of the Art Humanities syllabus. This lecture interprets anew a well-known building by Wright, the Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, N.Y., by closely examining a little-known aspect of its design: its built-in technologies to process information. This lecture hopes to offer an architectural account of the history of the contemporary regime of “big data” by arguing that the building’s proto-database was, first and foremost, a moral technology that was predicated on managing networks of trust.
The Purpose of the University in a Democratic Society — Faculty Lecture
3:00 p.m–4:30 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 555
Inspired by philosopher John Dewey’s vision of education, the founders of the Core Curriculum emphasized the continuity between active learning in the classroom and participation in a democratic society. How does that vision continue to guide us more than a century later, and what are the greatest challenges that we face? Drawing on the history and philosophical underpinnings of the Core Curriculum, as well as works and ideas from its syllabi, this lecture will explore the civic purpose of universities.
Beginner’s Mind with Deantini
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Columbia Alumni Center | 622 W. 113th St., Shapiro, Rm 804
We all have beliefs that guide the understanding of ourselves and the world around us but can also limit that understanding. Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki’s quote, “In the Beginner’s Mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few,” advocates for an approach to life that is open to endless possibilities, free from preconceived notions or biases. Join Dean Emeritus of Columbia College and professor of chemistry, James J. Valentini for a discussion on self-awareness, intellectual humility and the Beginner’s Mind.
Annual Double Discovery Alumni Reception
4:00–6:00 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 569
Double Discover Centery (DDC) alumni, friends and former staff are invited to this all-class celebration to reminisce, reconnect and renew their involvement with the DDC.
*Additional cost to attend
EVENING EVENTS
Columbia/Barnard Hillel: Shabbat Dinner*
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
The Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life | 606 W. 115th St.
Every week, hundreds of students come together at the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life for Shabbat dinner. Share in that joyous Shabbat experience by joining fellow alumni from Barnard, Columbia College, Engineering, and General Studies for a festive family-style dinner. Alumni families are welcome too!
Class of 2015: Community Roundtable
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Columbia Alumni Center | 622 W. 113th St., King’s Conference Room, 1st Fl.
Join the Class of 2015 Reunion Committee and members of the Class of 1975 for this roundtable discussion. Fellow alumni will discuss how we move forward as a community and engage with the current campus climate. This event is exclusively for our Young Alumni from the Classes of 2015–25.
Chelsea Piers Party*
7:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
Chelsea Piers | Pier Sixty (between West 19th and West 20th Streets)
Enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing with Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, Columbia General Studies and Barnard College classmates and friends as the sun sets at Pier Sixty, one of Manhattan’s most spectacular waterfront venues!
*Additional cost to attend
Saturday, May 31
MORNING SESSION
Dean’s Breakfast and State of the College Discussion
9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Auditorium, 1st Fl.
Reunion Keynote: Acting President Claire Shipman CC’86, SIPA’94
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Auditorium, 1st Fl.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Lunch Under the Tents
12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
South Lawns
Alumni of Color and Allies Reception
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Lerner Hall, Room 555
Presented by the Asian Columbia Alumni Association, Black Alumni Council and Latino Alumni Association of Columbia University
Behind the Scenes: Alumni Shaping the Entertainment Industry – Alumni Panel
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Roone Arledge Cinema, 2nd Fl.
Get an inside look at the ever-evolving world of entertainment from dynamic group of alumni from the Class of 1990.
WKCR Alumni Reception
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
WKCR-FM Station | N.W. Corner of Broadway and 114th Street
Performing Arts Reception
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Low Plaza, Lion’s Lounge
Reconnect with fellow alumni from Columbia’s vocal, instrumental and theater groups and enjoy refreshments and light food. All alumni and guests are invited.
1754 Reception
3:00 p.m–4:30 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 555
This reception will honor members of the 1754 Society and give attendees the opportunity to learn more about planned gifts to Columbia.
Lion’s Pride Panel
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Faculty House | 64 Morningside Dr., Presidential Ballroom, 3rd Fl.
Join us for a special panel celebrating this year’s Lion’s Pride Honors recipients — exceptional young alumni who are creating meaningful change in their communities and beyond. Selected every three years, these honorees exemplify the values of leadership, service and impact. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation highlighting the powerful ways our recent graduates are shaping the world. The Lion’s Pride Honors is a collaboration between Columbia College Young Alumni and Columbia College Today.
Veterans’ Reception
3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Center for Veteran Transition and Integration (CVTI) | 1180 Amsterdam Ave., Kent Hall, Rm 205
Presented by Columbia General Studies.
Friends of Bill W. Meeting
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Columbia Alumni Center | 622 W. 113th Street | King’s Conference Room, 1st Fl.
Great Teacher Awards Reception*
4:30 p.m.–5:45 p.m.
Faculty House | 64 Morningside Dr.
Join the Society of Columbia Graduates and the deans of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering to recognize this year’s Great Teacher Award recipients: Nicholas Dames, director of undergraduate studies and the Theodore Kahan Professor of Humanities, and Hardeep Johar, senior lecturer in the discipline of industrial engineering and operations research.
*Additional cost to attend
EVENING EVENTS
Golden Lions Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
The Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life | 606 W. 115th St., 6th Fl.
Class of 1975 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Pulitzer Hall (Journalism), Pulitzer Lecture Hall
Class of 1980 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Alfred Lerner Hall, Rm 555
Class of 1985 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Casa Italiana | 1161 Amsterdam Ave., Il Teatro, 2nd Fl.
Class of 1990 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Faculty House | 64 Morningside Dr., Skyline Level, 4th Fl.
Class of 1995 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Faculty House | 64 Morningside Dr., Presidential Ballroom, 3rd Fl.
Class of 2000 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Low Rotunda
Class of 2005 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Pulitzer Hall (Journalism), World Room
Class of 2010 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Low Library, Faculty Room, 2nd Fl.
Class of 2015 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
South Lawn, West Tent
Class of 2020 Reception and Dinner*
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
South Lawn, East Tent
Starlight Celebration
9:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m.
Low Plaza
*Additional cost to attend
