A Vision for the Year Ahead

As a new academic year begins, the rhythms of College Walk once again come alive. With students filling Hamilton Hall and Butler Library, the familiar hum of intellectual energy and community has returned to campus — a reminder of the trans- formative journeys that begin each fall at Columbia College.

For many of us, this season evokes memories of our own first days on Morningside Heights: arriving with equal parts excitement and uncertainty, discovering new ideas in Core Curriculum classrooms, forming lifelong friendships on Low Steps and learning what it means to be part of a living, breathing intellectual tradition. That same spirit infuses the campus as the newest class of Lions joins our shared story.

I am excited to share the Columbia College Alumni Association’s vision for the year ahead and invite you to stay meaningfully connected to the College and to one another. The CCAA remains steadfast in its mission to strengthen the bonds between alumni, support students and uphold the values that make our Columbia education enduring and relevant.

This year, we will continue to expand opportunities for mentorship, lifelong learning and engagement, both on campus and beyond. A cornerstone of this effort is the Odyssey Mentoring Program’s Fall Match, which pairs alumni and students for impactful one-on-one conversations. Whether you’re offering career guidance or simply sharing your Columbia journey, your insight can help shape the path of a fellow Lion.

We’re also delighted to continue to offer Alumni-Hosted Dinners with students, which happen in both the Fall and Spring semesters. These small-group gatherings bring generations of Columbians together to share their experiences over a meal. The conversations foster authentic connections, open doors to new perspectives and create moments of inspiration that last well beyond the evening. If you haven’t yet participated in one of these dinners, we hope you’ll consider hosting or co-hosting one this year — your story and guidance might be just what a student needs to hear.

In addition to continuing to host in-person engagement events on campus, we’re excited to grow alumni programming in cities across the country and around the world. Columbia spirit is not confined to Morningside Heights — it’s alive in celebrations in San Francisco, on rooftops in Los Angeles, in conference rooms in Hong Kong and around dinner tables in London. This year, we’re working closely with regional volunteers to organize more alumni get-togethers in cities beyond New York, building local communities that offer connection, conversation and shared pride. If you’re interested in helping to plan, or host, an event in your city, we’d love to hear from you at ccalumni@columbia.edu.

Our intellectual programming series continue to bring the spirit of the Core to alumni through lectures, faculty talks and thought- provoking discussions. These events are designed to not only spark dialogue but also to remind us that our engagement with ideas — and with one another — does not end at graduation.

As we look ahead, Columbia Homecoming 2025 and Family Days, scheduled for Fri., Oct. 17, and Sat., Oct. 18, promises to be a joyful time of school spirit and reconnecting. Whether you return to campus to cheer on the Lions or to reconnect with classmates and friends, or both, Homecoming is a celebration of what unites us as Columbians. Just a few days later, Columbia Giving Day, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 21, offers a meaningful opportunity to invest in the next generation and to help ensure that the transformative power of a Columbia education continues to thrive for years to come.

Now more than ever, alumni engagement matters. In a world that demands thoughtful leadership, critical inquiry and compassionate action, our community has an important role to play. Your presence, your participation and your support make Columbia College stronger. I encourage you to explore the many ways you can be involved this year — as a mentor, a host, a donor or an event attendee, or simply by reaching out to a fellow alum.

Thank you for being a vital part of our enduring and amazing College community. I look forward to all we will build together in the year ahead — on campus, online and in cities around the globe — and I am deeply grateful for all of you.

Roar, Lion, Roar!