The Low Down

By Shanna Crumley '18SIPA

Before my international affairs graduate program had even begun, I had the chance to work face-to-face with the refugee issues that I would study in the fall here at Columbia. I wanted to hear the stories behind the statistics of the refugee and migrant crisis, to see the challenges on the ground, and the grassroots response. I strongly believe that all policy-makers and practitioners should spend time in the field, meeting the people affected by policies and projects.

Katie Enna '05CC is the executive director of Gallim Dance. She has a breadth of experience in the art world—within both the for-profit and non-profit sectors—where she has been recognized for organizational growth through fundraising, operational efficiencies, strategic partnerships, and marketing.

Most recently at American Express, Katie led a strategy and business development team, where she oversaw investments, partnerships, and growth strategies, including a long-term plan for Arts & Entertainment and an innovative non-profit marketing campaign. Katie also spent several years at Christie's, where she implemented sustainable operational improvements across the business. A passionate arts advocate, Katie has also served a variety of arts organizations across the nation in a pro bono capacity, including grant writing for the Aspen Institute Arts Program, educational programming and marketing for Bay Area museums, and a feasibility study for a Brooklyn-based performing arts organization.

Katie earned her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and her BA in Art History and French from Columbia University. While at Stanford, she was selected by faculty to teach coursework in strategic leadership and served as co-president and CFO of Board Fellows, a program placing MBA students on non-profit boards across the Bay Area.

This week is the second installment of StorySpace@Columbia from the Office of University Life. If you haven’t heard Part I, go back to last week’s episode and listen to it.

But here’s a quick refresher:

StorySpace@Columbia is a new storytelling project that presents personal and inspiring stories from students across Columbia.

So, today, we continue with our theme of “identity” with three stories about learning. Not the academic kind of learning that we find in the classrooms across campus - this is learning that comes from overcoming our fears and discovering our strengths.

An amazing Columbia Giving Day, an important new program, and an exciting upcoming event—here's your weekly Low Down roundup. 

Roar, Lion, Roar!

Columbia Football was victorious at Saturday’s Homecoming game, defeating Dartmouth for its first Homecoming win in 15 years. 

“I’m really happy for our kids,” Head Football Coach Al Bagnoli said in an interview with Columbia Athletics. “They’ve been working so hard and have given great effort. It’s great to see something go their way."

“I give Columbia credit,” Dartmouth Head Coach Buddy Teevens said. “Columbia was very efficient offensively, their kicking game was solid and they played lights out on defense. They deserved to win. They shut us down offensively. Defensively, if you hold a team to nine points, you figure you’re going to win those games. It wasn’t through lack of effort, they beat us."

The Low Down rounds up some of the best moments from the day captured on Twitter.  Were you at the game? Share your favorite moments and tag us with @ColumbiaAlumniA. 

By Emily Ball Jabbour '06SW

As chair of this year's Columbia Alumni Leaders Weekend, held October 7-9, I am thrilled to have met so many enthusiastic leaders from across the University.  

Today, we’re tuning in close by—on campus, in fact.

For this episode, we’re partnering with the Columbia Office of University Life. The Office was created in 2015 and it convenes students, faculty, and administrators to work together on pressing issues within the University and our broader society—from inclusion and belonging to mental health and wellness to sexual respect and gender-based misconduct prevention, and much more.

It also produces University-wide events and opportunities for the Columbia community. For this episode, we’re shining a light on one of those events. It’s called StorySpace@Columbia, and it’s a new storytelling project that presents personal and inspiring stories from students across Columbia.

Cheer on the Lions at Homecoming! This and more in this week's Low Down roundup.

On October 26, Columbians will come together for the fifth annual Columbia Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraiser in which alumni, staff, faculty, students, and friends of the University give back to the Schools and programs that changed their lives, support Columbia students, and take on global issues—like climate change and social justice—through causes and crowdfunding opportunities. The event also features hourly challenges, with matching funds from the University Trustees. 

The latest from your Columbia alumni community: