Gabrielle Confer

MAM Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management '23

“The emphasis in the curriculum on practicums and hands-on work was a crucial component to my learning experience,” says the recent MAM graduate.

What would you say has been the most surprising thing you learned at Columbia? 

Columbia encourages and facilitates collaboration through various classes and projects. It was an enriching experience to be able to work with students from different departments and varying backgrounds and skill sets. It gave me first-hand experience in learning how to utilize everyone's strengths in a successful and cohesive way.

What individuals or programs at Columbia were helpful to you in reaching your goal of graduating?

Leadership in Arts, Entertainment, and Media was such a crucial course for me. It taught me so much about myself that now I have a clearer understanding of who I am and what I can bring to the table. I understand my strengths and weaknesses on a new level and which has made me a better collaborator and leader.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I plan to take a little vacation to celebrate having a master's degree! Then it's on to a full-time job as a leader in the arts industry. I'm excited to utilize the knowledge and skills I've developed to help a non-profit arts organization be successful in its mission.

If you were going to sum up your experience at Columbia in one sentence, what would you say?

Columbia excels in making you feel a part of a community and not just as a student ID number. The emphasis in the curriculum on practicums and hands-on work was a crucial component to my learning experience and really helped me gain insight into the world I'll be stepping into after graduation. Plus, the faculty and staff genuinely care about your development and well-being, and I am so appreciative to have their support as I move into my future career.