Columbia History, Traditions, and Celebrations
Columbia is a community rich with non-traditional traditions, history and celebrations. Yes, Columbia has fun traditions like events. A notable example being Manifest, a massive end-of-year celebration that forefronts the work of graduating undergraduate and graduate students all wrapped up in a festival! Also, take some time to get to know the history behind the college. It is always inspiring to know what made this college what it is today.
PS: Columbia was founded by a woman. Just sayin’.
HISTORY
Columbia College Chicago was founded in 1890 as the Columbia School of Oratory by Mary A. Blood and Ida Morey Riley, graduates of the Monroe Conservatory of Oratory, now Emerson College, in Boston, Massachusetts. The school focused on the teaching of elocution, public speaking, and physical culture.
In 1904 the school changed its name to the Columbia College of Expression and in 1927, the college aligned with the Pestalozzi-Froebel Teachers College, adding coursework in education, broadcasting, and dramatic arts. The school left this partnership in 1944 with a revised name, Columbia College, and Norman Alexandroff as president, adding new disciplines that returning WWII veterans wished to study: television, advertising, film, and business.
In 1961, Mirron (Mike) Alexandroff served as president, evolving the curriculum into a liberal arts foundation and a progressive social agenda. He added new programs to enhance the diverse arts and media fields already taught at the college.
Columbia was awarded full accreditation in 1974 by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and soon thereafter purchased its first building, 600 S. Michigan Ave, in the South Loop, its permanent College home. In 1984, Columbia received full accreditation for its graduate programs.
Dr. John B. Duff was named president in 1992, and during his tenure, the school changed its name to Columbia College Chicago, and expanded its educational programs, adding coursework emphasizing digital, media, design skills, and interdisciplinary studies.
In 2000, Dr. Warrick L. Carter served as president and ushered in new student-based initiatives such as Manifest and Shop Columbia, worked to add more student housing on campus, and built Columbia’s first South Loop newly constructed building, the Media Production Center.
In 2013, Kwang-Wu Kim, D.F.A. became Columbia College Chicago's tenth president. He has directed a campus-wide refashioning of college curriculum and an institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under his tenure, the second newly-constructed campus facility, the Student Center, was built.
In 2024, the Board of Trustees appointed Jerry Tarrer to serve as interim President and CEO. Mr. Tarrer currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Building on its heritage of creativity, innovation, and strength, Columbia College Chicago continues to challenge its students according to the school’s motto, “esse quam videri” – to be rather than to seem. The college encourages its students to author the culture of their times, with Columbia College Chicago graduates possessing the agile and flexible skills necessary to thrive in their careers as creatives.