Columbia College Chicago

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Chief Financial Officer for Columbia College Chicago.

Founded in 1890, Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit institution dedicated to preparing students for careers in the visual, performing, media, and communication arts. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, the College serves approximately 4,500 students through more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs across its schools of Audio and Music, Business and Entrepreneurship, Communication and Culture, Design, Fashion, Film and Television, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts.

Columbia’s distinctive approach combines rigorous academics with hands‑on learning and direct engagement with Chicago’s vibrant creative industries.

The College’s diverse community of artists, innovators, and scholars is united by a shared belief in the power of creativity to shape culture, transform communities, and advance social progress.

In 2019, Columbia opened a new $55 million, 114,000-square-foot Student Center—a dynamic space for collaboration, performance, and community connection. The College’s presence in Los Angeles through the Semester in LA program extends its reach into the nation’s entertainment capital, offering students unparalleled experiential learning and professional opportunities.

The College’s specialized programs that bridge the gap between mastery of creative disciplines and broader educational preparation are what distinguishes Columbia from its peer institutions. Faculty members bring real-world experience and industry connections to the classroom to enhance students’ learning experiences. Columbia’s programs and faculty have outstanding reputations in their fields.

In annual surveys, The Hollywood Reporter consistently ranks Columbia’s film program and music composition for the screen MA program as among the top programs in the United States, and the College’s animation, comedy studies, photography, visual effects, and video game design programs have received similar accolades. SEMESTER IN LA

Columbia College Chicago’s Semester in Los Angeles (SiLA) program is an immersive, professional development experience that places juniors and seniors in the heart of the entertainment industry. Students spend a semester living in Los Angeles, completing internships with leading studios, production companies, music labels, and talent agencies while taking courses taught by industry professionals and Columbia faculty. Designed as a capstone to their academic studies, the program provides direct exposure to the business and creative practices of film, television, and music, while also connecting students with Columbia’s extensive alumni network in Los Angeles.

Through SiLA, students gain the skills, experience, and professional relationships needed to launch successful careers in creative industries.

Columbia College Chicago embodies a spirit of exploration, discovery, and innovation. The College attracts students who are passionate about making a difference through their creative practice and provides an environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration, and bold expression. Columbia fosters a culture where dynamic voices and perspectives produce new ideas that shape the culture of our times.

Columbia College Chicago is an undergraduate and graduate institution whose principal commitment is to provide comprehensive educational opportunities in the arts, communications, and public information within a context of enlightened liberal arts education.

Columbia’s intent is to educate students who will communicate creatively and shape the public’s perceptions of issues and events and who will author the culture of their times.…