Originally from China, Georgina Zhao graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2014 from Drexel University where she majored in TV Production & Media Management and minored in Fine Art. She interned with companies and organizations such as the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Greater Philadelphia Film Office, and Viacom Entertainment Group. With interests in art museums, education, and digital media, she hopes to pursue a career in education programming at an art museum upon graduation from the M.A. Program of Arts Administration. Georgina speaks native Mandarin Chinese and conversational Korean, thanks to her study-abroad experience at Seoul National University in the business administration program.

What attracted you to the Arts Administration Program at Teachers College, Columbia University? The people, the flexible curriculum, the internship opportunities, and New York City. When I attended the Admitted Student Day one year ago, I was immediately attracted to the beautiful campus, the helpful faculty, and most importantly the dynamic atmosphere among the cohort.

How are your studies helping to advance your career goals? There is a healthy mix of seminar courses and more practical courses at ARAD, which guides me to think deeply about the issues in the art world while preparing for my career. We are free to choose electives not only at Teachers College but also at any other schools at Columbia, and it really helps me to design my own study plan and to learn specific subjects that align with my career goals.

Describe student life as a member of the ARAD community. Everyone in our cohort is so different that I can learn more than I could imagine from them. We share the same love for the arts but are interested in various concentrations, which makes us each other’s friends and mentors.