An Oral History of Columbia College Chicago, 1998 -2004

The Columbia College Chicago Oral History Project was conceived by Louis Silverstein, a Distinguished Professor in Humanities, History, and Social Sciences, who directed the project. While attending the memorial service in 1996 for Jane Alexandroff, wife of president Mirron 'Mike' Alexandroff, Silverstein realized "someone needed to take the initiative in fashioning a history of the college journey" through interviews with the people who contributed their talents toward the success of the college. The project goal was to preserve a record of college history from the 1960s on through the words of the people who shaped modern Columbia. Interviews were conducted by Louis Silverstein and oral historians Erin McCarthy and Chris Thale.

Early interviews were with people who joined the Columbia College community in the 1960s and 1970s and later interviews were with those who came to Columbia in the 1980s and 1990s. All interviews offer insight into the evolution and history of Columbia College Chicago through personal narrative.

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Interview with Les Brownlee, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Les Brownlee was Journalism department faculty .
Interview with Louis Silverstein, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Louis Silverstein was Liberal Studies department faculty.
Interview with Luke Palermo, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Luke Palermo was Television department faculty.
Interview with Lya Dym Rosenblum, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Lya Dym Rosenblum was vice president and dean of the Graduate School.
Interview with Lynn Sloan, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Lynn Sloan was Photography department faculty.
Interview with Margaret Sullivan, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Margaret Sullivan was chair of the Marketing Communication department.
Interview with Mario Castillo, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mario Castillo was Art & Design department faculty .
Interview with Mark Kelly, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mark Kelly was acting vice president of Student Affairs.
Interview with Marvin Cohen, 2004

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Marvin Cohen was College Registrar.
Interview with Mary E. Johnson, 2004

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mary Johnson was director of Creative and Printing Services.
Interview with Michael Niederman, 2004

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Michael Niederman was chair of the Television department.
Interview with Michael Rabiger, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Michael Raginger was acting chair of the Film & Video department.
Interview with Mike Alexandroff, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mike Alexandroff was Columbia College Chicago President Emeritus.
Interview with Mike DeSalle, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mike DeSalle was CFO and vice president of Finance
Interview with Mort Kaplan, 2004

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Mort Kaplan was Marketing Communication department faculty.
Interview with Nan Shineflug, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Nan Shineflug was Interdisciplinary Arts department faculty.
Interview with Paula Epstein, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Paula Epstein was a librarian and former head of the Library.
Interview with Paula Weiner, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Paula Weiner was administrator and manager of the Liberal Education department.
Interview with Paul Carter-Harrison, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Paul Carter-Harrison was the former chair of the Theater/Music dapartment and playwright-in-residence.
Interview with Paul Hoover, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Paul Hoover was poet-in-residence in the English department.
Interview with Paul Johnson, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Paul Johnson was director of Human Resources.
Interview with Peter Radke, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Peter Radke was Head Bursar.
Interview with Peter Thompson, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Peter Thompson was Photography department faculty.
Interview with Phyllis Johnson, 2001

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Phyllis Johnson was Art, Entertainment, Media Management department faculty.
Interview with Randy Albers, 1998

Columbia College Chicago

At the time of the interview, Randy Albers was chair of the Fiction Writing department.