OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS MISSION STATEMENT
To serve and support alumni and students of Columbia College Chicago by strengthening connections and encouraging participation, in order to promote and advance the interests of the college. 


National Office – Chicago

 Michelle Passarelli, Associate Director of Alumni Operations, graduated from Columbia in 1999 with a BA in Marketing Communications: Advertising & Copywriting.

Prior to joining Columbia, Michelle had a successful marketing career in the San Francisco Bay Area as a marketing director and advertising account executive, primarily in the multifamily and commercial real estate industries. While residing in the Bay Area, Michelle also spearheaded the San Francisco CAAN (Columbia Alumni Association & Network) chapter.

As associate director of alumni operations, Michelle works closely with academic departments to assist in the cultivation and implementation of their alumni initiatives, directs alumni communications, and is the staff adviser for the Student Alumni Alliance (SAA).

Michelle also has a Boston Terrier named Veruca Salt (named for the band, not the girl).

Michelle Passarelli (BA '99)
Associate Director of Alumni Operations
312-369-6987
mpassarelli@colum.edu
Department outreach, alumni marketing and communications, DEMO Magazine, Student Alumni Alliance (SAA)




Cynthia Vargas graduated from Columbia in 2001 with a BA in Fiction Writing. She is currently a Creative Writing MFA candidate at Columbia College. She has worked in the non-profit sector for over nine years coordinating events and working with volunteers and boards. She returned to Columbia in March 2008 as the assistant director of alumni events & programs. 

In her role, she is responsible for all programming and coordination of alumni events including Alumni Weekend, Alumni at Manifest, career development workshops, baseball outings, amongst others.

Cyn also manages event-specific alumni volunteer committees and work with the CAAN: Chicago alumni board, which includes volunteer management, recruitment, and cultivation. Cyn was born and raised in Chicago, is an avid White Sox fan, and proud mom of a future alumna. Her story, Rum & Run, appeared in Hair Trigger 33 in May 2011.

Cyn Vargas (BA '01)
Associate Director of Alumni Events & Programs
312-369-8640
cvargas@colum.edu
CAAN: Chicago alumni chapter, Alumni Weekend, Alumni at Manifest, workshops, volunteer committees

West Coast Office – Los Angeles

Sarah Schroeder graduated from Columbia in 2000 with a B.A. in Film & Video and was of the first graduates of the college’s acclaimed Semester in LA program. Upon completion of Semester in LA, Sarah was hired by one of the speakers, talent agent, Craig Wyckoff. She then went on to assist Reuben Cannon in casting the feature film Deliver us from Eva, and was also an assistant to J.B. Roberts, a talent manager at Thruline Entertainment.

Prior to attending Columbia College Chicago, Sarah was a student of English at the University of Arizona, and has published several articles. She was active in Columbia College’s west coast alumni network before accepting her position as the west coast alumni director in December 2002. In her current position, Sarah oversees CAAN activities in the cities of Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, as well as the National alumni board.

Sarah Schroeder (BA '00)
Director of Alumni Relations, West Coast
323-469-0443
sschroeder@colum.edu
CAAN alumni chapter development, CAAN National board, events, Bob Enrietto Scholarship



Cupid Hayes is a professional actress and a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, where she serves on six committees. She co-starred with Bruce Bruce and Reynaldo Rey in The Sunday Morning Stripper on Showtime and was also seen on CSI:New York and Heroes.  

While a student at DePaul University, she created the position of Overnight Coordinator for The Theatre School's admissions.  Upon transferring to Columbia, this self-proclaimed "UK Ambassador of Chicago" volunteered for its Admissions department. 

Cupid is very happy to be working with Sarah Schroeder and her fellow Columbia College Chicago alumni.

Cupid Hayes (BA '97)
Alumni Relations Assistant, West Coast
323-469-0449
wcalumni@colum.edu