What’s Happening This Fall at Columbia School of Professional Studies

Join Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) for an exciting lineup of fall events. From engaging panel discussions and professional networking events to social and community-based gatherings, SPS is looking ahead to a busy and dynamic semester. The events explore key topics in today’s world, ranging from elections and policy issues to AI technology and its impact across industries. 

This fall also marks the launch of two new SPS programs, the M.S. in Biodiversity Data Analytics and the M.S. in Project Management. Both have exciting launch events planned.

All events are open to the public and are in person unless otherwise noted. Check back in the coming weeks as we add more information to this article.

Explore the list of upcoming fall events below:

October

10/24 VIRTUAL: Columbia University M.S. in Nonprofit Management Leadership Series, Nonprofit Management Program

• Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management program is hosting an informal professional development webinar with alum Rebecca L. Smith, LMSW, director of Philanthropy for the Salvation Army of Greater New York. Join the event here.

10/27: Smarter Projects & Stronger Leaders in the Age of AI, Project Management Launch Event

• Join us for the official launch of Columbia University’s new M.S. in Project Management program. The event will feature a reception and a panel discussion bringing together industry leaders and faculty to explore the evolving landscape of project leadership in a world shaped by innovation and AI. Reserve your spot here.

10/27: CORE Event, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program

10/30 VIRTUAL: Investing in the Insurance Sector and Growth Trends, Insurance Management Program

November

11/5: Nature in Numbers: Why Training in Biodiversity Analytics Matters Now, Biodiversity and Data Analytics

The new Master of Science in Biodiversity Data Analytics, developed by Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, will be hosting a launch event featuring a panel of distinguished experts in biodiversity conservation, data analytics and AI, business, and finance. The event will also hold a reception, inviting attendees to connect with peers and educators on these important topics. Find out more here.

11/12:  SPS Fall Open House on Columbia University campus

11/13: Insights from the 2025 Election, Political Analytics Program

• The 2025 U.S. election represents a pivotal moment in the nation’s political trajectory. The Political Analytics program will host a discussion examining the forces that shaped the campaigns, from long-anticipated dynamics to late-breaking developments. Particular attention will be given to the performance of polls, forecasts, and analytic models under the pressures of turnout variation, campaign messaging, and unanticipated events. Read more here.

11/13 VIRTUAL: Automation Complacency: AI-induced abdication of medical decision-making, Bioethics Program

11/20: Symposium: At the Crossroads: Nonprofits Shaping Health Policy in Times of Structural Challenge, Nonprofit Management Program

December

12/1 HYBRID: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Financial Risk Management, Enterprise Risk Management Program

• AI and machine learning are transformative technologies that are fundamentally reshaping investment management and risk management approaches from the realm of qualitative to insightful quantitative outcomes. This panel discussion aims to provide perspectives into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence’s application in financial industry risk management. Read more about the event and its panelists here.

12/2:  Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance

• Dubbed the “joy goddess of Harlem’s 1920s” by poet Langston Hughes, A’Lelia Walker, daughter of millionaire entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, and author A’Lelia Bundles’s great-grandmother and namesake, is a fascinating figure whose legendary parties and “Dark Tower” salon helped define the Harlem Renaissance. Join SPS to discuss the legacy of A’Lelia Walker and her great-granddaughter’s book Joy Goddess here.