Four people smile for a photo in front of a large balloon during the Columbia Engineering reunion on campus.

Alumni

Engineering Alumni Celebrate Reunion 2026

Alumni and their families came back to Columbia and reconnected with classmates for a weekend of tours, talks, and celebrations.

June 09, 2026

Alumni from around the globe gathered on Morningside Campus for the 2026 Columbia Engineering Reunion weekend from May 28 to May 30, 2026. 

Reunion kicked off Thursday night with a special welcome dinner and awards ceremony for this year’s Columbia Engineering Alumni Association medalists. Acting President Claire Shipman attended the event and awarded Martin Chalfie with the Michael Pupin Medal for Service to the Nation In Engineering, Science, or Technology Beyond the Candidate’s Professional Field. Chalfie, who is University President in the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, was a joint winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the introduction of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) as a biological marker. 

 

Reunion Weekend 2026

A man in a suit speaks at a podium, gesturing with one hand, against a purple-lit backdrop during the 2026 Columbia Engineering alumni reunion.
Michael Pupin Medal recipient Martin Chalfie addresses alumni at the Dean’s Welcome Dinner. Credit: David Dini
A crowded indoor reception during the Columbia Engineering alumni reunion, with attendees mingling and talking beneath a large sculpture on a pedestal in a wood-paneled room.
Credit: David Dini
A large group of people pose on a stage in formal attire in front of tall gold curtains.
Credit: David Dini
Four people pose onstage at the Columbia Engineering 2026 alumni reunion while one holds an open presentation box with an award medal; framed citations are displayed behind them.
Raymond Daddazio is awarded the Thomas Egleston Medal For Distinguished Engineering Achievement. (L to Right: Dean Shih-Fu Chang, Egleston Committee Chair Ana Rodriguez BS’86, Raymond Daddazio, and CEAA President Reid Ellison BS’08) Credit: David Dini
A speaker at a Columbia University lectern addresses a seated audience onstage, with three panelists and framed award displays behind them.
Thomas Egleston Medal recipient Raymond Daddazio addresses alumni at the Dean’s Welcome Dinner. Credit: David Dini
Four men pose onstage at the Columbia Engineering alumni reunion; one holds an open award case with a medal while others stand beside him smiling.
Azmi T. Mikati BS'94 is awarded the Samuel Johnson Medal For Distinguished Achievement Beyond Engineering and Applied Science (L to Right: Dean Shih-Fu Chang, Johnson Committee chair, Rohit Sharma, Azmi T. Mikati BS'94, and Ellison). Credit: David Dini
Wide view of a formal dinner in a grand hall lit in purple and gold, with Columbia crown projections on the walls and a stage program at the far end.
Samuel Johnson Medal recipient Azmi T. Mikati addresses alumni at the Dean’s Welcome Dinner. Credit: David Dini
Two Columbia Engineering alumni sit close together at a cocktail table, smiling at the camera, with wine glasses and candles on the table and a bar set up behind them.
Credit: David Dini
Group photo of Columbia Engineering alumni and Dean Shih-Fu Chang in front of a “Columbia Engineering” step-and-repeat backdrop, holding reunion-themed props including “Columbia Reunion” and “I ♥ CU” signs.
MS & PhD Reception. Credit: Michael DiVito
Four people pose in front of a small stage between tall lion banners, with two holding lion-shaped awards at a Columbia Engineering reunion event.
Harry West (center right) receives the Great Teacher Award alongside Caterina Pizzigoni (center left) at the Great Teacher Award Reception (L to Right: Dean Josef Sorett, Pizzigoni, and Dean Chang). Credit: Brandon Vallejo
Harry West stands behind a podium in a bright room with large windows, speaking between two tall banners featuring carved lion figures during a Columbia Engineering alumni reunion program.
Harry West addresses attendees at the Great Teacher Award Reception. Credit: Brandon Vallejo
Four Columbia Engineering alums pose outdoors in front of large silver “REUNION” balloon letters on Columbia’s campus, framed by blue-and-white balloons.
Reunion Lawn Party. Credit: Sirin Samman
Five alumni smile for a group photo under an event tent, seated and standing close together at a gathering for 2026 Columbia Engineering reunion.
Credit: Sirin Samman
A guide points to a large piece of scientific equipment during a lab tour while several alumni watch in the background.
Reunion tour of the Plasma Physics Lab. Credit: Sirin Samman
In a workshop lab, a seated student gestures while explaining a 3D model on a computer monitor to an alumnus standing beside them.
Reunion tour of the Plasma Physics Lab. Credit: Sirin Samman
Alumni sit at round tables listening to a speaker at a podium during a reunion luncheon; a presentation slide is projected at the front of the room.
Dean’s Welcome Breakfast. Credit: Brandon Vallejo
A man in a suit speaks into a handheld microphone and gestures with his free hand during an indoor reunion event.
Alumni Neil Daswani BS’96 poses a question for Dean Chang. Credit: Brandon Vallejo
Close-up of an attendee holding a small vintage photo over a café-style table with sunglasses and a phone nearby.
An alum shows an old photo of campus. Credit: Sirin Samman
x/x

Dean Shih-Fu Chang recognized Raymond P. Daddazio BS'75, MS'76, EngScD'82 with the Thomas Egleston Medal for Distinguished Engineering Achievement. Daddazio is chairman of the Thornton Tomasetti Foundation and former president of Thornton Tomasetti. Dean Chang also recognized Azmi T. Mikati BS'94, the CEO of M1 Group, with the Samuel Johnson Medal for Distinguished Achievement Beyond Engineering and Applied Science.

Over the weekend, alumni and guests attended lectures from Columbia Engineering faculty, including a talk on AI and neural intelligence with Richard Zemel, Trianthe Dakolias Professor of Engineering and Applied Science and professor of computer science; as well as a presentation on energy, transition, and mining with Dan Steingart, Stanley-Thompson Professor of Chemical Metallurgy, professor of chemical engineering, and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering. 

On Friday, attendees toured the Plasma Physics Lab and the Robotics and Rehabilitation (RoAR) Lab. They also mingled at a general All Class Reception and recognized classes celebrating their 50- and 25-year anniversaries. Members of the Class of 1976 received Golden Lions pins, while the Class of 2001 members received Silver Lions pins to commemorate the milestone and their entry into the Golden and Silver Lions Societies. The day ended with a Reunion Lawn Party for alumni of Columbia Engineering, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies. 

Harry West stands behind a podium in a bright room with large windows, speaking between two tall banners featuring carved lion figures during a Columbia Engineering alumni reunion program.
Professor Harry West was recognized with the Great Teacher Award by the Society of Columbia Graduates. Credit: Brandon Vallejo

Dean Chang gave attendees an overview of Columbia Engineering news highlights and research updates on Saturday at the Dean’s Breakfast. The Engineering School also hosted a special reception for alumni of its master’s and doctoral programs. The Society of Columbia Graduates sponsored the Great Teacher Awards reception to recognize the 2026 honorees. Harry West, professor of professional practice in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, received the Great Teacher Award for the Engineering School. Caterina Pizzigoni, associate professor of history, was the Columbia College recipient. The day closed with receptions and dinners for the classes and a Starlight Celebration on Low Plaza featuring a live band, dessert, and champagne.