Beyond the Luck of the Irish: A Dual BA Story

Perhaps it was the luck of the Irish—or perhaps just serendipitous timing. Either way, Staten Island-native Maeve Sheehan ‘26GS was destined for the Dual BA Program between Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University. A lifelong connection to Ireland, combined with bold choices at Columbia GS, led to a path rooted in storytelling, student leadership, and theater. The Broadway aficionado and film studies major reflects on her GS journey and how she’s setting the stage for her career after graduation.

Tell us about your path to GS:

Like many Dual BA students, I was your average high school student before I learned about the program. My mom is from Dublin and every summer, our family vacation was spent in Ireland at my nanny's house in the suburbs of North Dublin. I was lucky enough to be on a plane to Ireland before my first birthday and it became part of our routine to spend anywhere from 2 - 8 weeks there each year. Even my dad's family still resides on the West Coast and some summers we would drive over and pay our visits to family in Mayo. And if that wasn't enough, back home in New York my family was involved in every possible Irish cultural organization there was. From age 8 I was Irish dancing and from age 10 I was playing the bagpipes in my family's band. March was filled with Saint Patrick's Day parades and countless rehearsals. All this to say, Ireland and NYC run in my blood. My first short film I created was called "Staten Ireland," a documentary about Irish cultural groups on Staten Island. So the Dual BA program sparked something within me in a fateful, perfect way.

What has been your proudest moment/greatest accomplishment at Columbia?:

My greatest accomplishments at Columbia all stem from being a part of the General Studies Student Council. Without sounding immensely cheesy, I think the General Studies Student Council, particularly my fellow Executive Board members—Oscar, Irene, and Nora— have been so important to me during my time at GS. It's difficult to find a group of students who are motivated by the same goals as you and are so awesome to work with . And honestly, they have all been the best to get to know and grow with! I truly did not plan on running in the elections last spring. The role I've held this year, Vice President of Communications , seemed stressful and the election process was daunting. So I held out. But when the elections concluded and the VP of Communications role remained open, I thought that maybe it was meant to be. When the newly elected members opened applications, I applied. And the rest worked out!

Serving on the board in this role has been magical. I work with the most incredible committee who create content I couldn't have dreamed of last summer and work with the rest of the Executive Board on all of the incredible achievements made this year. People may think that simply doing communications for the wider initiatives is not as exciting or fulfilling—but it absolutely is. I have the unique opportunity to spread the good news about the MetroCard Program, Internship Stipend Program, Research Grants, and the Alumni Mentorship Program to all GS students! I feel incredibly proud to play a role on the council in such a monumental year. And to have fun doing it, because after all that's what it's all about. Plus it feels really great when I introduce myself to someone and they recognize me for my emails!

Tell us about a class, group, or professor/person at Columbia that was instrumental to you during your time at GS.:

When it comes to classes, I always want to take a screenwriting class. And the two I have taken here have made me fall even deeper in love with the subject. First, last Spring I was in a Screenwriting Lab with Adjunct Assistant Professor Katla Sólnes. Not only was everyone supportive and considerate and incredible at providing feedback, they motivated me time and time again to keep going. One of the students in the class recommended I pitch my film to the One Train is Delayed, a Barnumbia film group, and as one of the group's selected films, I worked on expanding a script I had wrote for a small exercise into a short film that will now forever exist in the flesh. And this year, I have participated in a two-semester class "Senior Seminar in Screenwriting," with Professor Loren-Paul Caplin, an accomplished writer who never fails to put a smile on everyone's faces! The small group of 12 students has been building the story and script for a feature length film across the two semesters. As Caplin says, it's all about process. And watching the process grow and getting to know everyone's stories so intimately with other seniors has been an incredibly fruitful experience. If you enjoy writing and you find a good group of students who you can laugh with and provide feedback to, then you will ultimately become part of the process! And the process of building your own story is a joy I never want to let go of!

What advice would you give to a student who's about to start their GS journey?:

I have two big pieces of advice. The first is simple—read your emails! GS and Columbia University have so much to offer, but you won't know anything about them if you delete any newsletters that come your way. Networking events, discounted Broadway tickets, free food (so much free food) are all available to you! You have to take advantage of all this place has to offer and the best way to learn about them is through your emails. And I am totally unbiased in saying this, even though I have spent the past two years in the GS Communications office helping to build newsletters and roaming the GS website.

Second piece of advice: try new things! I think this applies to any GS students, but more particularly Dual Degree students, especially because we are here for such a short amount of time. When I got here, I found myself desperately wanting to fit into the same groups and classes I liked at Trinity. At Trinity my life was in theater. But after a semester of that here, I realized how different it was. So I tried the student council. And I loved it! And this semester I am having a blast directing a sketch for a sketch comedy group on campus, something I would not have touched at Trinity. What you do in your first semester here doesn't define you, branch out and learn as much about yourself and your interests as possible!

What are your plans for after graduation?:

While my major is in film and media, I have fallen in love with theater during my four years in the Dual Degree. Particularly, I have fallen for the way theater and digital media work together to bring audiences to shows. After a transformative summer as an intern at The Broadway League, I know that theater is where I want to be! This summer I will be at Concord Theatricals as a Brand Marketing Intern and then starting in the fall, I plan on pursuing full time opportunities in New York City at theatrical marketing agencies or theatrical companies. Truly, I want to be part of the reason the magic of theater happens. On the side, I plan on continuing to write and maybe one day transform that into a career. But as artists know it takes time and energy! And right now, I want to dive headfirst into theater in any way I can!