Columbia GS Alumnus Michael Novak ‘09 to Receive Columbia University Medal for Excellence
Michael Novak ’09GS, Artistic Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, will be honored for his transformative leadership in dance and continued dedication to the Columbia community.
Columbia University School of General Studies (GS) is proud to announce that distinguished alumnus Michael Novak ‘09GS has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Columbia University Medal for Excellence. This honor, which will be awarded at Commencement on Wednesday, May 20, recognizes outstanding achievement, leadership, and contributions that reflect the highest values of the University community.
“I can say without hesitation that Michael represents the very best of the Columbia tradition of excellence, both academic and professional, and dedication to the community,” said Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch. “He exemplifies the creativity, discipline, and vision that define a GS education.”
Novak’s life and career as a dancer were born from the desire to find ways to communicate in the face of a terrible childhood stutter. “Dance became my voice,” he told Columbia Magazine in 2018. As his talent and skill as a dancer developed, he worked hard to overcome his stutter, gaining recognition for his work and becoming more confident in the classroom. With that confidence came a deepened commitment to his craft, which he honed through training at the University of the Arts, The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Springboard Danse Montréal, and The Taylor School.
Like so many dancers at GS, it was an injury that forced him to pivot and pursue his academic goals, which ultimately led him to Columbia. While at GS, Novak was a founding member of the Columbia Ballet Collaborative (CBC), a student-run group composed largely of retired dancers, that includes students from all Columbia undergraduate colleges.
As an undergraduate, Novak wrote and choreographed pieces for the CBC while pursuing an independent study in the Dance Department on choreography. His work with faculty led not only to a deeper understanding and appreciation for the history of dance, it was a faculty connection that led him to audition for the Paul Taylor Dance Company. “The combination of Michael’s academic life with his artistic and professional pursuits, is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a GS student,” remarked Dean Rosen-Metsch. “He has continued to be a strong partner to the School since graduating and for me, personally, in my deanship.”
Since graduating from GS in 2009 with a degree in dance, Novak is carving a profound mark in the dance industry as Artistic Director of Paul Taylor Dance Company. His unwavering commitment to usher in a new era of expansion for the Taylor organization is driven by his passion for artistic innovation, inclusion, and education.
“The combination of Michael’s academic life with his artistic and professional pursuits, is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a GS student."
Before assuming his role as Artistic Director, Novak built an impressive career as a critically acclaimed Taylor dancer, hailed by The New York Times as “a marvel of plasticity and penetrating imagination.” In 2018, after eight years performing with the Company, Novak was appointed by Paul Taylor to succeed him, entrusting Novak with the responsibility of preserving and evolving the Company. That same year, Novak officially became Artistic Director after Paul Taylor’s death, and retired from performing shortly thereafter.
Under Novak’s direction, Taylor continues to be one of the world’s leading dance companies, with robust domestic and international touring; an annual season at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; an ever-expanding repertory that includes both Paul Taylor’s groundbreaking work alongside new choreographic voices to reflect contemporary themes and diverse perspectives; several educational programs to inspire the next generation of dancers and dance advocates; and a recent expansion to large new headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, offering greater resource to the creative community in New York City, the heart of the dance universe.
In addition to his professional success, Novak is an enthusiastic alumnus within both the GS and Columbia communities, regularly engaging with students at the near-annual behind-the-scenes tour of Taylor’s latest performance and other special events, along with serving on the GS Board of Visitors.
Previous GS recipients of the University Medal for Excellence include Molly Ola Pinney ‘09GS (2019), Julia Bacha ‘03GS (2017), and Alicia Graf Mack ‘03GS (2008).
Columbia University’s Commencement ceremony of the 272nd academic year will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. More information