Fast Five: Actress Montana Roesch ‘24GS on Expanding Her Impact Beyond Performance

Welcome to Fast Five: Rapid-fire, insightful interviews with GS students and alumni! 

Before setting foot on the Morningside Heights campus, Montana Roesch ‘24GS had already made it in Hollywood as a working actor. But for her, success meant more than the spotlight. She took on the challenge of higher education with grace and passion, starting at Santa Monica College and then Columbia GS.

While a GS student, Roesch was a communications & marketing intern and social media ambassador for the Morgan Library and Museum and she graduated with a degree in English and comparative literature and a certificate in business administration and management. Nowadays, Roesch is the proud founder of Dragon Bait Creative, an operations studio working at the intersection of the arts, event planning, and digital marketing. 

What is your GS story in one sentence?

After years as a working actor in Hollywood, I came to GS to reframe my creative identity through the lens of rigorous academic inquiry and community.

What was it like transitioning from acting to studying at Santa Monica College and then Columbia?

The transition from sets and stages to classrooms and libraries was challenging—mainly because I was choosing to bet big on myself and leap into the unknown. I was leaving behind an established career and lifestyle to return to higher education after nearly a decade away from school. 

Attending Santa Monica College (SMC) turned out to be one of the best investments I’ve ever made. It gave me the academic courage to believe I could succeed in higher education. In fact, when it came time to apply to four-year schools, it was my SMC academic counselor who introduced me to—and insisted I apply to—GS.

Where SMC gave me courage, Columbia gave me rigor. The academic environment at GS pushed me to radically elevate and refine my voice, both intellectually and creatively. Thanks to my studies with Columbia’s esteemed faculty, the deep relationships I built within the GS student body, and of course the Core Curriculum, I graduated as a more well-rounded global citizen, a stronger writer, and a more capable businesswoman. My time at SMC and GS wasn’t about closing the door on my past self: it was about illuminating new dimensions of who I am and expanding my purpose and social impact far beyond performance.

What is a stand-out memory from your time as a GS student?

During my senior year with GS, I was accepted to cross-register at both Columbia Business School and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences—an opportunity that allowed me to earn a certification in business and entrepreneurship while also participating in a graduate-level literature seminar. That dual experience pushed me to merge strategic thinking with deep creative inquiry. The final paper I wrote for the seminar was later accepted for presentation at a national literary conference, marking a full-circle moment where my academic and professional paths came into alignment.

How do you continue to stay involved with Columbia communities after graduating?

I stay connected by volunteering my time with the incredible GS Alumni Association (GSAA) team, speaking with current students, and participating in alumni-led initiatives that bridge arts, media, and social impact.

What advice would you give to a recent GS alum hoping to break into the entertainment industry?

Lead with curiosity and humility: this is a team sport at the end of the day. Help yourself by building your understanding of the industry’s ins-and-outs and how your role fits in first. Build your experience and relationships before asking for or expecting immediate opportunities, and remember that your nontraditional path is your superpower—it gives you perspective, grit, and a story worth telling.