General Studies student Ashley Kim has passed away, according to emails from Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch and Dean Cristen Kromm sent to the Columbia community this afternoon. 

Editor’s Warning: mentions of death

On Friday afternoon, Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch and Dean Cristen Kromm informed Columbia students that Ashley Kim, a GS student, passed away this week. The full text of the email can be found below.

Ashley Kim was a first-generation student from San Diego, California, and the daughter of Korean immigrants. She first came to Columbia in the Spring of 2022 to pursue visual arts and Korean Language and culture. In the message sent to students, Kim’s family expressed their love for Ashley and how much she will be missed. 

In their email, both Dean Kromm and Rosen-Metsch highlighted the resources available to Columbia students at this time, including Counseling and Psychological Services and student advising. Links to these resources are included in the email below.

Update on Friday, October 28 at 5 pm:

Barnard College Dean Leslie Grinage shared Dean Rosen-Metsch’s message with Barnard students in an email this evening. The message expresses that Barnard joins the GS community’s remembrance of Kim and sends condolences to her family and loved ones. Additionally, Dean Grinage provides students who might be struggling with Barnard-specific resources, including Furman and an international SOS line.

Email sent to CC and GS students from Dean Kromm, containing Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch’s message on Friday, October 28 at 1:03 pm:

Dear Students,

With sorrow, I write to share a message from Lisa Rosen-Metsch, dean of the School of General Studies, regarding Ashley Kim, who passed away this week. I hope you will join me in sending your condolences to Ashley’s family and friends.

While our community mourns this loss I remind you that Columbia’s resources are always available, and encourage you to also connect with one another. You will find additional information below. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know needs support.  

In community,

Cristen Kromm

Dean of Undergraduate Student Life

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) provides 24/7 phone support at 212-854-2878.

Columbia Religious Life can be reached for spiritual counseling at religiouslife@columbia.edu or 212-854-2184. For those on campus, Earl Hall and Saint Paul’s Chapel are open from 9am-6pm Monday through Friday, for prayer and reflection.

Your advisers in the Berick Center for Student Advising can be reached for personal support by scheduling an appointment that is convenient for you.

Professional staff in Residential Life are available throughout the weekend. Should you need support, connect to the RA on-duty, who can connect you with the Residence Hall Director on-call.

The Nightline Peer Listening service is available from 9:00pm to 2:00am at 212-854-7777 if you need help finding resources or simply someone to talk to.

Email sent to GS students from Dean Rosen-Metsch:

Dear GS Students,

With a heavy heart, I write to inform you of the loss of a member of our GS community, Ashley Kim. Ashley came to Columbia in Spring 2022 to pursue her dual passions in visual arts and Korean language and culture. Originally from San Diego, California, the child of first-generation Korean immigrants, Ashley had briefly attended University of California – Davis before moving to Seoul to connect with her familial roots. She was an excellent student, being named to the dean’s list in her first semester at Columbia. Ashley’s family shared how loved she was and how much she will be missed and that she will always be with them.

The loss of a member of our community is always difficult and our thoughts and compassion are with Ashley’s loved ones in this difficult time. I also want to remind all of us that we are not alone in dealing with loss. The entire staff at Columbia GS, as well as our colleagues throughout the campus, are available to offer continued support to GS students. 

There are a number of resources available to you: Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) is available via the number below. As always, you can reach out to your academic advisor directly, and members of the Office of the University Chaplain are all available to provide you with additional support. I have listed contact information and additional resources below.

With deepest sympathy,

Lisa Rosen-Metsch

Dean

Email sent to the Barnard community at 4:58 pm on Friday, October 28:

Dear Students,

I am writing to share a message sent earlier today to General Studies students about the passing of student Ashley Kim. We join the GS community in remembering Ashley and send our deepest condolences to her family and other loved ones.

At painful times like this, we encourage you to seek support from these available resources:

Furman Counseling Center: 100 Hewitt Hall, (212) 854-2092

After-hours psychological emergency line: (855) 622-1903

International SOS for students who are abroad: +1-215-942-8478

Sincerely,

Dean Grinage

Columbia’s campus via Bwog Archives