MR. KHALFANI A. LAWSON
Associate Director of Student Life & International Student Services
Khalfani is a unicorn – read, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He is a graduate of Kennesaw State University where he studied political science, global affairs, and the African diaspora. After his time at KSU, Khalfani attended Candler School of Theology, Emory University where he focused on religion and race. One of Khalfani’s most influential theological influences is Michael Eugene Archer – better known as, D’Angelo. D’Angelo’s album entitled “Voodoo” is a favorite. Khalfani thinks it is a great representation of the multifarious ways Christianities are lived throughout the African Diaspora.
At Columbia, Khalfani is responsible for creating and overseeing programs, events, and initiatives related to community life and student engagement. He also serves as the primary point of contact for student organizations, international students, and residence life. Traffic aside, Khalfani loves Decatur and Atlanta. His favorite places to visit are Sevananda (Little Five Points), Soul Vegetarian (West End), and Café Alsace (Decatur). When he is not working to foster a vibrant community at Columbia, you can find him spending time with his fiancé, Whitney, reading, and writing. You may also find Khalfani in the crawl space of his house or under the hood of his car working on home and vehicle improvements. Whether reading, writing, or being a handyperson, Khalfani does it all while drinking his favorite beverage, water. He encourages you to drink a glass now!