mills quarterly spring 2014

28
Study abroad programs & international students create informed global citizens Mills Quarterly world at home in the Spring 2014 ALUMNA TRUSTEE ELECTION CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS THE STORIES WE SHARE

Upload: mills-quarterly

Post on 07-Mar-2016

226 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

Spring 2014 Mills College alumnae magazine

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Study abroad programs & international students create informed global citizens

Mills Quarterly

world

at home

in the

Spring 2014

a l u m n a t r u S t e e e l e c t i o n c r e at i v e e n t r e p r e n e u r S t h e S t o r i e S w e S h a r e

Page 2: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Mills inspired me to find my

voice in my work as a teacher and

administrator in Oakland’s public

schools. I want to help today’s

students pursue the wonderful

Mills education that I enjoyed.

I had financial aid when I was a

student, so it’s important for me

to give back to the College that

means so much to me.

behindevery gift there is a story

Each gift to the College has a story—about a life-path

discovered at Mills and followed into the world, about life-

long friendships and inspiring mentors, about a voice found

or strengthened. These are the stories you make possible for

future generations when you give to Mills. Each gift really

does count: college assessors, including U.S. News & World

Report, consider graduates’ giving an important measure of a

learning community’s excellence. Your gifts to Mills are a vote

of confidence in the College’s future.

Give to the Mills College Annual Fund by scanning the code to the right with your smartphone, visiting alumnae.mills.edu/give, calling 510.430.2366, or returning the enclosed envelope.

Anita Aragon Bowers ‘63

051307 Mills AnnualFundAd#3_final_no_hand.indd 1 2/10/14 10:36 AM

Page 3: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

3 AglobalreachA message from President DeCoudreaux describes how Mills will encourage global literacy, a key component of success in today’s international, connected society.

8 Manycountries,onedestinationby Linda SchmidtStudents from all points of the globe find knowledge and confidence at Mills to improve communities near and far.

12 AtaleoftwocitiesStudy abroad experiences enable students to open their eyes to a new sense of the world— and of themselves.

14 Feedingtheartistby Jessica Langlois, MFA ’10 The “starving artist” is a thing of the past when a unique business course gives writers, musicians, and others the necessary skills to pursue their creative goals.

18 AlumnatrusteeelectionVote for your representative on the Mills College Board of Trustees and the AAMC Board of Governors. See your ballot on the inside back cover.

32 TheStoriesWeShareReunion 2013 saw the launch of a new project to gather alumnae anecdotes and opinions on a variety of experiences. This selection of responses shows the diverse values of Mills alumnae.

Departments

2 LetterstotheEditor

4 MillsMatters

20 ClassNotes

30 InMemoriam

8 12 14 Mills Quarterly

contents Spring 2014

Cover illustration by Barıs Muratoglu/istock.com

Page 4: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

2  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly2  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly2  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Thank you so much for the most recent edition of the Mills Quarterly. I especially enjoyed the cover article, “Breaking the Code.” I had forgotten that Mills was a pioneer in offering a major in computer science, and I’m glad that it is thriving with Dr. Spertus’s leadership. I love the cover picture of Miya McClain, who looks like a quintessential Mills woman: intelli-gent, accomplished, beautiful, confident, and part of the diversity that is Mills!

—Gwen Jackson Foster ’67 Oakland, California

As a graduate student at Mills, I was deeply offended by the cover of the last issue. The statement “Funny, you don’t look like a computer engineer...,” paired with the alumna pictured, communi-cates a negative and degrad-ing message about women, particularly black women. I question why the author chose to quote a nameless bigot. Could not a positive, affirming message have been selected? It is my sin-cere hope that in the future you will more carefully examine the potential impact of the words chosen for publication—most especially those which appear so prominently.

—Sandy Bonshahi Pleasant Hill, California

The article “Breaking the Code” was well written and had a lot to say, but it did leave out a few things. In the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s many women were hired in com-panies to program and use computers. It was a new field without the old-fashioned ideas about women’s place in math and science. The pay and respect were equal. The idea of a boy’s club wasn’t there. One learned to program on the job with a lit-tle training or just help from colleagues and the manual that went with the early computers, starting with gutsy machine language coding and later hearing about

and using higher-level languages. Having attended a women’s college, I had a good amount of confidence and my experience was that being one of the boys was easy.

Today it is the reverse. Gradually uni-versities offered computer classes and eventually one could major in computer science—at the cost of other courses. Jobs require very specific skills and experi-ence, and many programming jobs get sent overseas. Now, of course, much of what one does with a computer is to use other people’s programs (that is what I am doing as I write this letter).

Many women do become very com-puter literate and this is a good thing. But my guess is that women just don’t find CS an interesting major when there are so

many other things to major in. —Bonnie Craig van Oosterom ’57

Beverly Hills, California

Every time I read the Mills Quarterly I am amazed and delighted at Mills as it is today and furious at how it was when I was a stu-dent. The education was poor, and the faculty and students were all white, except for a few students from China.

In 1947, Betty McCaughin ’48 and I met with Dr. White, the president. We asked him why there were no black girls at Mills. He replied that they had schools of their own to go to. Betty and I left furi-ous. We were smart enough to ask the question but not sophisticated enough to respond to his bigoted reply. Now, I love to see the women of various ancestries working together at Mills. How Mills has changed!

When I first went to college my mother told me that if I wanted to work I had three choices: teacher, secretary, or nurse. And she was right! Mills today offers pro-grams that enable women to do anything they want and they are doing it. It is the major change of my lifetime and I am delighted.

—Ellen Myers Taves ’48 Redmond, Washington

Have an opinion or comment? Send it to Mills Quarterly, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613 or [email protected]. Letters may be edited for clarity or length.

LetterstotheEditor

Volume CII Number 3 (USPS 349-900) Spring 2014

PresidentAlecia A. DeCoudreaux

VicePresidentforInstitutionalAdvancementTanya Hauck

SeniorDirectorofAdvancementCommunicationsandOutreachDawn Cunningham ’85

ManagingEditorLinda Schmidt

DesignandArtDirectionNancy Siller Wilson

ContributingWriters

Jessica Langlois, MFA ’10

EditorialAssistanceMaggie Slover ’14 Russell Schoch

The Mills Quarterly (USPS 349-900) is published quarterly by Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613. Periodicals postage paid at Oakland, California, and at additional mailing office(s). Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613.

Copyright © 2014, Mills College

Address correspondence to the Mills Quarterly, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613. Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity or length.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 510.430.3312

Printed on recycled paper containing 10 percent post-consumer waste.

(please use outline)

Page 5: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

All of us today, no matter what our age, are challenged to develop greater global and intercultural competency than ever before. For Mills students, this challenge has particular significance for the course of their lives.

Many students have family or friends who live abroad, keeping in touch daily through social media and email. They are tuned in to videos of dramatic events unfolding simultaneously in every region of the globe. They listen to or play music that combines Western, urban beats with melodies and instruments from places where electricity is a luxury. And many expect to pursue careers that involve some sort of transnational work: from anticipating changes in global markets to investigating global epidemics to collabo-rating with artists in the Global South.

Our students’ success in life depends upon acquiring and strengthening, while at college, the intellectual and leadership skills to learn from, and make a difference in, this global context.

During the development of the College’s 2013–18 Strategic Plan, alum-nae, faculty, staff, and students identified the need for the College to have a more global focus, including strengthened for-eign language instruction and increased recruitment of international students. That’s why “Internationalizing Mills” is one of six imperatives which together will ensure that the education we provide is increasingly relevant and powerful for our students in the years ahead.

The number of students on campus who are not US citizens or permanent residents has been low in recent years, making up less than 2 percent of our student body (in many colleges, international students make up 10 to 15 percent). Nevertheless, we know the Mills experience has helped broaden the perspectives of international

and American students alike. Our inter-national alumnae have many stories to share about how Mills shaped their lives, preparing them for careers that cross national and cultural borders. Many of our current “domestic” students bring a global awareness informed by family ties and personal experiences: more than 40 percent of this year’s new students are fluent in a language other than English. Burmese, Laotian, Danish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish are all spoken here. A mix of international students and globally aware domestic students is essential in an educational environment that values global literacy.

To increase the proportion of interna-tional students at Mills, we are developing a targeted recruitment plan, partnerships with universities in Turkey, Hong Kong, and China, and programs to support the success and retention of our international students.

To further encourage global literacy, we are seeking to create a curriculum that equips students to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds; analyze the international context of various issues, events, and relationships; and act upon a sense of global responsibility. Language study and multilingualism are at the core of global literacy, so we are investigating how best to expand the foreign languages we offer—for example, through partnership

with other colleges. We are also designing new interdisciplinary majors and minors, such as one on international develop-ment and economics.

Finally, internationalizing Mills means providing opportunities for students and faculty to study, work, and attend con-ferences abroad. We are exploring ways to establish new international exchange and internship programs—as well as to provide students with the financial sup-port to participate in such programs. We also encourage our faculty to travel for international research, conferences, and teaching. These activities help attract and retain students as well as faculty, enhance global competency, and help increase Mills’ visibility internationally.

Our strategic plan quotes President Aurelia Henry Reinhardt in 1927, who called for “the linking of all campus activities with the needs and opportu-nities of the great world.” We continue to strengthen those links, even as they become more complex and numerous.

A Message from the President of Mills College

A global reachBy Alecia A. DeCoudreaux

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 3

Visit www.mills.edu/strategicplan to read about all six imperatives of the 2013–18 Strategic Plan:

• Developing a curriculum with a purpose in a changing world

• Creating more flexible ways to obtain a Mills education

• Strengthening our commitment to inclusion, social justice, and sustainability

• Internationalizing Mills

• Promoting a vibrant and inclusive campus life

• Developing and sustaining partnerships

Page 6: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Mills College gratefully acknowledges the following gifts, grants, and pledges of $50,000 and more received between July 1 and December 31, 2013.

Alumnae and friends have created several new scholarships and fel-lowships: Samuel Nakamura, son of Toshiko Nakamura ’33, established the S. Colburn and Toshiko Eto Nakamura Health Sciences Scholarship in memory of his parents. The scholarship bene-fits students in the College’s Nursing Program. Venky Aiyar established the Meenakshi Jemboonath and Annis Venkatram Aiyar Scholarship in memory of his mother and wife, respectively; Annis Aiyar served for many years on the staffs of the Alumnae Association of Mills College (AAMC) and the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement. This scholarship supports students with dis-abilities. Patricia Collins Gabbe ’64 and her husband, Steven, created the Sherla and John F. Collins Endowed Scholarship, named in honor of Patricia’s parents, for students majoring in the sciences.

Mei Kwong ’70, a member of the Mills College Board of Trustees, and her husband, Laurence Franklin, made a gift through the Morris S. Smith Foundation to support the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, Mills’ Greatest Need, and the President’s Fund for Innovation. Another trustee, Barbara Ahmajan Wolfe ’65, and her husband, Thomas, made a gift in support of recruitment and out-reach, graduate program marketing, and the development of the College’s brand platform. Brion and Sabrina Applegate, P ’15, also made a generous contribution to the President’s Fund for Innovation.

Carol Davis, MFA ’12, made a gift to support Mills’ Greatest Need and two English Department programs: the distinguished visiting writer appoint-ment and the Community Teaching

Project, which offers English graduate students the opportunity to lead writing workshops in underserved communities in the Bay Area. A gift from an anony-mous donor to the English Department will support the enhancement of literary studies over the next three years.

Linda Borick ’74 and her husband, William Davidson, contributed support for the Dance Department through the Liatis Foundation and the Louis L. Borick Foundation. Their gifts will provide funding for a visiting assistant professor-ship, the Liatis Foundation Fellowship in Dance, new equipment for the depart-ment, and an artist-in-residence.

Splunk, Inc., made a gift to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in support of the work of the department head, Professor Almudena Konrad. The Hellman Foundation continued its gener-

Mills MattersContributions support student scholarships and academic programs

ous support of the Math and Science Summer Bridge Program and contributed to the Janet L. Holmgren Presidential Scholarship. The Walter & Elise Haas Fund extended its grant in support of the Mills Teacher Scholars program, which provides professional development for urban public school teachers who work with children from vulnerable populations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Betty and Gordon Moore made a gener-ous gift to Mills’ Greatest Need, as did Joyce Virginia Barnier ’46 and Jacklyn Davidson Burchill ’44.

The College received an unrestricted bequest from Patricia “Pat” Tiggard Boese ’50, who served as president of the East Bay Mills Branch for many years. In addi-tion, the College received unrestricted bequests from G. Patricia Beckman ’55 of Corona del Mar and Flora Provis ’27 of Felton, California.

Honoring a legacy of leadership, collaboration, and innovationMary Ann Childers Kinkead ’63, MA ’65, a fixture in the Dance Department for nearly a half century, demonstrated an unwavering devotion to the faculty, students, and mission of Mills College throughout her life. Although she passed away in spring 2013, her connection to Mills endures in the form of the Mary Ann Childers Kinkead Initiative for Faculty Innovation (MACK Faculty Initiative), which will encourage faculty leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

The initiative will refresh the College’s curriculum by funding innovative projects proposed by faculty, such as new courses, collaborative research, and exploration of effective teaching practices and technologies. It will support one of the key imperatives of Mills’ strategic plan: to develop a curriculum that prepares students to succeed in a changing world.

Mary Ann’s husband, Jordan Kinkead, and family members have provided initial funding to endow the initiative; Professor Nancy Thornborrow, head of the Economics Department, and her husband, Stephen, have also made a commitment to the MACK Faculty Initiative.

“This fund is such a fitting way to honor Mary Ann, and, along with her many years of service, this initiative will enable her to continue to serve her beloved College into the future,” Kinkead says. “She loved Mills and what the institution stands for. She always encouraged the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees to fully appreciate and support the special qualities of Mills College.”

The MACK Faculty Initiative will enrich the experience of both students and faculty alike. In addition, the initiative will fund the MACK Award for Faculty Leadership to recognize faculty members who show a deep commitment to shared governance. Kinkead also created the Mary Ann Childers Kinkead Endowed Fellowship for Dance to benefit graduate students in the Dance Department.

4  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 7: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 5

Tanya Hauck will soon become a familiar face to Mills alumnae. When she joined the College on April 1 as vice president for institutional advancement, Hauck took responsibility for a wide range of programs that connect alumnae with Mills and encourage philanthropic giv-ing to the College.

Hauck came to Mills from California Polytechnic State University, where she was most recently associate vice presi-dent for development—the latest in a 20-year career of progressively respon-sible leadership roles in advancement.

“As a first-generation university graduate, I am inspired by Mills’ story of providing educational opportunities for women and its commitment to diversity and inclusivity,” says Hauck. “And I am excited by the opportunity to partner advancement efforts with the College’s current strategic imperatives related to increasing enrollment and broadening community and global engagement.”

New VP leads fundraising and alumnae engagement effortsAt Cal Poly, Hauck worked with the

senior leadership team to generate unprecedented support for academic programs; established strategic annual plans, fundraising goals, and perfor-mance metrics for the advancement department; and successfully launched the university’s $500 million Learn by Doing Promise Campaign.

“Mills will gain much from Tanya’s ability to interest external stakeholders, including those outside the normal circles of donors, and convince them to invest in the College in transformational ways,” says President DeCoudreaux, who chaired the search committee for this critical position. “She has had success as well in developing creative outreach activities for alumni that engage their talents and imagination.”

Additional members of the search committee included Art Museum Director Stephanie Hanor, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Operations

Renée Jadushlever, Assistant Professor of Government Martha Johnson, and Liz Parker ’85, who also heads the Mills College Board of Trustees’ Advancement Committee.

Congresswomen convene on campusA standing-room-only crowd gathered in the Mills College Student Union February 1, when Congresswoman Barbara Lee ’73 returned to her alma mater with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other dignitaries to unveil the new postage stamp honoring Shirley Chisholm. In 1968, Chisholm became the first African American woman elected to Congress; Lee began her political career as a volunteer in Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign after meeting Chisholm during a cam-paign stop at Mills.

A panel discussion on women’s economic empowerment, moderated by well-known Bay Area journalist Belva Davis, followed the unveiling.

st

ev

e B

aB

ul

jak

OaklandPostmasterDarylTrujillo,CongresswomanBarbaraLee,CongresswomanNancyPelosi,OaklandMayorJeanQuan,andPresidentDeCoudreaux

TanyaHauck

Page 8: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

SeniorDanceConcert

April 4, Lisser Hall, 7:00 pm

MFAThesisDanceConcert

April 17–19, Lisser Hall, 8:00 pm $10 general, free to Mills students and alumnae. For information, contact 510.430.2175 or [email protected].

SonglinesSeries

April 7 Shackle: Flute, electronics, and laptop-instrument. All events start at 7:30 pm in the Ensemble Room. Admission is free. For information see musicnow.mills.edu or contact John Bischoff at 510.430.2332 or [email protected].

ContemporaryWritersSeries

April 8 Kelsey St. Press 40th Anniversary Readings and talks celebrating four decades of publishing collaborations between women poets and artists. Heller Rare Book Room, 5:30 pm, free. For information, contact Stephanie Young at 510.430.3130 or [email protected].

MillsCollegeArtMuseum

April 1–20 Senior Thesis Exhibition May 4–25 MFA Thesis Exhibition For more information, see mcam.mills.edu or contact 510.430.2164 or [email protected]. The museum is open 11:00 am–4:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 am–7:30 pm Wednesday, and is closed Monday. Admission is free.

AtMills,forAlumnae

Alumnae Relations

alumnae.mills.edu

510.430.2123,[email protected]

Alumnae Admission Representatives

ValaBurnett,AssistantDirectorofAdmissions

510.430.2269,[email protected]

Career Services

510.430.2130,[email protected]

Giving to Mills

alumnae.mills.edu/giving

510.430.2366,[email protected]

Library Services

510.430.2377,[email protected]

M Center/Transcripts

510.430.2000,[email protected]

Pool and Gym 

TrefethenAquaticCenter

510.430.2170,[email protected]

HaasPavilionFitnessCenter

510.430.3376,[email protected]

Alumnae Association of Mills College  

(AAMC)

aamc.mills.edu

LucyDo’75,President

510.430.2110,[email protected]

AAMC,5000MacArthurBlvd.,

MB#86,Oakland,CA94613-1301

FormoreinformationontheseandotheralumnaeservicesatMills,visitalumnae.mills.edu.Somebenefits,suchasaccesstothepoolandfitnesscenter,requireyoutoshowyourAAMCmembershipcard,availablefromAlumnaeRelationsandtheAAMC.

September18–21ConvocationonSeptember19

Celebrating alumnae from class years ending in 4 or 9, including the Golden Girls of 1964

All alumnae are welcome!

A Reunion schedule and registration form will be mailed in early summer to alumnae in reunioning classes. For further information, contact the Mills College Office of Alumnae Relations: [email protected] or 510.430.2123.

Commencement2014

May 17,Holmgren Meadow, 9:45 am

Daljit Bains ’99 will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Commencement ceremony. As chief compliance officer for the Peace Corps, Bains is responsible for the management and global compliance of Peace Corps programs in 70 countries.

In addition, she founded a fair trade textile business in 2006 that provides a living wage to hundreds of women weavers in rural India. Bains educates these women in international marketing and trade and mentors them in growing the business. With her focus on equity, women’s rights, and human dignity, Bains is a wonderful example of the power of a Mills education.

Calendar

Save the dateS for reunion 2014

?

DaljitBains’99

6  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 9: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 7

Campus kudos A selection of recent achievements by faculty, staff, and students

ties, solution labs, collaboration grants, a growing research and learning platform, and a funding marketplace. As part of this effort, Mills aims to graduate 100 math and science teachers in the next five years.

Meredith May, lecturer in journal-ism, was awarded a three-week writing residency at Hedgebrook, a program for women writers on Whidbey Island, Washington. May will work on her memoir, “The Honey Bus.” Later this spring, she will discuss beekeeping as a speaker at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cooking for Solutions, a three-day sym-posium of celebrity chefs, wine tasting, and food talks.

Sheldon Smith, visiting assistant professor of dance, was named on both the San Francisco Chronicle’s and Bay Guardian’s “10 Best of 2013” lists for his evening-length dance-theater work, Father On, created in collaboration with choreographer Scott Wells. In November, Smith’s algorithmically generated dance video installation, Endless Gestures of Goodwill, was installed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago; a new evening-length production, created with his wife and partner, Lisa Wymore, will premiere at CounterPULSE Theater in San Francisco in May.

The artwork of Professor of English Ajuan Mance was featured in the Arts and Theater section of the San Francisco Chronicle in January. Mance has created more than 600 portraits in a planned series of “1001 Black Men,” based on real people she encounters in daily life. Several of her paintings were exhibited as part of this year’s Art of Living Black open studio season, presented by the Richmond Art Center.

James Fei, associate professor of elec-tronic arts in the Music Department, received a $30,000 Grants to Artists Award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Awardees are nominated by a group of distinguished artists and arts professionals and are selected on the basis of the merit and imaginativeness of their work and the effect such support might have at this point in their careers.

Percussionist and Mills music instruc-tor William Winant, MFA ’82, was nom-inated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance” category for his work on a recording of The Ten Thousand Things by John Cage.

Dissident Writings of Arab Women: Voices Against Violence, the latest book by Professor of French and Francophone Studies Brinda Mehta, has been pub-lished by Routledge Press.

The 2013 book Why Prison?, part of the Cambridge Studies in Law and Society series, features the article “Why No Prisons?” authored by Professor of Ethnic Studies Julia Chinyere Oparah. Oparah is also co-chairing the National Association for Ethnic Studies annual conference, which will be held at Mills in April.

The Mills College School of Education has been selected to become a partner with 100Kin10, a network of educa-tional institutions, government agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations working to recruit and prepare 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers by 2021. Partner organizations are accepted based on their track record of developing outstanding STEM teachers. They gain access to exclusive research opportuni-

WilliamWinant

JuliaChinyereOparah

JamesFei

Page 10: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

8  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

From its very inception, Mills College has been a small school with an interna-tional reach. Founders Cyrus and Susan Mills had served as missionaries and educators in Ceylon and the Sandwich Islands—known to us today as Sri Lanka

and Hawaii—and their overseas ties brought students from abroad to study at the new seminary alongside the daughters of local miners, farmers, and merchants.

Today, Mills continues to attract women from all over the world who seek excep-tional opportunities for classroom learning and personal expression. On these pages, you’ll meet three extraordinary alumnae whose differing paths have led them all to the idyllic Oakland campus redolent of eucalyptus. Their pursuits are as diverse as their nationalities but, as they move through the world, their stories all show how each individual can make a significant difference in communities near and far.

Johanna Paillet-Growl ’07, originally from France, earned her degree in anthropol-ogy-sociology and has been an aid worker in Africa and South America. “I enjoy doing direct service and interacting with people,” she says. “Going into the field and doing humanitarian work allows me to apply the theoretical understanding I acquired at Mills and become a vehicle for tangible change.”

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, MA ’00, didn’t realize her true role until she saw the inter-play of cultures between her native Mexico and her new home in the Bay Area. “If I had stayed in Mexico, I’m sure I would be doing great things, but not at all what I’m doing now. I love my cultural and musical roots and want to be able to transmit that love to others,” she says. “Coming here really helped me discover my calling in life.”

“Mills offers a high-caliber education that allows students to develop and bloom,” says Inge Hendromartono ’81, who found that options for higher education were limited in her home country of Indonesia. “There are so many students who can truly benefit from studying in the US. Mills can offer the world a great place for education for women.”

American students also benefit from the presence of students from overseas, who bring their unique perspectives to discussion in and out of the classroom.

“To be leaders in the world, all students need exposure to the global community—through study abroad, international internships, and a diverse student body,” says Vice President of Student Life Eloise Stiglitz. “International students are an important part of the richness of the campus community and help create a truly multi-cultural environment. Everyone learns when multiple perspectives are a part of our daily dia-log and we see how values and history shape our knowledge. That awareness can be eye opening.”

by Linda Schmidt

one destinationMany countries,

Page 11: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 9

mom had said as you travel abroad, you will be exposed to many different things; be open to all of it.”

After beginning as an art major, she spent a semester abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris and completed her degree in eco-nomics, went on to earn an MBA from UCLA, and soon found herself moving to Switzerland to join the international mar-keting division of Procter and Gamble. “I met people there from literally all over the world,” she says. “It was an amazing, wonderful time—a dream come true.”

This was not the end to her travels, however. Three years later, by chance, she met up in New York with Christopher Senn, a half-Swiss, half-British former col-league from Geneva. They had remained in touch and “it was just the right time when we met again,” Hendromartono says. A whirlwind romance followed and, spurred by a shared entrepreneurial spirit, they decided to get married, ditch their corporate jobs, move back to the Bay Area, and start a business.

s a young girl of eight, living in a small town on the north coast of central Java, Inge

Hendromartono knew that she wanted to see the world. “One of my uncles, a sea cap-tain, came back from his travels and gave me a book showing children of the world, with their costumes and customs,” she says. “‘Whoa! There’s a whole world out there with all these people who are differ-ent than myself,’ I thought. How fascinat-ing, how I wished to get to know them.”

Her parents were well-known batik art-ists who encouraged her to study hard and learn English. Inge did well in school, but was crushed when, as a woman of Chinese descent, she was denied entrance to a high school study abroad program and again when quotas kept her from attending the national university. “The culture was very divided; discrimi-nation was much stronger then than it is now,” she says.

One of the foreign visitors who fre-quently came to their house to buy fabrics, a man from San Jose, California, suggested the possibility of study in the US. He helped Inge apply and gain admit-tance to UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and Mills. “Mills gave me nearly a full scholarship,” she says—an offer that made her continu-ing education possible.

“I was so excited. I had always heard that the US was the melting pot, and it was. I met students from so many countries—to me it was just heaven!” Hendromartono says. “I thought my English was good enough, but it was a struggle to understand lectures and do all the reading. I had to use my dictionary, but I managed.”

Mills offered a wide-ranging academic and social education and its supportive environment increased her confidence and independence. “I loved the small classes and the way the liberal arts curric-ulum enables you to explore various sub-jects and broaden your mind,” she says. “I was so busy adapting and learning. My

porate beading, silk, leather, Swarovski crystals, and other materials, in 1999 they acquired Whiting and Davis, a metal mesh handbag company that had been in existence for over a century, and set to reinvigorating the brand with new colors and designs.

“Having the chance to cultivate inter-national friends provides an invaluable lesson that you just cannot possibly learn in a classroom,” Hendromartono says. “We’re all connected; the world is get-ting smaller and smaller. When you get to know or live in another country, it makes the world come alive.”

Inge Hendromartono ’81Follow your heart

“I had felt my artistic side was sup-pressed,” she explains. “For me, our business had to be something creative in order to give me happiness. For him, any industry was OK as long as it was his own. Naturally, I decided on fashion accessories because I didn’t want to deal with sizing!”

Their new venture, IngeChristopher, reflected the couple’s international expe-rience. They began by designing and producing sterling silver jewelry from Bali, beaded handbags from China, and antique rattan handbags from Indonesia. After specializing in handbags that incor-

one destination

da

na

da

vis

Page 12: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

10  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Bridging cultures, creating communities

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar is the daughter of a prominent engi-neer and professor in Mexico

City. But she came to love opera through the influence of her mother and a singer with whom she took voice lessons; she also became an accomplished flutist. “Music turned out to be my passion,” she says. “My father, he makes bridges struc-turally, but I create them in a different way. I create them artistically.”

Her musical career began with a stint in the Mexican navy, which offered the chance to work in choirs and an orches-tra, and then 10 years touring Mexico as part of a flute and gui-tar duo. But, she says, “I came to a point in my life when I felt it was the moment to leave and go pursue a dream.” She applied to Mills in order to study with Angela Koregelos, a flute player who teaches at Mills.

“Coming to Mills changed my life,” Rodriguez-Salazar says. Her transforma-tion was not just artistic. After the hectic bustle of Mexico City, the Mills campus seemed peaceful and beautiful. The Bay Area’s multicultural environment helped her gain a new appreciation for her Latina heritage. And the vibrancy of the gay community gave her a deep sense of strength. “It was very inclusive,” she says. “I lived with a lot of social pressure in Mexico, where it was not at all easy to be myself as an artist and as an ‘out’ person. Mills gave me the freedom to just feel at ease.” (She married her partner in music and in life at the Mills Chapel in 2009.)

Rodriguez-Salazar found that the academic support at Mills equalled the social support. “It was not the stressful, competitive atmosphere that you would find at a conservatory,” she says. “It was

amazing to have my peers compos-ing for me and wanting to collaborate.” These teachers and peers connected her to a wider community of artists, including Priscilla Call, who introduced her to the Community Music Center in San Francisco’s Mission District, where Rodriguez-Salazar now teaches flute, voice, and piano and a scholarship Latin music program for local teenagers. Many of her pupils are second-generation Latino students. “When they learn to play Latin music they begin to identify with their roots and understand where their parents come from,” she says.

Her work spans generations: She is also directing four groups that are participat-ing in a five-year study by UCSF to evalu-ate the cognitive and physical effects that singing in a choir has for adults over 60. “Working with older adults has been one of the best gigs,” she says warmly. “I love the stories of older people, I love the effect that music gives them instantly.”

Her function as a “bridge” may be most

apparent in two other efforts: With her chamber group, the Bernal Hill Players, she has initiated a project to commis-sion pieces by San Francisco composers inspired by neighborhoods in the city. The next stage of the project will bring in composers from Mexico City, with an ultimate goal of sponsoring a musical exchange program.

And her work curating the San Francisco Symphony’s Day of the Dead festival, which combines classical and traditional works from both Latin American and other composers, brings the Latino community to a type of performance that can be seen as intimidating or inaccessible. It also offers the opportunity to mediate between differing standards and expectations.

“Some of our Mexican cultural tradi-tions surrounding death are at odds with North American approaches to the sub-ject, such as when I proposed creating an altar honoring deceased San Francisco Symphony musicians,” Rodriguez-Salazar smiles. “But it’s my seventh year there now, and they’re starting to understand what the culture is about. And I’m under-standing them as well.

“I get such energy from doing what I like in life and the amazing possibilities here,” she says. “Working with the com-munity and seeing the joy that music produces in people really feeds me. I see that I’m planting seeds that are growing into beautiful flowers.”

Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, MA ’00

aM

y f

ow

ler

Page 13: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 11

Recognizing human dignity

lingual immigrants, so the job allows her to use her Spanish skills to help youth in a meaningful way.

She and her husband are now busy raising two young children of their own, but she already foresees a return to work in the international arena. “Living abroad is a gift you can give to your children. It expands your mind and it makes you question who you are,” she says. “There’s a lot of beauty in incorporating different cultures and influences—you try to take the best out of all of them.” ◆

Having lived and worked on four continents (so far) and being fluent in three languages,

Johanna Paillet-Growl is a bona fide citizen of the world.

A native of Montpelier, France, Johanna grew up hearing stories of colonial influ-ence in Africa and of independent Senegal from her mother, who had been born and raised in Senegal. Her family frequently discussed world events and they were able to visit many different countries throughout her childhood. “That defi-nitely opened up my mind,” she says. “I had a lot of interest in Africa and other countries and wanted to go abroad.”

Two years after graduating from Mills, she received a fellowship from the Washington DC–based Advocacy Project and her ability to speak French virtually guaranteed a placement in Africa. She traveled to Cameroon, where she evalu-ated an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, produced a bilingual documentary about women market traders, and provided those women with training in communi-cations and fundraising.

“My time in Africa was definitely life changing,” she says. “I so admire the courage and humility of the women mar-ket traders. Despite challenges of literacy or age or children to support, their desire to learn and power to move forward was incredible.” Paillet-Growl’s sojourn in Cameroon also brought her first-hand experience of the legacy of colonialism. “There is still a lot of negative French influence in the country; people were very guarded at first, and it took a while to gain their trust,” she says. But by the time she left Cameroon, the women had warmed to her, learned grant writing, and are continuing to grow their businesses.

The following year, she traveled to Colombia to evaluate the effectiveness of

says. “It was the foundation for me to pursue the work that I’ve done, and it really developed my desire to focus on women’s rights and women’s empower-ment. Other experiences have continued to layer over that—and hopefully will continue to do so.”

She currently lives in Alameda and works with the Seneca Center, helping to connect children living in out-of-home care, such as those in the foster system, with relatives who can provide a sense of meaningful family connection and belonging. Many of her clients are mono-

an income-generation program in a region of chronic conflict. She also earned a master’s degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California.

Underlying all these activities is a dedication to human rights that was honed at Mills. “The guiding thread is recognizing human dig-nity and enabling people to change their situation,” she says. “Change is slow,” she adds thoughtfully. “In any of the work I do, I always ask—is it really making an impact? Is it really sustainable?”

Paillet-Growl moved to California with her family in 1996 and earned a degree in documentary photogra-phy from the Academy of Art, but her desire for a more intellectually substantial education led her to Mills. Small classes and outstanding professors—she cites Fred Lawson, among others—provided her with a solid footing.

“Mills was critical in terms of my coming of age as a person,” she

Johanna Paillet-Growl ’07

da

na

da

vis

Page 14: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

12  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Cristina Wallace ’10 spent a summer taking classes in Hong Kong. Rosanne Cunningham ’90 studied and worked in London during

her junior year. Although their experiences are separated by two decades and 6,000 miles, both women cite their time

abroad as perhaps the most valuable episodes of their academic careers.

A tale of two cities

Page 15: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 13

there, so much opportunity in this world. “Coming back I was definitely more confident, more willing to

put myself out there and try something new,” she continues. “I went out and got a job off campus and started making money so I could get a car. I loved that independence so I worked for it.”TChristina Wallace now serves as assistant registrar at Mills, where she oversees the student application process and serves as secretary to the International Study Committee, the group of faculty advisors who oversee programs in various regions. “I’m very passionate about study abroad—and secretly wish it were a requirement for all students,” she says.

Students can choose from programs in more than 60 countries through partnerships with international study organizations and individual institutions. Domestic exchanges are also available with colleges within the US. “There’s been a real growing interest in the more experiential and field-based programs, such as the ecology programs offered by the School for Field Studies and pro-grams focused on social justice and human rights through the School for International Training,” Wallace adds. “Students want to be immersed in a place where they can make a difference.”

But the pressure of trying to fulfill all major requirements and graduate on time can make it difficult for students to participate in study abroad programs and, since institutional aid cannot be applied when a student goes overseas, the financial obstacles can be significant. For these reasons, Wallace says, the College is work-ing to expand summer programs and options for shorter-term placements.

Students studying at the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, for example, can take advantage of a summer exchange program with the École Supérieure de Commerce de Pau in southern France. With its focus on international business the-ory and practice, the school attracts students from throughout Europe, the US, India, and South America.

“Mills students come back having gotten to work with an international team of students and having developed skills that they just can’t get from working in local companies or with only California students,” says Assistant Professor of Business Carol Theokary, who advises participating MBA students. As more and more businesses operate on a global scale, such understanding becomes not only important, but necessary.

“The experience really increases their cross-cultural compe-tence,” Theokary adds. “These students learn that the rules that apply here aren’t always applicable there.”

Whatever study abroad duration or destination a student chooses, the rewards are lasting and significant. “After I gradu-ated, I made a resolution that I would travel at least four weeks every year,” says Cunningham. “Study abroad had a profound effect on my life by instilling a drive to keep exploring and learn-ing and growing.” ◆

“I had always been really interested in East Asian culture, and the diversity of the city of Hong Kong was fascinating,” says Wallace. “I wanted to be immersed in a culture so different from what I’m used to in the US—and I definitely got it.”

The classes she took at Lingnan University—on cultural differ-ences and gender roles in Hong Kong society—were conducted in English, but her classmates were local or from mainland China. “I liked taking classes that were relevant to my experience there. I wanted to know, culturally, what was going on,” she says.

As an outspoken Mills student, she was surprised to find that most students did not speak up in class. She also found herself confronting strongly held beliefs shaped by traditional Chinese culture, such as the assumption that a woman will work only until she gets married. “Hearing those very different opinions was part of the experience that I wouldn’t have gotten else-where,” she says. “It taught me how to keep an open mind, ask questions, be respectful, and try to understand.”

One of her most memorable moments, however, happened when she boarded the wrong city bus. “I had gotten those ‘teach yourself the language’ CDs, so I had all my phrases down and felt like I was a step ahead...until I got lost,” she laughs. A cell phone call to a local friend who acted as translator sorted out the problem. “But that actually felt so empowering,” Wallace says. “I had to take care of myself, and I made it back!”

Rosanne Cunningham, who is now an independent media pro-ducer in Los Angeles, also gained valuable insights in her time overseas, which combined classes at two London universities with an internship at Island Records. The internship gave her a first taste of the entertainment business, but her experience overall provided a new sense of possibility and self-confidence.

“I grew up on Oahu, in the middle of the ocean, and felt physi-cally and culturally isolated,” she says. “I was curious and wanted to see the world.”

Living in central London, she got a job as a waitress and spent most weekends exploring new towns. “It was so easy to get around, and doing so gave me a great sense of independence, of freedom, of how to improvise and be innovative,” she says. “Study abroad made me recognize that there’s so much out

“Study abroad made me recognize that there’s so much out there,

so much opportunity in this world.”

—Rosanne Cunningham, shown at left with her daughter while visiting India in 2012

Page 16: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

hen Kiala Givehand speaks, she tents the long, slender fingers of one hand on the tabletop before her, working them across its surface. As she considers a new idea, or casts about in her mind for the perfect words to express her next thought, she leans back in

her chair and smiles, delighted to be considering new approaches. At her side, she keeps a small notebook, ever ready to jot down the name of an article to read later, a business model to research, or a new person to contact. When her phone buzzes (every 10 minutes or so), she gently taps it, looks at the incoming message, and seamlessly returns to her conversation. On a sunny winter morning, Givehand is sitting in a Jack London Square café, both discussing and enacting creative entrepreneurship.

When Givehand came to Mills as an MFA poetry student in 2008, she was already a seasoned writing instructor at the secondary and college levels, and had traveled widely to train faculty and administrators in teaching strategies. At Mills, she was planning to hone her craft as a poet, and also hoping to discover ways to make her art a part of her professional life. She had a vision to combine her passions for education and poetry by founding a literary journal that would publish both young and established writers. She served as poetry editor of the cam-pus literary journal 580 Split, working closely with Professor of English Juliana Spahr, who offered a decade’s worth of experi-ence in small press publishing. But, still, the idea of starting her own journal was daunting. It remained unnamed, more a cluster of possibilities and hopes than a concrete product. Then, in her final semester at Mills, Givehand enrolled in a new interdisci-plinary course, The Business of Being an Artist. Within a few

weeks, her journal had a name, Generations; and in less than a year, she had published her first issue.

Nancy Thornborrow, head of the Economics Department, had recognized the need to create a course for students like Givehand. In a conversation with Professor of Music Fred Frith, Thornborrow learned that MFA music courses don’t cover the practical issues of being a working artist. Thornborrow, a lover of opera and the arts whose late son had been a practic-ing painter, and Frith, who is also an actively touring musi-cian, joined forces to fill the need of students who wanted to gain the necessary skills to launch and sustain their artistic endeavors. The College’s strengths in both art and business provided a natural setting for them to create a course answer-ing that need; and so, in 2008, the course The Business of Being an Artist was first offered.

“We asked Mills faculty to participate, and Fred talked to people he knew, artists who have day jobs,” says Thornborrow. She selected over a dozen guest lecturers for the course, artist-businesspersons who could speak from experience. Today, the lecturers for the class represent many fields in arts and busi-ness—from dance to visual arts and from marketing to taxes—and focus on the diverse topics that go into learning how to make a living as a creative entrepreneur. By putting artists in conversation with business students and professionals commit-ted to the arts, the class is not only giving individual students the tools to become self-sufficient in pursuing their art, but also helping to ensure the sustainability of the arts in today’s technology-driven, entrepreneurial landscape.

When creative entrepreneurs learn to build a business, starvation becomes a thing of the past

By Jessica Langlois, MFA ’10 • Photos by Dana Davis

itntLiEiwntwiwntwiwntw

14  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 17: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

iwntw

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 15

KialaGivehand,MFA’10

Page 18: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

The first step, he explains to the artists in the class, is building and carefully tending to an audience, as through it were a gar-den. “People feel like there’s no grey area between being silent and being an egomaniac,” says Cohen, who speaks quickly and fluidly in well-crafted sound bites. But everyone has their own “communication superpower,” he says—whether it’s attending events regularly or sending out tweets. “You might be a hand-shake person or you might be a digital person,” he says.

Other visiting speakers bring their own experience to bear on how to build a successful life in the arts. Accountant and tax expert Andrew Stern has been a musician most of his life; his recent tax guide for self-employed artists, Z Art of Taxes, has been lauded by Bay Area authors and musicians. Cheryl Clarke, a grant writer and published short story author, shares her knowledge of how skills in fiction can be used to improve grant proposals. “Funders always say, just tell us your story,” explains Clarke, who answered her phone on the first ring late on a Friday and happily made time to talk between client consultations. “A proposal is a story–in the traditional sense–with characters, plot arc, antagonists. It’s all integrated,” she says.

Givehand used such lessons in launching Generations. Building an audience meant tapping into the existing literary scene, as well as establishing an online presence and a commu-nity presence. She kept the first issue of Generations manageable by soliciting work from writers and visual artists she admired; she also reached out to local high school teachers in search of young voices.

Responsible business practices are an implicit lesson throughout the class. Jillian Roth, who took the

course while studying for her MBA, points out that many of the students and lec-

turers include some mechanism for giving back to the community in

their work; the business plan for Roth’s online jewelry store, JillyBeads4Justice, also includes a charitable giving element. Even though the course isn’t explicitly focused on social justice, Roth says, “Mills is just

good at bringing people with those kind of values together.”

Givehand spent her own money to produce the first issue of

Generations, but drew on the resources she had gained from her conversations

with Spahr and from Thornborrow’s class. She composed contracts for her writers based on a lecture

from a music contractor, and employed a graphic designer she found through another student in the course. Such connections are another valuable aspect of the class. “You start networking before you even mean to start networking,” Givehand says.

Once the first issue was minted—perfect bound with glossy color images—Givehand felt confident enough to begin asking for both subscribers and submissions and set to finding ways

What sets this course apart is the way it zeros in on the intersec-tions among all artistic fields; musicians, dancers, photographers, painters, poets, and sculptors all find a space in the class. “To be in community with folks who are in a creative process made me look at my own creative process differently,” Givehand recalls. She discovered that the elements are the same across the disciplines: engaging in artistic practice, creating a product, sharing that prod-uct with the public through exhibition or publication, and seek-ing recognition or compensation.

It was within this community that Givehand was finally able to realize her vision. She hadn’t thought of herself as an art-ist when she came to Mills; her identity as a writer and poet had always been secondary to her paid work as an educator. After taking Thornborrow’s course, Givehand came to recog-nize herself as a working artist—an essential concept that helped her apply a practical approach to her creativity and recognize the financial value of her literary efforts. “I don’t think only of Generations as a business,” she says. “I think of the writing life itself as a business.”

ehe

Assistant Professor of English Kathryn Reiss, a widely published young-adult author, speaks to the Business of Being an Artist class about finding an agent, working with an editor, and negotiating contracts. Still, she emphasizes the importance of not letting the business side of things outweigh artistic development. “Before such work becomes a business, it’s an art,” says Reiss, who sets aside several days each week for writing, settling into her backyard garden and tuning out domestic and other demands. “You need to hone your craft and put in the time that writing and revising a book requires before you look for an agent,” Reiss says. Appropriately, that’s what professors like Reiss and Frith teach in their fine arts classes at Mills. The Business of Being an Artist provides an advantageous transition to the professional world. “In this class, I’m looking at the very end of the process of being a writer,” Reiss says.

Communications expert Dan Cohen, principal of Full Court Press Communications, approaches his lec-ture in the course each year with an under-standing that, for many artists, the synthesis of a creative lifestyle and prudent business practices doesn’t come naturally, or willingly. “What’s more challenging than talking to a playwright about economics?” Cohen muses. He notes that few professional artists have the means to fund ongoing, pro-fessional marketing campaigns and that artists, in particular, are passionate about their voice and may not want to work with an intermediary in making key decisions about their business.

iwntwFormanyartists,thesynthesisofa

creativelifestyleandprudentbusinesspractices

doesn’tcomenaturally.

Visitingspeakersbringtheirownexperience

tobearonhowtobuildasuccessfullife

inthearts.

iwntwiwntwiwntw

16  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 19: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

for future issues to fund themselves. She sent thoughtful emails to everyone she knew through the Mills English Department, in addition to MFA program administrators around the country, high school teachers and librarians, and online literary commu-nities. “I flooded the universe and asked others to do the same,” Givehand says. The first wave of subscriptions provided enough money to produce issue 2, which combined solicited writers with submissions that came from an open call.

The next step was to create a website and look for free advertis-ing through magazines and websites. To her surprise, Poets & Writers magazine featured her call for submissions on the front page of their email newsletter, generating hundreds of new submissions that month. To manage the influx of interest, Givehand signed on to an online submis-sion manager she had learned about from another speaker in The Business of Being an Artist course.

By the time issue 3 came out, in early 2012, Givehand had three genre editors, a designer, and a copy-editor on board, plus a team of readers. Her journal now had a community invested in its content and its success. She decided to celebrate with a read-ing and launch party, bringing together the voices of the young and established writers she was publishing. On a brisk March evening, a dozen writers took the mic at Oakland’s Numi Tea Garden cafe. Each approached the stage backed by a song that marked their generation—from Lulu’s 1967 “To Sir with Love” to Alanis Morrisette’s 1995 “You Oughta Know”—before address-ing the standing-room-only crowd. Many attendees were Mills professors or alumnae, happy to catch up on one another’s work and lives. The physical gathering ended up being even more beneficial to the journal than all the online outreach. Givehand earned more money by selling individual copies of her journal at the launch party than she had in subscription sales for the whole year. By the end of 2012, her new business had made its first small profit.

ehe

Once Generations had established a following, Givehand looked for ways to continue to sustain both the business and herself.

She had done enough grant writing for charter schools to know the pressures of depending on outside funding, so she devel-oped a business plan that relies on subscriptions and sales of the journal to cover costs. She has also diversified her sources of personal revenue by teaching workshops on writing, leading a creative life, and generating “visual business plans.”

After going through the process of developing her own busi-ness plans, launching her journal, and teaching those skills to

aspiring creative entrepreneurs, Givehand’s purpose became clear. She understood that the journal was just one product, and that the company she wanted to build over time was a small press. So, later this year, Generations will host its first poetry chapbook competition, and one young writer will win the chance to work closely with Generations editors in publishing his or her first poetry collection. Givehand also remains com-mitted to supporting the local literary community by using part of her profits to provide a scholarship to Voices of Our Nation, a Bay Area summer writing workshop, and by offering scholar-ships to her own workshops.

“Seeing these other writers in print feels even better than see-ing my own work in print,” Givehand says. “This is what I love to do: to provide a space for seasoned and young writers, and by publishing their work to bring communities together.” In addi-tion to publishing Generations, Givehand is now also a visiting assistant professor in the English Department and a guest lec-turer in Thornborrow’s course. “I talk about how to navigate the literary landscape in order to sustain a life as a writer,” she says. “I go back because I want people to know it can be done.” ◆

iwntwiwntwiwntw

iwntwS P R I N G 2 0 1 4 17

NancyThornborrow,KialaGivehand,andKathrynReiss

Page 20: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Alumna Trusteeone of the three women described on these pages will be your next alumna trustee. Help determine who it will be by taking part in this important election to ensure that alumnae continue to provide a strong voice in the leadership of the College.

Serving for three years (July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2017) as a full member of both the Mills College Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors of the AAMC, this alumna trustee will help ensure that alumnae are well represented in the leadership of the College by conveying the views of the AAMC board to the College board. She will join continuing alumnae trustees Molly Fannon Williams ’75 and Melissa Stevenson Dile ’91. We also offer our thanks to Diana Birtwistle Odermatt ’60, who is concluding her 2011–14 term.

Note: We now offer two ways to vote—by paper ballot or online at the Mills College Alumnae Community (a simple registration is required if you are not already a member of the online community). See detailed instructions on how to cast your vote on the inside back cover of this magazine!

Whether you vote online or by paper ballot, only one vote per alumna will be accepted. Any alumna casting multiple votes will invalidate all of her votes.

All ballots must be completed and received at Reinhardt Alumnae House by 5:00 pm (PST) on Friday, May 9.

elect your

JudithJames’74

Strasburg,Virginia

Education: BA in cultural anthropology/sociology, Mills College, 1974; master of arts in education/secondary teaching credential, Holy Names University, 1975; doctorate, organization and leadership in higher education administration, University of San Francisco, 1989.

Employment: Project Director, Department of Labor Northern

Virginia Credentials to Careers Consortium, Annandale, Virginia.

Volunteerexperience: Board member, Apple Country Head Start; community member, Highland Presbyterian Church Food Pantry-Strategic Futures Planning/Visioning Committee; co-founder, Northern Shenandoah Valley Advocates for a Beloved Community.

AAMCinvolvement: Participated in establishing the Mills College Alumnae of Color Scholarship, 2011; liaison to the offices of the vice presidents of student life and enrollment management on behalf of the Alumnae of Color Committee, 2011–12; member, Washington DC Metropolitan Area Mills Club.

HowhasMillsaffectedyourlife?At age 15, my life was first changed when I, as a first-generation college-going student, was admitted to the Mills College Upward Bound Program. That open door, and my subsequent admissions to Mills as an undergraduate student, prepared me for lifelong intellectual, personal, and professional growth. Notable achievements include earning a doctorate and acquiring an extensive professional background in higher education administration at the national, state, and campus levels.

HowdoyouviewthefutureoftheAlumnaeAssociationanditsrelationshipwiththeCollege?Given the turbulent economic, social, and political climate of 21st-century independent colleges and universities, the AAMC of the future must be fully synchronized with the College and its internal and external communities—nationally and globally—to ensure the ongoing support and achievement of Mills’ mission, governance, and, in particular, each of the six strategic imperatives identified for 2013–2018. As the goals in the strategic plan include increasing enrollment and retention and developing and sustaining partnerships, my background in higher education administration at the national level and as a senior-level administrator in two state community college systems (California and Kentucky) will be an asset.

WhatareyourhopesandexpectationsforthefutureofMillsCollege?President DeCoudreaux has established a variety of meaningful opportunities designed to foster communication and collaboration with every member of the College’s constituency (internally and externally; among and across all constituent groups). I am hopeful and expectant that this ongoing and meaningful dialogue will facilitate “active” engagement that results in creative solutions to challenges, and philanthropic and other positive commitments and outcomes that will continue to elevate the College’s greatness (academically and otherwise) and ranking, both nationally and regionally.

18  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 21: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

CorinneSklar’04

SanFrancisco,California

Education: BA in intermedia arts/journalism, Mills College, 2004.

Employment: Global chief marketing officer, Bluewolf Global Business Consulting, San Francisco.

Volunteerexperience: Participant, MS Waves to Wine charity bike ride; coach and mentor to at-risk youth, the

Community Technology Network; board president, Women Innovators Network (WIN).

AAMC/MillsCollegeinvolvement: Student leader, senior class president.

HowhasMillsaffectedyourlife?There is before Mills—and there is after Mills. A defining moment for me was sitting in Orchard Meadow on my first day. I was sitting with six or seven other women who were having the same experience as me. I knew right then that I would know them for the rest of my life. Learning to be 1,000 times myself is one of the critical effects Mills had on my life. The amazing environ-ment, the supportive staff, and the deep-rooted focus on innovation and thinking differently is what allowed me to find my voice.

HowdoyouviewthefutureoftheAlumnaeAssociationanditsrelationshipwiththeCollege?There is an amazing global network of Mills alumnae. My vision is to look at how we build stronger connections between students and this network. I have had a chance to develop several programs with other universities, including UC Berkeley and Northwestern University’s Co-Op Program, and would like to develop a deeper social network of alumnae-to-student community to encourage sharing and provide reciprocal opportunity for our global network.

WhatareyourhopesandexpectationsforthefutureofMillsCollege?My hopes are that Mills continues its focus on pushing boundaries and allowing students to “go beyond.” From the avant-garde to the entrepreneurial, our roots have been focused on defining new genres and promoting leadership across all disciplines. I want to ensure that our roots are deep and are far reaching across the globe.

WendyStoltz’98,MA’06

Davis,California

Education: BA in political, legal, and economic analysis, 1998; MA, liberal studies, 2006; MBA expected 2014, Mills College.

Employment: Development analyst, University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management.

Volunteerexperience: Member, UC Davis Committee on the Status of Women; member, UC

Davis Citations for Excellence Committee; member, Davis Arts Foundation Board; member, Davis School Foundation Board.

HowhasMillsaffectedyourlife?The master in business administra-tion degree program at the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business at Mills College has provided me with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. The MBA program has also given me an opportunity to train through my business education and work in higher education finance to make a greater contribution to society. Mills College has offered me a unique educational experience that has given me new eyes to see the world and its many facets. Moreover, it has given me a new relationship with myself, as I have truly grown and matured and gained confidence that I have the knowledge, skills, and values that will make me able to make an important contribution to others. My Mills education is making it possible for me to implement my goal of service to others.

HowdoyouviewthefutureoftheAlumnaeAssociationanditsrelationshipwiththeCollege?The AAMC will continue to be an extension of the Mills community, bringing alumnae together who share pride in their association with Mills and who wish to share their values and ongoing support for a Mills education. The AAMC will continue to serve the alumnae community and reach out to students and potential students in order to share the passion and purpose of the Mills community.

WhatareyourhopesandexpectationsforthefutureofMillsCollege?I have been a member of the Mills community since 1996. Over these years I have seen the College community grow and change, effectively and gracefully adapting to regional and interna-tional change including changing demographics, technology, and globalization. At the same time, Mills maintains and has strength-ened its role in women’s education, excellence, and growing graduate programs such as the MBA, Nursing, and doctorate program in education. I foresee Mills continuing to be successful in pursuing its mission and prepared to adapt to new opportunities as they become available.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 19

Page 22: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Amy discovered an empowering environment at Mills.

Mills empowered me as a woman and gave me the desire to help other

women. After retiring from a research and development career in

Silicon Valley, I became a Certified Financial Planner. I love financially

empowering women in high tech. Naming Mills as a beneficiary of

my IRA lets me leave a legacy of my commitment to women and still

leave a legacy to my family.

– Amy Pearl ’83

I’m leaving a legacy so future students can attend a women’s college.

To learn more about creating a legacy of your own at Mills contact us toll-free at 1.877.PG.MILLS (1.877.746.4557) or [email protected]. If you’ve recently included Mills in your estate plans, please let us know.Learn more about planned giving at www.mills.edu/pg.

Designating Mills College as a

beneficiary of your IRA or other

retirement account will benefit

the College and your heirs. At

the time of your death, your

retirement plan assets will be

transferred to Mills tax-free. This

will lower the amount of your

estate subject to estate tax, and

your heirs will avoid income tax

on distributions from your plan.

051308 Mills PlannedGivingAd_#3_final_v2.indd 1 2/13/14 9:31 AM

Page 23: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Class Notes do not appear in the online edition of Mills Quarterly.

Alumnae are invited to share

their news with classmates in the Mills College alumnae community. To submit notes for publication in the next available Quarterly, send your update to [email protected].

Class Notes do not appear in the

online edition of the Mills Quarterly.

Alumnae are invited to share their

news with classmates in the Mills

College Alumnae Community,

alumnae.mills.edu. To submit notes

for publication in the next available

Quarterly, send your update to

[email protected].

Page 24: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Notices of death received before December 21, 2013

To submit listings, please contact [email protected] or 510.430.2123

AlumnaeKatherineCurranKremer’26, February 1, 2013, in Evanston, Illinois.

DorothyJeanFullerElliott’42, September 30, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A longtime resident of Deerfield, she was a member of Alpha Phi and a leader in St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church and the American Association of University Women. She is survived by her husband, G. Thomas; four children; and two grandchildren.

AnnabelleAutzenHouser’42, December 4, 2012, in Portland, Oregon. She was a member of the Portland Junior League, world traveler, gourmet cook, and a master gardener and flower arranger. She is survived by three sons and eight grandchildren.

NatalieStorerMorris’42, October 30, in Englewood, Colorado. She took great delight in flyfishing as a hobby and was a member of the Colorado Potters Guild. She is survived by three sons and six grand-children.

HelenJaneChapmanEhrlich’43, September 20, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a member of the New Reform Temple and gave of her time to many charitable organizations, particularly the Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross. Survivors include her two sons.

AlmaGardner’44, June 10, in Berkeley, California. She earned an MA in Biblical studies and a certificate of advanced professional studies, and taught Bible study at the Pacific School of Religion and other Bay Area locations for three decades. She is survived by her daughter, Karyn Gardner Mandan ’68.

SarahChunMacIvor’44, July 28, 2013, in Nutrioso, Arizona. Survivors include her husband, Thomas.

MargaretNielsenStiegely’44, March 11, 2013, in Montecito, California. She is survived by four children, two stepdaughters, and nine grandchildren.

JaneAdamsTemple’44, January 18, 2013, in Three Oaks, Michigan. She ran a new and used bookstore for 20 years, served on the school board for 12 years, and made 13 volunteer medical mission trips to Jamaica. Survivors include three children and three grandchildren.

MarthaAlessiClague’45, November 26, in Eureka, California. She was an active member of the Humboldt–Del Norte Medical Auxiliary, Christ Episcopal Church, and the Humboldt Arts Council, serving in various areas of leadership and volunteering. She is survived by five children and five grandchildren.

JoyceCoxGreen’45, October 10, 2013, in Lakewood, New York. An active tennis player into her 80s and a lifelong bridge player, she attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, was a member of the 210 and Livingston Clubs, and a member of the board of WCA Hospital. She is survived by four children and nine grandchildren.

Helen“Coco”DyerMcCann’46, October 20, in Newberg, Oregon. She taught biology at the University of Oregon and was an avid equestrian, competing in horse shows until the age of 82. She was active in Oswego Lake Garden Club and Oswego Hunt Club and was a talented potter. She is survived by three children, including Karen McCann Lachman ’72, and nine grandchildren.

Hannah-LouFreemanReed’46, October 5, in Black Butte Ranch, Oregon. She was a hospital volunteer, a longtime member of the Multnomah Athletic Club, and owned a ranch in Central Oregon. She is survived by her husband, Bill; a son, Mike; and three grandchildren.

HarrietRuffRoberts’46, August 2, in Fresno,California.She supported several local arts and preservation programs, was active in Junior League and other community organizations, and enjoyed golf and bridge. She is survived by three children and five grandchildren.

ElisabethPriceWilson’46, November 11, in Los Altos, California. She had a long career in healthcare for the elderly, notably as the assistant administrator at Channing House, a retirement and continuing care center in Palo Alto. She is survived by a son and three grandchildren.

JanetClarkMcCoy’47, October 27, in Stockton, California. She spent 28 years as a buyer for Macy’s in Kansas City and San Francisco and, in retirement, ran a small farm. She enjoyed prospecting for gold as a hobby, supported a variety of humanitarian organizations, and helped raise money to restore the stained glass windows of a 13th century church in Remy, France. She is survived by several extended family members.

Joan“Joey”RosenstockGoldsmith’49, in October, in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She took many continuing education classes and was fond of aqua aerobics, the theater, symphony, opera, and writing songs. Survivors include three children and four grandchildren.

FrancesGreenSnyder’49, in November, in Salt Lake City, Utah. After raising her family, she completed her degree in education at the University of Utah in 1980 and taught elementary and special educa-tion classes. She served as a church music director and participated in many church service groups. She is survived by her husband, Conway; six children; and 22 grandchildren.

ZoeTownleyMurray’50, March 8, 2013, in Lincoln, California. Survivors include three children.

PatriciaHolcombJacobson’51, October 28, in Palo Alto, California. Survivors include her husband, David, and two daughters.

ElizabethRossMcCormick’51, September 26, in Fullerton, California. Known as the “Turtle Lady of Southern California,” she was an expert on turtle and tortoise behavior, and at various times had over 250 turtles. President of the Care Society for the California Turtle and Tortoise Club, Orange County chapter, she was active in PEO and AAUW and served as a leader for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls. She is survived by three children, five grandchildren, her sister Margaret Ross Roberts ’49, and her cousin Joan Thompson Armstrong ’51.

SaraDavisRockwell’51, October 22, in Medford, Oregon. She was active in community theater and had many sailing and hiking adven-tures. Survivors include her husband, Jim, and other family members.

JoanneRedakLyon’52, May 5, 2013, in Aspen, Colorado. She worked as a real estate agent and public television fundraiser, ran an art gallery for 16 years, and served as president of Anderson Ranch Art Center. A strong outdoor woman, she was a co-founder of the Forest Conservancy, a volunteer-based wilderness program. She is survived by her husband, Lee; two children; and seven grandchildren.

InMemoriam

30  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

Page 25: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Received September 1–November 30, 2013

AnnisAiyar by her husband, Venkatram Aiyar, her son, Michael Aiyar, her brother-in-law, Radhakrishna Aiyar, and Helen Hogan

PaulArmstrong, husband of Joan Thompson Armstrong ’51, by Jane Simonton Abts ’51

JeanneAurel-Schneider’51by the Mills College Club of New York

TimannaBennett’02 by Kristie Kern ’02, MBA ’08, Marcia Randall ’02

CynthiaBlack’74 by Betty Chu Wo ’46

Grace“Kathy”Burden, mother of Laurel Burden ’68, by Susan “Susy” Stern Fineman ’68, the Los Angeles Mills College Alumnae

MarianVanTuylCampbell by Rebecca Fuller, MA ’54

DorisDennison by Rebecca Fuller, MA ’54

JayeEvans,MFA’68, by his partner, William Barham

KayFraserGilliland’50 by Julia Antoniades, Diane Briars, Yvonne Steele Byron ’50, Cecile Carraway, Margaret DeArmond, Mark Driscoll, Dorothy Finger and Family, Shirley Frye, Virginia Grove, Sally McKinstry Hall ’50, David Hawes, Beth Keer, MSC ’10, Vicki Du Vall Luibrand ’75, Alison McDonald ’05, Mari Muri, Teri Perl, Julianne Ryan

BeateSirotaGordon’43 by John Feerick

ElaineJohnsonGutleben’44 by her husband, Chester Gutleben

MaryEleanorKingHolmes’43 by her cousin, Sharon King Halpern ’58

MeenakshiJemboonath by her sons, Venkatram and Radhakrishna Aiyar, and Helen Hogan

MaryAnnChildersKinkead’63 by Ann Mary Carney, MFA ’92, Rebecca Fuller, MA ’54, Carolyn Richter Kelemen, MA ’74, Mary-Ann Milford-Lutzker, P ’93, Ruth Olsen Saxton, MA ’72, Craig Schoof

BettyPeaseKrahmer’51 by Rena Houston Du Bose ’51

SusanRoeLathrop’69 by Jorie Bolton Townsley ’69

EleanorLauer,MA’40, by Rebecca Fuller, MA ’54

AnneWilborLunghino’48 by Gene Stockton Bozorth ’48

ChristinaMiller’71 by her sister, Kathleen Miller Janes ’69

VirginiaGertmenianNahigian’32 by Randall Becker, Ronald Dahlquist, Jerry Farr, Juneal Ferguson, William Frey, Susan Hull, Rachel Morgan, Virginia’s son, Diran Nahigian, and nephew, Jack Nahigian, Karen Pigott

WinsomeNembhard by her daughter, Lois Nembhard ’90

EleanorSteinRusnak’36 by Susan Kahn

EllenSpectorSilverglat’64 by her husband, Michael Silverglat

ElizabethGinnoWinkler’30by her son, John Aronovici

NanSeniorRobinson’52, November 14, in New York City. She served as vice president for planning at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, where she played a key role in landing the JFK Presidential Library on campus and later was vice president for administration of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City. She is survived by her husband, David; two sons; and six grandchildren.

Mary“Susan”SpanglerTurner’57, December 4, in Visalia, California. She was dedicated to church and family, loved music, and aided the needy. She is survived by five children and 15 grandchildren.

SarahMcNayCrossland’63, November 11, in Kerrville, Texas. She taught elementary school for 22 years and was a founding member of Seminars In Adult Growth and Education at the University of Texas. She was a member of the Junior League and helped found the Eanes History Center in Austin.

CynthiaBlack’74, September 13, in North Plains, Oregon. As president of Beyond Words publishing company, she was instrumental in bringing The Secret to print and was named one of the 10 Outstanding Women in Independent Publishing by Independent Publisher. She maintained homes in Hillsboro, Oregon, and in Honolulu. She is survived by her mother, a sister, and brother.

LauraChildsPatterson’75, July 5, in Dallas, Texas. She worked in design and display for Crate & Barrel and the Container Store.

ValerieJacobsonAnderson’76, October 28, in El Dorado Hills, California. Survivors include two sisters.

LaanaCondonWaters’78, June 24, 2013, in Alameda, California. Survivors include her husband, William; and two sons.

CatherineBrownMeyerson’82, January 31, 2013, in Mountain View, California. She established a career as a hospital pharmacist, most recently at Stanford. Survivors include her husband, Howie, and two daughters.

LindaBrooks-Burton’84, September 19, in Fairfield, California. In her career with the San Francisco Public Library, she was instrumental in developing the Bayview branch, instituted an award program recog-nizing community leaders, and was central to the African-American Center. She also served on the board of Family and Child Empowerment Services. Survivors include her husband, John, and three children.

SpousesandFamilyBerylAdams, husband of Betty Adams ’52, June 11, 2012, in Sacramento.

PhillipsBaker, husband of Elizabeth Lane Baker ’38, in San Jose, California.

DorothySimpsonMyers, mother of Brooke Myers Wickham ’74, December 18, in San Francisco.

FacultyandStaffMarilynMary, December 1, in San Lorenzo, California. As the administrative assistant of the Department of Art and Art History for almost 30 years, she ensured that everything ran smoothly and all deadlines were met. She had a phenomenal memory for detail and took a personal interest in all members of the department, particularly the graduate students for whom she was a surrogate mother.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 31

P=parent. For information about making a tribute gift, contact 510.430.2097 or [email protected].

GiftsinMemoryof

Page 26: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

32  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly32  M i l l s Q u a r t e r ly

TheStoriesWeSharecelebratesthevoicesandlifepathsofMillsgraduateswhileconnectinggraduatestoeachotherandtheCollege.Visitalumnae.mills.edu/storiestoseemorestoriesandtoshareyourown.

In launching the“StoriesWeShare”project at Reunion 2013, we askedalumnae to “fill in the blank” withtheir own answers to the query“IvalueMillsbecauseMillsvalues...”Their responses are as individual astheyare!

Page 27: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

Alumna Trustee BallotNominee statements for the 2014–17 alumna trustee are printed on page 18.

Wenowoffertwowaystovote—onlineandbypaperballot!

Tovoteonline:• Go to the Mills College Alumnae Community,

http://alumnae.mills.edu/alumna-trustee-ballot

• Alumnae must be registered with the online community in order to cast their vote online.

• Registration is free and easy! Visit http://alumnae.mills.edu/alumna-trustee-ballot to register and to vote. Your alumna ID is required to register and can be found at the top of your Quarterly mailing label.

• Online voting will end at 5:00 pm (PST) on Friday, May 9.

Tovoteonpaper:• Use this printed ballot and

indicate your choice below:

  Judith James ’74   Corrine Sklar ’04   Wendy Stolz ’98, MA ’06

• Please mail ballot in a private envelope to: Chair, AAMC Nominating Committee, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd, MB #86, Oakland, CA 94613

• Paper ballots must include the mailing label on the reverse side. To maintain confidentiality, voter names will be inked out before passing ballots on to the Nominating Committee chair.

• No faxed ballots or call-ins will be accepted.

• Ballots must be received at Reinhardt Alumnae House by 5:00 pm (PST) on Friday, May 9.

NOTE: Whether you vote online or by paper ballot, only one vote per alumna will be accepted. Any alumna casting multiple votes will invalidate all of her votes.

Upon request, the Alumnae Association of Mills College will send a spring Quarterly to replace the one from which you have removed this ballot.

Call 510.430.2110 or email [email protected].

National Parks and Lodges of the Old West July 26–August 4, 2014 Uncover the legendary American West as you explore the unspoiled wilderness of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and other national parks.

Grand Danube Passage August 7–22, 2014 Opulent palaces and elegant cathedrals highlight this land and cruise journey through celebrated European capitals.

Alaska’s Inside Passage August 23–30, 2014 Small ship cruising allows you to get up close to this rugged and majestic landscape of glaciers, mountains, seas, and wildlife.

Village Life in Dordogne September 25–October 3, 2014 Fascinating lectures enrich your stay in France’s picturesque southwest region, famed for prehistoric cave paintings and enchanting small towns.

AlumnAe trAvel 2014Sicily and the Amalfi Coast  September 26–October 5, 2014 Immerse yourself in the ancient ruins, stunning museums, and idyllic piazzas of this beautiful sun-drenched region.

Treasures of India & Nepal October 19–November 3, 2014 Delhi’s lively markets, the romantic Taj Mahal, a family dinner in Jaipur, and sacred sites of Kathmandu provide a window on a fascinating culture.

Amalfi Coast

See the AAMC travel website at aamc.mills.edu for full itineraries of these and other upcoming trips. For reservations or additional information, call the Alumnae Association of Mills College at 510.430.2110 or email [email protected].

NEW:Voteonlineoronpaper

byMay9

Page 28: Mills Quarterly spring 2014

The Russell Women in Science Lecture Series is made possible thanks to the generous support of Cristine Russell ’71

Dr. Meg Urry, who became the first female tenured faculty member in Yale’s physics department in 2001, is director of the Yale Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, a member of NASA’s Science Advisory Council, an American Women in Science fellow, and incoming president of the American Astronomical Society. She has published over 200 refereed research articles. A strong advocate for increasing the number of women in science, she launched the first three national meetings on women in astronomy and led the US delegations to the International Conference on Women in Physics in 2002 and 2011. In 2010, she was given the Women in Space Science Award from the Adler Planetarium.

Black Holes, Galaxies & the Evolution of the Universe: An Observer’s View

The Russell Women in Science Lecture

April 29, Lokey Graduate School of Business Gathering Hall, Mills College

5:00 pm; doors open at 4:30 pm for a pre-lecture reception

RSVP at alumnae.mills.edu/womeninscience

Astrophysicist Meg Urry is an expert on actively accreting supermassive black holes, also known as Active Galactic Nuclei.

In this public address, she explains what black holes are and how we can “observe” them using a variety of different telescopes. She will also describe her research that sheds new light on the growth of black holes and share computer simulations of how galaxies grow and merge.

nGc 1672, a Barred spiral Gal a x y that shows intense star forMation

reGions. iMaGe courtesy nasa, esa, and the huBBle heritaGe teaM

(stsci/aura)-esa /huBBle coll aBoration

Address service requested

Periodicals postage paid at Oakland, CA, and at additional mailing office(s)

Mills QuarterlyMills College 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA 94613-1301

510.430.3312 [email protected] www.mills.edu

Alumna trustee election insideSee candidates on page 18, ballot on inside back cover