AAMC News

AAMC NEWS & NOTES

A Message from the AAMC President

I’m privileged to compose my first Quarterly message to the alumnae community. I look forward to working with the AAMC Board of Governors to continue to connect, support, and serve Mills College alumnae and students.

I can’t tell you what a thrill it still is to witness the beauty of our bucolic campus. The towering eucalyptus trees, the tranquil Aliso Creek winding its way past historic Mills Hall, and the classic Spanish-inspired buildings were sights that awed me on my first visit, and they still do today. I thank my lucky stars that this is my college—the one that defined, enriched and guided my path into adulthood. Mills has been a major part of my life, from student government days to serving on the AAMC Board of Governors for three years prior to my current position. I am honored to connect with you now.

The name of our college has changed and the future is unfolding daily with more questions than answers, but I am grateful—as I hope you are as well—that our campus is still here; that it is still a vibrant community with engaged students, a committed faculty and staff, and most of all, loyal and active alumnae who relish our shared history as we gather for Reunions and keep in touch through this publication, through social media, and through our long-standing friendships.

I don’t mean to gloss over the past challenging months, as we faced the pending closure of the College, then the proposed merger, and now the reality of Mills College at Northeastern. It was a period of deep division, with some alumnae in denial, some in despair, others ready to fight, and those who welcomed the solvency that Northeastern would bring. Through it all, the AAMC tried to listen to and serve our membership, to speak to and unify factions when possible, and above all, continue our work and look forward to the future of our organization. When speaking with fellow alumnae of all ages, the profound gratitude for the education we received here resonates with all. Testimonials for the paths that opened up, which many of us never saw before our time at Mills, to the feelings of acceptance and opportunity that abounded here, and for the awareness of a larger world view that Mills fostered—these are a just a few of the treasures that have been shared. Going forward, I hope these memories will continue to carry us through for many years as we strive to keep ourselves and the AAMC relevant in today’s world and with the College’s new direction.

The AAMC Board of Governors is making strides to do just that. We have a wide range of professions, regions, and years represented on the board—attorneys, entrepreneurs, public servants, business executives, marketing strategists, and more who have held three board meetings by press time. An ad hoc committee from the Governance Committee is reviewing the bylaws and articles of incorporation with the assistance of a professional legal team. The Communications Committee is working on website improvements and short- and long-range goals with as much input as possible from alumnae to assess the tenor of our membership. The ASR Committee is hosting social and supportive events for students. The Branch Committee is reaching out to clubs to strengthen networking and connections. The AOCC is celebrating a landmark anniversary as it continues to plan innovative programs and adds to its impressive scholarship fund of more than $250,000. Two new committees, the LGBTQ Committee and Latina Alliance, were formed in spring 2022.

An interim executive director, Pam Herman, was hired in June for six months to strengthen the AAMC infrastructure, facilitate board improvements, and take advantage of new and innovative operational services. Pam comes with an extensive management history of working in the nonprofit sector, and she herself is an officer in her own alma mater’s alumni organization. Under her leadership, we are learning and working together for the betterment of the AAMC. I look forward to sharing updates of our progress in upcoming issues of the Quarterly.

In conclusion, the AAMC thanks you for your continued support of our efforts to relish our history; to promote the Mills values of equity, opportunity, and access for our students; and above all, to share ideas and suggestions as we go forward building and enhancing the role of the AAMC at Mills College at Northeastern.

With appreciation and many thanks,

Debby Campbell Dittman ’68, AAMC President president@aamc-mills.org

The AAMC’s New Direction

The Board of Governors, along with AAMC staff and interim executive director, is hard at work crafting a new path for the AAMC. Since Mills College is now Mills at Northeastern, we are continuing to build out our own infrastructure, craft a new mission reflective of alumnae input, and plan activities and projects that will carry on the legacy of Mills College. We appreciate all alumnae who have participated in our planning surveys, summits, and focus groups, and we look forward to working alongside our community to keep the AAMC strong and proud for years to come.

2022/23

Board of Governors

Debby Campbell Dittman ’68, President Pam Roper ’92, Vice President Kathy Roskos ’80, Vice President Christina Hannan ’91, Treasurer Melissa Berkay ’18, MBA ’19 Rachel Cefalu ’14, MPP ’15 Debra Connick ’85 Angela Adams DeMoss, MA ’99 Linda Goodrich ’82 Alice Hewitt ’15 Judy Greenwood Jones ’60 Catherine Ladnier ’70 Mitra Lohrasb Michnik ’90 Kieran Turan ’90 Karilee Wirthlin ’92 Ariadne Wolf, MFA ’19 Cherlene Sprague Wright ’92

‹ The AAMC hosted a table during the student resource

fair on September 1 across from Holmgren Meadow. Alumnae educated students and parents about the origins and of Mills College—its beginnings as a groundbreaking space to educate women, its worldchanging alumnae, and its legacy as a haven for underserved communities. Striker Joyce Fung Yee ’90 brought her very own Strike scrapbook, and collection of Strike media coverage, and she shared fresh-baked cookies made from a 1940s Mills recipe.

Where to find us

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