NEWS OF THE COLLEGE
at Mills, Berman was an actor for the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and the Berkeley Stage Company. Deborah Sussel also acted for the American Conservatory Theatre and the Berkeley Stage Company before coming to Mills in 1976. As a lecturer in drama, Sussel directed five plays at Mills, as well as directing five plays for ACT. Maud Steyaert, ’88, is leaving her position as chaplain of Mills College after serving since November 2001. She studied in the master of divinity program at Harvard Divinity School, and her faith tradition is Unitarian Universalist. During her senior year at Mills, Steyaert was ASMC president; after graduation, she served on the Board of Trustees as a recent graduate trustee. Alumnae Director Anne Gillespie Brown, ‘68, notes, “Those of us who are alumnae will continue to enjoy Maud’s good heart and soul, and infectious laugh, when she joins us in alumnae activities—no matter where that might be!” Beth Johnson, ’84, has worked at Mills in several capacities over the past 20 years, including a stint helping to coach the crew team. Since 2001, Johnson has been with the Office of Institutional Advancement as development research coordinator. She contributed to the success of the Sesquicentennial Campaign by identifying and researching sources of funding for the College. Just prior to her position at OIA, Johnson served
as the director of annual giving at the AAMC, where she oversaw the successful completion of the Million for the Millennium Challenge and put in place the Participation Bonus Challenge. Johnson enjoyed working with many generations of alumnae, who provided her with “role models for who I can be at my 60th reunion.” Marjorie Christensen, ’85, MA ’90, is leaving her position as development research coordinator. She came to work at Mills when her youngest child started school, and she continued during the terms of five Mills presidents. “Faculty, staff, and students— anyone lucky enough to have crossed paths with Marj— have always been impressed by her insatiable intellectual curiosity, her dedication to her work, her sense of adventure, and her elegant presence,” says coworker Sandra Burghardt. “Her colleagues and her many friends across campus already miss her but wish her the best that retirement has to offer.” Myrt Whitcomb began her Mills career as dean of students and concluded it as vice president for enrollment management. Her tenure at Mills was filled with highlights benefiting all community members. She came to Mills from Princeton University, where she was associate dean of students and co-acting dean of students. “Her dedication to the education of women was experienced by many, and she will be deeply
missed by students, staff, faculty, alumnae, and trustees,” writes Kennedy Golden of the Office of Student Life. “All who had the privilege of working with her wish her well as she moves on to the next phase of her life.” After receiving a master’s degree in education from the University of Vermont, Liza Kuney, ’88, returned to Mills as assistant dean of students. She also held the positions of director of student activities and first-year dean.
“In her varied roles she worked closely with many Mills community constituencies, always keeping in mind her multiple connections with the College,” writes Kennedy Golden. After one year in the Office of the President, Karina Robinson, ’88, leaves Mills to pursue graduate studies in history at Arizona State University, where she will study government-sponsored migration. Robinson’s other interests include public history and genealogy.
AAMC Task Force on Fundraising The Task Force on Fundraising, an ad hoc committee recommended by AAMC President Karen May and approved by the Board of Governors at their April 14 meeting, has been formed to study issues raised by several alumnae. The committee, co-chaired by Anita Aragon Bowers, ’63, and Melissa Stevenson Dile, ’91, is in the process of collecting data regarding fundraising efforts by the Alumnae Association and the College’s Office of Institutional Advancement. With the goal of evaluating fundraising activities, the committee will address alumnae concerns in three areas: donor confusion about how their gifts will be used, the possible duplication in AAMC and College fundraising efforts, and a perceived need to improve the working relationship between the AAMC and the College. The task force will also study issues regarding the structure of the AAMC and its relationship to the College. Committee members will compile and analyze data gathered through interviews with AAMC and OIA staff, Mills alumnae, Mills College officers, and alumnae association representatives from similarly situated colleges. Committee members plan to report their findings and make recommendations to the Board of Governors in the fall. If you have any questions or suggestions for the committee, please contact either Anita Aragon Bowers or Melissa Stevenson Dile through Reinhardt House at <aamc@mills.edu> or (510) 430-2110. Your ideas are vital to us as we study the issues. —Anita Aragon Bowers and Melissa Stevenson Dile
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