AAMC NEWS & NOTES New fund supports alumnae auditors A gift to the AAMC from Gail David-Tellis ’63 will provide sti-
Alumnae of Color scholarship endowment approaches $50K
pends to alumnae who wish to audit courses at Mills. Auditors
The Alumnae of Color Endowed Scholarship in honor of former
may participate in just about any course, from art to women’s
President Alecia A. DeCoudreaux reached $49,955 on June 30.
studies, with the course instructor’s approval. The first sti-
Since establishing the scholarship in 2011, the Alumnae of
pends will be awarded in January 2018 to defray the $750
Color Committee of the AAMC has raised more than $105,000
fee for auditing spring semester courses. Learn more about
from over 160 donors; $20,000 of this total was generated
auditing during a Reunion discussion with David-Tellis and
from a reception in April. For the scholarship’s first few years,
Meryl Bailey, assistant professor of art history, at 3:00 pm on
all funds raised were awarded to students; but in 2016 the
September 16. For further information about auditor stipends,
committee endowed the scholarship fund, ensuring that the
see www.alumnae.mills.edu/auditing.
College will have resources to grant the scholarship to students of color in perpetuity.
Three governors appointed to AAMC board Three alumnae with a wealth of experience in business and nonprofit management began their first terms on the AAMC Board of Governors on July 1: • Ammie Felder-Williams ’76 was elected by alumnae to serve as alumna trustee for the 2017–2020 term. In this position, she will also serve on the College Board of Trustees. Based in New Rochelle, New York, Felder-Williams brings more than 20 years of leadership experience with businesses and community organizations. • Tara Singh ’05, MBA ’07, is founding chair of the international youth organization Nexus India & South Asia and founder of the natural skin-care brand Terra Tara Organics. Singh will serve as AAMC treasurer. She lives in Tiburon, California. • Dawn Cunningham ’85 of Berkeley has worked in nonprofit communications and fundraising for over 25 years, including eight years as director of advancement communications
Events connect alumnae and students Each year, the AAMC sponsors events that connect alumnae with students and with each other. Many of these events are organized in collaboration with the College’s Alumnae Relations Office. This year, highlights have included: • Taco Tuesday, a festive dinner during Orientation Week at which AAMC governors greeted new Mills students. • A brunch for students participating in the Summer Academic Workshop. • A special AAMC tour in May of sites in England associated with the novels and life of Jane Austen. Professor of English Kirsten Saxton ’90 provided literary commentary during the tour; she will lead the tour again in June 2018 (see inside back cover). • Giving out healthy and sustaining snack bags to students as they prepared for finals. • The Pearl M Dinner for graduating seniors in April, at which this year’s Pearl M was awarded to Kristen Oliver ’17. The
at Mills. In addition, Lynette Castille-Hall ’75 was appointed to a second term as a governor and will serve as a vice president of the
event included the traditional lantern procession and a champagne reception at Reinhardt Alumnae House. • A dinner for graduating international students on March 29.
association. Qualified candidates for alumna trustee and Board of Governors seats are encouraged to apply for terms beginning July 1, 2018. Learn more on the inside back cover.
Ammie Felder-Williams
Tara Singh
An invitation to review the
2017 Memorandum of Collaboration
Dawn Cunningham
To get involved with any of these events and activities, contact the Alumnae Association of Mills College at aamc@mills.edu, 510.430.2110, or AAMC, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., MB #86, Oakland, CA 94613
This historic agreement is expected to be signed by the presidents of the AAMC and Mills College in October. It will shape the relationship between the College, the AAMC, and alumnae for years to come and clarify the role of the AAMC in fundraising, use of Reinhardt Alumnae House, and opportunities to engage in the life of the College. The 2017 agreement is the culmination of a collaborative process that began in November 2015, involving AAMC and College representatives as well as feedback collected through surveys from alumnae across the country. It will replace the 2007 Memorandum of Agreement between the College and the AAMC. Download the document at www.alumnae.mills.edu/compact. Discuss the memorandum at the AAMC Updates during Reunion at 3:00 pm on September 15 and at 9:30 am on September 16.
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