AAMC NEWS & NOTES A Message from the AAMC President Fall at Mills was a bit different in 2020,
alumnae-student
with fewer returning students com-
toring
ing back to campus, but it was still
platform at connect.mills
abuzz with the excitement of first-year
.edu. I sent a recording of
students who arrived with a host of
the AAMC update session
expectations. I took part in a number of
via email to alumnae on
virtual orientation events for students,
October 29. If you didn’t
including the candle-lighting ceremony
receive it, please contact
where students shared their dreams
Alumnae
and aspirations for their time at Mills.
alumnae-relations@mills
Students were able to learn more about
.edu to update your email
the AAMC, its history, and our engage-
information.
ment with students, and to see and hear
and
The
men-
networking
Relations
AAMC
at
also
welcomes and well-wishes from the
hosted a town hall with
Board of Governors (BOG).
President Beth Hillman
In addition to the virtual versions
on September 17. The BOG
of our usual fall events, Sayaka Omori
had collected questions
’06, an instructor at the University of
of importance to alum-
Washington’s College of Education, and
nae via email, Facebook,
I visited a course for international stu-
and a phone tree. AAMC
dents—the first of its kind at Mills. We
vice
spoke about our own cultural transi-
Cunningham and Alexa
tions and navigating US culture.
Pagonas
presidents ’91
Dawn
presented
Through lectures and hands-on learn-
these questions to me and
ing, the course hopes to set up incom-
President Hillman, who
ing students for successful academic,
addressed them with sub-
professional, and personal development
stance and transparency.
at Mills. Topics include cross-cultural
If you missed the live session, I recom-
come to Mills, paving the way for others
awareness, local history, community and
mend reviewing the recording that I
to follow in her footsteps. She was also
cultural engagement in the Bay Area,
sent to all alumnae, also on October
one of the most intelligent and engaged
and strategies for academic success in a
29. You can read Dawn’s summary
alumnae I had the good fortune to meet
liberal arts setting. This course is com-
of the event on the facing page. I am
and know at Mills. She will be greatly
pulsory for incoming F-1/J-1 students. I
grateful for our president’s leadership,
missed. You can find Peggy’s obituary in
hope it will be offered every semester!
commitment, and tireless work on
this issue’s In Memoriam section.
The pandemic robbed us of our in-per-
Viji Nakka-Cammauf
I would like to close with this anony-
behalf of Mills.
mous quote:
son Reunion, my all-time favorite event
I would also like to express my con-
at Mills, where we get to see so many
gratulations to the 2020 Alumnae
alumnae from various classes populat-
Award recipients: Kirsten Saxton ’90,
ing campus with their excitement and
Distinguished
enthusiasm. Instead, we hosted a few vir-
Marge Thomas, MA ’67, Outstanding
tual events that brought us together and
Volunteer
Dorothy
I wish you all continued good health,
helped us celebrate accomplishments and
Lawrence-Akaeze ’11, Recent Graduate
safety, and well-being, and I look for-
events. At our AAMC update session on
Award. See our profile of the awardees
ward to meeting again when it is safe for
October 3, alumnae saw and heard from
on the following spread.
us to gather.
Achievement
Award;
and
Award;
Those we love, don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.
our newly elected governors and alum-
On a sadder note, this fall we lost yet
nae trustees. Committee chairs shared
another one of our beloved alumnae,
Viji Nakka-Cammauf, MA ’82
highlights, and Dawn Cunningham ’85
Peggy Woodruff ’58. Peggy was one of
President, Alumnae Association of
guided us through MillsConnect, our
the first African American students to
Mills College
18
M I L L S Q U A R T E R LY
Warmly,
