AAMC NEWS & NOTES A Message from the AAMC President Dear Alumnae Community, As I complete my six years as president of the AAMC, I look back at some of the significant moments of my tenure. 2016: President Alecia DeCoudreaux signed the Compact, which would redefine the AAMC-College relationship—and
alumnae community became polarized in its view of the lawsuits between the College and the AAMC, as well as the Northeastern University merger. Both parties ended their lawsuits in January 2022. February 2022: The AAMC held a summit to define the
lead to a more specific AAMC-College
AAMC’s future as well as the Mills leg-
operating agreement.
acy as an empowering space for women and
February 2017: The AAMC endowed two
for
lifelong
connections.
Since
$100,000 scholarships for DACA students
February, the AAMC and Mills have
and the Oakland Promise to enable high
been in negotiations about Reinhardt
school students in Oakland to attend Mills.
Alumnae House and the alumnae data-
May 2017: The AAMC–Mills College
base. The College has assured the AAMC
Working Group submitted its “Report on
that the terms of the MOC will continue
the Implementation of the AAMC-Mills
regarding the exclusive use of Reinhardt
College Compact and Points of Agreement”
Alumnae House for the next academic
to the Mills College Board of Trustees and
year. During the next year, the AAMC
the AAMC Board of Governors, which
leadership will have ongoing conversa-
was approved in October. This shaped
tions about the future partnership with
the future of the AAMC, including our
Mills College at Northeastern.
role in fundraising, our use of Reinhardt
March 2022: The Alecia DeCoudreaux
Alumnae House, and opportunities for
Endowed Scholarship for students of
alumnae to engage with the College.
color reached the $254,100 mark. There is a lot more to reflect on, but I do
The signing of the 2017 Memorandum of Collaboration and Agreement (MOC) between the AAMC and
want to express my appreciation to all who have served and will
Mills College was a huge step forward in solidifying our part-
continue serving—and particularly those who are leaving the
nership, and we began to see the benefits of the MOC as the
board this year: Gwen Jackson Foster ’67, Myila Granberry ’05,
AAMC and the College worked together to advance several key
Adrienne McMichael Foster ’74, Debi Wood ’75, Courtney Long
initiatives of MillsNext.
’01, Claudia Mercado ’06, and Alexa Pagonas ’91. I also want to
December 2017: The AAMC Board of Governors made a his-
express my congratulations to incoming board members and
toric decision as a board and voted unanimously to extend a
ask that you extend your support and give a warm welcome to
$2-million line of credit to the College to fund two important
Debby Campbell Dittman ’68, the incoming president. I have
academic initiatives: The Mills Undergraduate Signature
every confidence that I am leaving the AAMC in good hands.
Experience to redesign the undergraduate experience and
On May 12, the AAMC lost one of its beloved alumnae, Lynda
enhance student recruitment and retention, and the Online
Campfield ’00, MA ’02 (to my right in the Pearl M photo on the
Degrees for Selected School of Education Graduate Programs,
opposite page). She was a super volunteer who was on campus
which included two MA programs.
on May 2 to assemble and distribute finals snacks to students.
September 2018: The AAMC made a $10,000 gift to help
Anyone who knew Lynda will attest to her warm smile, gener-
train faculty for online teaching. These were exciting times for
ous heart, and deep love for Mills. While we will miss her here
the AAMC and the College, and resulted in close collaboration
on earth, she will live in our hearts forever.
and joint initiatives.
I want to close with one plea to all alumnae: Regardless of
July 2020: During the pandemic, the AAMC raised more
our differences, let us come together to cherish and keep alive
than $40,000 in hardship funds to help support international
the mission and legacy of Mills, which has been and will con-
students who were unable to go back to their home countries.
tinue to be part of our lives forever.
The relationship between the College and AAMC was the best I’d ever experienced, with trustees, governors, College officers, and staff being engaged. March 2021: The announcement of the College’s closure began a challenging and painful time for the AAMC. The 26
M I L L S Q U A R T E R LY
Thank you for the privilege of serving you as the president of the AAMC, and fare thee well. Warmly, Viji Nakka-Cammauf, MA ’82 AAMC President
