Outstanding Service Award

MILLIE TAN ’77, MBA, TRUSTEE

Honors up to five members of the Skidmore community who have demonstrated outstanding service to the College for at least 10 years as an alumna/alumnus, trustee, faculty member, administrator, staff member, parent or friend. Alumni recipients must be members of a celebrating reunion class.

Marketing strategist Millie Tan has served diverse industries worldwide, including technology, internet and life science services, consumer electronics, and higher education. She is currently CEO of TAN Associates LLC, a consultancy that delivers innovative, analytics-driven and expertly executed strategy. Millie previously served as chief marketing officer and senior vice president for data science healthcare firm IQVIA (formerly Quintiles). She headed up European business at Monster Worldwide (monster.com) and was vice president of worldwide marketing at Polaroid Corporation.

This accomplished executive scarcely could have imagined the path she would take when she arrived at Skidmore in 1973. A New York City native, Millie was the first in her family to attend college. Her immigrant parents, a ship’s cook and a garment factory seamstress, were illiterate in Chinese and English. They were very proud when their daughter enrolled at Skidmore and supported her goal of becoming a teacher.

But that plan changed as Millie was exposed to a new world of expansive ideas and possibilities. A history major, she became involved in student life early on. A house counselor in her sophomore year, she became the first junior to serve as a head resident. Millie spent her senior year as head resident of Jonsson Tower. The relationships she developed with other students and residence life staffers were a fundamental part of her Skidmore experience. Her fellow staffers, she recalls, “became my squad.”

Millie went on to earn a master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College. As her professional life flourished, she came to more fully appreciate the academic and personal growth she experienced at Skidmore. Millie has been giving back to her alma mater in myriad ways ever since. “Skidmore transformed my life,” she reflects. “I found a strong sense of family and community here and a place that allowed me to flourish and to be my best self. This foundation is one I’ve tried to replicate throughout my career and in various leadership roles; I’ve always valued individual diversity within teams and encouraged innovation and creativity.”

An alumna trustee from 2018 to 2022, Millie was an influential voice on the Student Life and Communications committees. Likewise, she lent her expertise and experience to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, facilitating communication between the bodies. Millie is passionate about Skidmore remaining accessible to first generation students. In addition to bolstering financial aid, she has worked diligently to feature student life more prominently in Skidmore’s admissions and media materials. A longtime class agent and career advisor, Millie served a two-year term on the President’s Advisory Council. She’s teamed up with Jed Lavitt ’77 to co-chair several class reunions, including the 45th. Today, Millie also celebrates that milestone as class co-president.

“I’m honored to receive this award. Skidmore opened up the world to me. My service and support are the least I can do to pay back an institution that has given me so much. I feel strongly that the door remains open so that future students can discover the special opportunity awaiting them at Skidmore.”

My service and support are the least I can do to pay back an institution that has given me so much. I feel strongly that the door remains open so that future students can discover the special opportunity awaiting them at Skidmore.

— Millie Tan ’77